Latest news with #VancouverIsland
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
1.5-metre-long boa constrictor found on the loose in provincial park near Comox, B.C.
Conservation officers successfully wrangled a 1.5-metre-long boa constrictor near Comox on Vancouver Island on Thursday. Officers were alerted to a "potential large snake on the loose" in Miracle Beach Provincial Park, about 150 kilometres northwest of Vancouver, according to a Facebook post from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS). Some trails were temporarily closed, and park visitors were turned away at trail entrances, while officers searched for the snake. Conservation officers are investigating the circumstances of the loose snake. The COS said it does not believe the incident is linked to a boa constrictor that was recently captured in Tofino, B.C. Because of the boa constrictor's length, it is considered to be a "restricted reptile," which means that it cannot be released under any circumstances under the Controlled Alien Species regulation, according to the COS. The boa constrictor is now in the care of the Comox Valley SPCA. Sara Dubois, senior director for animal welfare science at the B.C. SPCA, said the snake appears to be healthy. But cold-blooded reptiles, like boa constrictors raised in captivity, can't survive for long outside in B.C.'s cool climate, which is very unlike their native South America. "They shouldn't be living in the wild of Canada, that's for sure," Dubois said. She said a boa constrictor (which is constrictive but not venomous) could prey on small animals if left in the wild, but it could also fail at hunting due to being raised in captivity. Dubois noted there is a four-day legal impound period that gives the owner an opportunity to find their lost pet, if the animal escaped by accident, before the snake can be put up for adoption. If it's found that the snake was intentionally abandoned, Dubois said, a series of investigations would occur. Dubois noted it's illegal to dump animals, and abandonment falls under animal cruelty legislation. Because the snake is less than three metres long, it doesn't require a permit to own under the Controlled Alien Species Regulation, according to Dubois. But she said the SPCA asks very detailed questions of potential exotic pet adopters. They usually already have an appropriate setup, including veterinary care, and extensive knowledge of these species. "Very few people have the expertise to properly care for them," Dubois said. The SPCA discourages people from buying exotic pets, particularly from pet stores. "Sometimes it seems like it's going to be an easy pet, but these exotic animals have really specialized needs," she said. "They're not an animal you should have as a pet."
CBC
6 hours ago
- General
- CBC
1.5-metre-long boa constrictor found on the loose in provincial park near Comox, B.C.
Conservation officers successfully wrangled a 1.5-metre-long boa constrictor near Comox on Vancouver Island on Thursday. Officers were alerted to a "potential large snake on the loose" in Miracle Beach Provincial Park, about 150 kilometres northwest of Vancouver, according to a Facebook post from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS). Some trails were temporarily closed, and park visitors were turned away at trail entrances, while officers searched for the snake. Conservation officers are investigating the circumstances of the loose snake. The COS said it does not believe the incident is linked to a boa constrictor that was recently captured in Tofino, B.C. Because of the boa constrictor's length, it is considered to be a "restricted reptile," which means that it cannot be released under any circumstances under the Controlled Alien Species regulation, according to the COS. The boa constrictor is now in the care of the Comox Valley SPCA. SPCA discourages buying exotic pets Sara Dubois, senior director for animal welfare science at the B.C. SPCA, said the snake appears to be healthy. But cold-blooded reptiles, like boa constrictors raised in captivity, can't survive for long outside in B.C.'s cool climate, which is very unlike their native South America. "They shouldn't be living in the wild of Canada, that's for sure," Dubois said. She said a boa constrictor (which is constrictive but not venomous) could prey on small animals if left in the wild, but it could also fail at hunting due to being raised in captivity. Dubois noted there is a four-day legal impound period that gives the owner an opportunity to find their lost pet, if the animal escaped by accident, before the snake can be put up for adoption. If it's found that the snake was intentionally abandoned, Dubois said, a series of investigations would occur. Dubois noted it's illegal to dump animals, and abandonment falls under animal cruelty legislation. Because the snake is less than three metres long, it doesn't require a permit to own under the Controlled Alien Species Regulation, according to Dubois. But she said the SPCA asks very detailed questions of potential exotic pet adopters. They usually already have an appropriate setup, including veterinary care, and extensive knowledge of these species. "Very few people have the expertise to properly care for them," Dubois said. The SPCA discourages people from buying exotic pets, particularly from pet stores. "Sometimes it seems like it's going to be an easy pet, but these exotic animals have really specialized needs," she said.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
