~wildlife education~ A bear’s winter den. Photo credit: istock.com/ Gennaro Leonardi How do wild animals survive in winter when the weather turns cold and natural food sources are scarce? Many animals hibernate or go into “winter sleep”. During hibernation, an animal’s heart rate and body temperature and movements slow down. Unlike many small mammals, bears do not actually hibernate; instead, they go into torpor, which is a state of decreased physiological activity, usua

~Wildlife education~ Vancouver Island black bears eat both meat and plants, and their sense of smell and hearing is far superior to that of humans. If a hungry bear smells food waste in a barbecue or trash container or a vehicle, it will go after it. Photo credit: istock.com/eyfoto Bears are natural scavengers and have good memories, so they will return to locations where they have found food before. Bears must eat large amounts of food, so they don’t starve during the win

~wildlife education~ istock.com/Chantale Ouellet Winters can be tough for wild birds, but backyard bird enthusiasts can help by...