The waggish joke that wolves are “Canada’s newest marine mammal” is a lot closer to truth than jest—an insight suggested by Indigenous knowledge and confirmed in a study co-authored by Dr. Chris Darimont, of UVic’s geography department. The study, published this month in the scientific journal BMC Ecology, provides genetic evidence that BC’s mainland wolves and coastal wolves appear to be genetically distinct. And news media around the world are paying attention: in addition to Canadian coverage in The Globe and Mail, National Post and CTV, the story has also been broadcast—with video of wolves fishing for salmon—on BBC News in the UK.

New research co-authored by a University of Victoria wildlife scientist provides genetic evidence that BC’s mainland wolves and coastal wolves appear to be genetically distinct. The research, published today in the scientific journal BMC Ecology, af…

Though polar bears have become symbolic as a species put at risk by climate change, UVic research shows why the grizzly bear may be a better indicator of BC’s ecological health.

Bullfrogs—to most of us they’re just big, green, bug-eyed critters that hop and croak and (usually) make us laugh. They’re also invasive in some regions, including southern Vancouver Island. But to scientists studying environmental health, bullfrogs are an ideal “sentinel” species for monitoring the effects of pollutants such as pesticides, drugs and industrial effluents.