60-Foot Rogue Wave Captured in Pacific Ocean (Video)
When thinking of rogue waves breaking out in the middle of the ocean, for surfers at least, one liquid monstrosity comes to mind – Cortes Bank, the mythical big wave gauntlet breaking some 100 miles off the California coast. As it turns out, however, these abnormally gigantic waves are breaking elsewhere in the world's oceans, too; and a team of scientists set out to explore them. Specifically, the scientists looked at rogue waves being documented in the Pacific Ocean off Canada. They described: 'Once dismissed as a maritime myth, rogue waves are now increasingly being recorded in Canadian waters. A network of AI-powered buoys off the coast of B.C. is capturing these giants in real time. Johanna Wagstaffe meets the engineer developing new tools to understand — and maybe one day forecast — their chaotic nature.' One in particular, which they detected back in 2020, was taller than a six-story building. 'So, this rogue wave was measured off near Tofino [Vancouver Island, Canada],' said Scott Beatty, CEO of MarineLabs Data Systems. 'There was a 17.5 meter [57 .4 feet] wave that came by. For context, that's about six stories. But the unusual thing about it, was that in the background the waves were six meters. It was the highest ever recorded. So, we had to go back and double, and triple check that.' Unlike Cortes Bank, these waves are random. They happen sporadically, in the middle of the ocean, and are difficult to detect. When there's the right swell – and there's a crew willing to risk it all to motor out to Cortes, and attempt to surf it – things can be somewhat predictable. And they know where to find it. But these, open-ocean rogue waves are way more how the scientists describe them: 'These waves are at least twice as tall as the surrounding waves. They're unpredictable. They can come from unexpected directions, often against prevailing winds and swells. You need a whole cocktail of factors to come together – wind, swell, current. It's a chaotic, nonlinear wave interaction, where one wave will suddenly gather energy from others and explode in size.' Rare and terrifying, yet fascinating. Makes one wonder about all the untapped big wave surf spot potential just hiding out in the vast, open oceans.60-Foot Rogue Wave Captured in Pacific Ocean (Video) first appeared on Surfer on Jun 27, 2025
CTV News
13 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Authorities investigating after large boa constrictor captured in B.C. park
The conservation service says its officers receive special training in the proper handling of a variety of exotic animals that fall under the Controlled Alien Species regulations. (Handout) Conservation officers in British Columbia are investigating after a large boa constrictor was located and captured in a provincial park on Vancouver Island. A statement from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service says the agency 'safely captured' the five-foot snake that was loose in Miracle Beach Provincial Park on Thursday. The agency says it co-ordinated its response with provincial parks staff to close hiking trails and stop visitors from entering the Black Creek-area park while officers searched for the exotic and potentially dangerous reptile. The snake was found and captured at approximately 1 p.m., and was taken to the Comox Valley SPCA after consulting with a provincial wildlife veterinarian, the conservation office said. 'Due to its length, the boa constrictor was determined to be a restricted reptile under the Controlled Alien Species regulation, which means that while a permit is not required to own it, they cannot be released under any circumstances,' the statement said. The office says it is investigating the circumstances of the snake's release, which 'may result in enforcement action' against the animal's owner. 'It is not the first time the COS has seized exotic animals,' the agency added. 'Over the last 10-plus years, officers have captured lions, alligators and monkeys.' The conservation office said the incident is not believed to be related to an incident earlier this month, in which a boa constrictor was reported missing at a beach near Tofino. That snake, estimated at six feet in length, later turned up in its owner's kayak. The conservation service says its officers receive special training in the proper handling of a variety of exotic animals that fall under the Controlled Alien Species regulations. Such species are not native to B.C. and are therefore not considered wildlife.
CTV News
a day ago
- Sport
- CTV News
New Canuck Evander Kane in the hot seat
Vancouver Watch The newly acquired forward made his first public appearance since being traded by the Edmonton Oilers. Are Vancouver fans ready to welcome the polarizing player?
