General Information

Material on this website represents the most current information available regarding wildlife inventory and wildlife management in the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Vancouver Island Region.  Information on this website is intended for use by government staff, contract biologists, resource planners and the general public.

Information on this website is regularly updated and generally represents the most current information available.  However, users are cautioned that some of the information occurring on the website is work in progress or changes content more frequently than website updates.

How to Use This Site
You may obtain reference lists, downloadable reports, and link to other sources of wildlife-related information by following some of the other links in this site. Pictures in the Homepage link to general wildlife information. Look in the FRBC inventory pages for specific wildlife and wildlife habitat inventory reports conducted in Region 1.

Requests of additional information can be made through the Wildlife / Wildlife Habitat Inventory Specialist

Requests for more information regarding wildlife management in the Vancouver Island Region can be directed to the Wildlife Program in Nanaimo 250 751-3100

Please be aware that in some instances, sensitive information, such as species locations or breeding grounds, is confidential. This information in not readily available and requires clearance from the Regional Rare and Endangered Species Specialist. Alternatively, contact the Conservation Data Center for availability of sensitive-information.

General Wildlife Information
Vancouver Island Region has a broad array of vertebrate and non-vertebrate wildlife species.

A comprehensive species list for the Vancouver Island Region is available here in pdf format. Specifically, this species list details the species present in the Coastal Western Hemlock (CWH), Coastal Douglas Fir (CDF) and Mountain Hemlock (MH) subzones. For a MS Excel version that can be queried click here.

If you would like to report a bird band number you can call 1 800 327 2263 or go to the US Geological Survey Bird Band Labratory for more information about the North American Bird Banding Program.

Wildlife Stewardship is also an important component of the Wildlife Program responsibilities. We recommend going to the The Stewardship Centre for comprehensive information about wildlife stewardship.

Exotic / Introduced / Nuisance Species
Vancouver Island Region has suffered from the introduction of several non-native wildlife species. These species can limit the distribution, abundance and reproduction of native species.

Some of the non-native species include:
American Bullfrog
Snapping Turtle
North American Oppossum
Eastern Cottontail
European Rabbit
Nutria
Gray Squirrel
Black-billed Magpie
House Sparrow
European Starling
Rock Dove
Brownheaded Cowbird

Some of these species can cause significant damage, and the Wildlife Program has some recommendations for dealing with encounters with some of these species. Useful brochures/posters include Grey Squirrels (brochure 348KB PDF or 11x17" poster 1.43MB PDF), Impacts and Management of the Alien Eastern Gray Squirrel in Great Britain and Italy: Lessons for British Columbia (68KB PDF) and guidance for encounters with Raccoons, Cougars and Bears at home and Bears in the wild.

Wildlife Permits and Regulations
Under the Wildlife Act, the Permit Regulation is the main legal tool that people can use to exercise special priveleges. The Permit Regulations were updated in September 2000, and an introduction to these Permit Regulations can be found here.

According to the Wildlife Act, special permits are required to handle and transport wildlife. Copies of these permits can be downloaded below.

General Permit Application form (pdf format)
(for use with all Wildlife Act permits)
Permit to Import Wildlife (pdf format)
Permit Application for Possession of Wildlife or Parts
(pdf format)

Wildlife Rehabilitation
Certain wildlife species in Region 1 succumb to injuries as a result of both natural phenomenon and manmade phenomenon. When injury is minor, it may be feasible to try to rehabilitate individuals. For a list of rehabilitation facilities contact the
Wildlife Rehabilitators Network of British Columbia

Return to Homepage

Questions? Comments? Please contact the Nanaimo Webmaster