You will be re-directed to our new blog location!

We have integrated our blog into our website. You will be transferred momentarily to bcyukonadventures.com/wildernesstripscanada

Adopting A Killer Whale

By becoming a member of the B.C. Wild Killer Whale Adoption Program you will be directly supporting research on wild killer whales. Continuing research will lead to a better understanding of the whales, their place in the ocean ecosystem, and the conservation measures necessary to protect them.

Killer whales, or orcas, are found in all the world's oceans, but nowhere are they more accessible for viewing and studying than in Canada's west coast waters.

Learning everything we can about killer whales is the best way to protect them.

* How do new pods form?
* Where do resident killer whales go in the winter months?
* Why do 50 per cent of newborns die in their first year?
* How do killer whale dialects develop over time?
* Are killer whales particularly susceptible to environmental toxins?
* Is increased boat traffic affecting killer whale behaviour?

Researchers in Canada and the U.S. have been investigating groups of killer whales that frequent the area annually for more than 25 years and are trying to answer these questions and others. Once widely feared, killer whales are now understood far better than they were only three decades ago.

Some of the projects funded by the program include:

Population genetics: Dr. Lance Barrett-Lennard at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre has been using DNA analysis to answer questions like how do resident killer whales avoid inbreeding and how do female killer whales know how to choose a mate.

Acoustics: Killer whales rely on sound to communicate and to navigate through the water. Researchers are studying the sounds killer whales make to learn more about their social structure and monitor their movements along the B.C. coast.

Photo-identification: Photo-identification is one of the most useful tools of whale biologists. It is an invaluable method of monitoring the health of British Columbia's killer whale populations.

Adopt a wild killer whale for yourself or someone else. A gift membership in the B.C. Wild Killer Whale Adoption Program is a unique and thoughtful gift for people of all ages.

The B.C. Wild Killer Whale Adoption Program is hosted by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, a non-profit organization. All contributions go directly to research and conservation of killer whales in the wild. Contributions are tax-deductible both in Canada and the USA to the extent of the law.

How Do I Adopt a Whale?
To symbolically adopt a whale and support our field research program, you simply choose the type of adoption package that suits you best, and select the whale or whales you would like from a list of transient and resident killer whales living off the coast of British Columbia. Choosing your whale is the hardest part. Some people select a whale born in the same year that they were or the year their child or grandchild was born. Others select whales because they like the sound of their name. Still others choose their whale because its picture appeals to them. To get started on adopting your whale, click here.

What Do I Get with My Adoption?
With all packages you will receive a photograph and biography of the whale you've chosen, an adoption certificate, and the most recent issue of our annual journal, the Blackfish Sounder.

Staying Uneaten in the Wilderness

Have you been hiking a favourite trail lately and noticed a fair number of prey animals about? Well, it is not your natural personality, or musk deodorant, or happenchance at work.

A researcher at the University of Calgary, in Alberta, Canada, has found a correlation between the number of humans who use a trail and the number of predators who are active in the area.

Using digital camera traps around trails in the Canadian Rockies, the researcher found that, if more than 18 humans used the trail each day, predators disappeared in significant numbers. More than 32 humans per day and the number of prey increased.

The findings are all together not rocket science but do help to support the notion that wild predators, such as bears, are wary of humans, and will shy away from any meeting if given the chance. Knowing that an area is frequented by humans will register with them and they will wander off to areas where human contact is less likely.

Prey animals do not associate humans with predatory actions and are less concerned about ending their days on bone china. Before all you deer hunters head for your rifle lockers and book a flight to the Rockies, the researcher also found that prey animals either can read signs or calendars that advise about the opening of hunting season, or some internal mechanism causes them to migrate away from the area during open season.

So, if you are looking to see friendly wildlife, and at the same time not be viewed from the bushes as a main course, find 17 friends to go hiking with.