Black Bear Cub Climbing a Tree

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Cuteness alert! A baby black bear climbs a tree! 🐻🌲

This little cub on the west coast of Vancouver Island was likely born inside the hollow heart of an ancient redcedar, a favourite maternity den for mother bears in this region.

Newborn black bears are among the smallest mammals in proportion to their mothers. This cub likely weighed about 300 grams (just over half a pound) at birth, roughly one three-hundredth the size of its mother. These blind, nearly hairless little jellybeans stay in the den with their mother for 2–3 months before emerging as playful, fuzzy cubs.

Trees continue to provide safety as the cubs grow. At the first sign of danger, mother bears will send their babies scrambling up a tree trunk or use trees as a safe place for cubs while she forages nearby. In spring, black bears also visit hemlock trees like this one for a sugary treat, stripping away the outer bark of young hemlocks to feast on the sweet cambium when the sap starts to flow.

Thankfully, we got a surprise view of this little cutie from a distance without meeting Mom and then carried on our way. You never know what you might stumble upon while exploring old-growth forests! 🥾

Sydney River Valley – Clayoqout Sound

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On the western edge of Clayoquot Sound lies the Sydney River Valley, a fully intact rainforest watershed at the head of Sydney Inlet.

The steep, dramatic walls of Sydney Inlet have been protected since 1995 as one of Vancouver Island’s most striking fjord landscapes. But beyond the inlet, tucked deeper inland, lies an even greater rarity: an intact, roadless old-growth valley stretching unbroken from tideline to mountaintop. The Sydney River in Ahousaht territory is one of only five unlogged primary watersheds over 5,000 hectares remaining on western Vancouver Island — the rarest of the rare. Originally, there were 60.

The Sydney River is a true rainforest jewel, home to towering ancient trees and extraordinary biodiversity. The valley provides critical nesting habitat for the threatened Marbled Murrelet, supports rich runs of spawning salmon, and shelters black bears, cougars, & coastal wolves. It also harbours one of the rarest plants in Canada: the dwarf or Hibberson’s trillium (Trillium hibbersonii). Found in just seven sites across the country, three of them within the Sydney Inlet/River, this tiny, delicate flower stands as a powerful emblem of this vast rainforest.

For decades, the valley’s fate hung in the balance. While the steep fjord walls and estuary were protected in the existing provincial park, the expansive valley forests remained unprotected and at risk. In 2024, after years of advocacy, much of the watershed was permanently protected within the Kiišḥniqʷus Conservancy thanks to the leadership of the Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and support from the BC government. In total, 10 new conservancies were established in Clayoquot Sounds/, protecting 760 km² of land, marking a monumental victory for old-growth conservation.

Although few will ever set foot in this remote valley, it is reassuring to know that its ancient forests and wild creatures will continue to thrive, as they have for thousands of years — a reminder of hope in a difficult time for biodiversity worldwide.

Before visiting Ahousaht territory in Clayoquot Sound, be sure to see the Maaqutusiis Hahoutlhee Stewardship Society (MHSS) for information and stewardship fees.

National Geographic Explorers Event – Ottawa 2025

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Had a fantastic time at a National Geographic Explorers event in Ottawa last week! Thirty of us gathered for a five-day leadership workshop, during which we had the opportunity to give Spotlight talks about our work. Made many new friends, learned a lot of cool things, and left feeling quite inspired! Also had a chance to explore Ottawa for the first time and take in the many museums and nature parks around the city. Here are some pics! Thanks to the RCGS, NGS, and the Trebek Initiative for their support!

Anna's Hummingbird Nest ~ Victoria, BC

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A female Anna’s Hummingbird rests in her nest outside our house. Woven from moss, feathers, and soft plant material, held together with spider silk, and decorated with bits of lichen for camouflage, a hummingbird can take upwards of a thousand trips to craft her inch-wide nest. Weighing just 1-2 grams (less than a dime!), the nest is a delicate work of art that blends in beautifully with its surroundings.

We were fortunate enough to watch the whole process unfold, followed by the laying of two eggs, which later hatched into little chicks. Momma, or ‘Kiki,’ as we called her, was busy keeping them warm and making trips to our feeders for food nearby. We were a bit worried for her, though, as the nest, albeit sheltered, was built on a branch at eye level along a fairly busy sidewalk.

Thanks to her expert camouflaging work, most people walked right by without noticing. However, the odd, keen-eyed person stopped for a quick glimpse, and eventually, more and more people started catching on. It warmed our hearts when the city later closed the sidewalk and paused the planned paving nearby after learning about the nest. There might still be some hope for humanity after all!

Now that the chicks have fledged, we can only hope they decide to call our yard home so we have a chance to watch it all unfold again next year 🥰

Port Renfrew in the Snow – A Winter Wonderland

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Here are some snowy scenes from around Port Renfrew, Fairy Lake, and the San Juan Valley in Pacheedaht territory in February 2025. It’s rare for this much snow to fall and then stick around without melting for a while. The island is a winter wonderland right now!

My TEDxVictoria Talk: One Last Shot to Protect Old-Growth Forests in British Columbia

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I’m excited to share my TEDxVictoria talk, “One Last Shot to Protect Old-Growth Forests in British Columbia.” It is a visual journey through my work as a conservation photographer, big tree hunter, and National Geographic Explorer.

Like the famed TED Talks, TEDx events host speakers who highlight new ideas, challenges, or perspectives, but on a local level. This year’s theme was "It's up to us.”

I’ve done many talks over the years, but none made me as nervous as this one. How do you convey a topic as complex as old-growth forests and your life's mission to protect them in just 15 minutes? It's a lot of pressure – especially on a stage in front of 700 people! The opportunity to share my message, photos, and story with such a large audience, including the global reach that TEDx offers (40 million+ subscribers!), was too important to pass up on, though.

I’ve dedicated the past 15 years with Ancient Forest Alliance to exploring and documenting endangered old-growth forests in BC to help see them saved. From uncovering groves of ancient giants to trudging up steep mountainsides or slogging through soaked clearcuts, it's been a beautiful and, many times, heartbreaking journey.

It was an honour to share this story on the TEDxVictoria stage. I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please help expand its reach by sharing it with friends and family to help raise further awareness. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enF8Zf4EPNg

Congrats to the other terrific speakers, and thanks to the event organizers for including me, plus everyone's encouragement along the way!

Northern Lights Victoria, BC ~ October 2024

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The northern lights paint the night sky in a dreamy technicolour display. On October 10th, Victoria was treated to another intense aurora showing in what has been an epic year so far. Walking through the misty oak meadow after dark was surreal, with the tree tops looking more like acacia trees in the African savanna than something from around here. Standing under the silhouetted branches, the aurora came alive, with bands of teal blooming overhead washed with warm hues of pinky reds. Impossible to capture were the rapid white pulses that looked like clouds flying by at light speed. Eventually, I found myself on a beach watching the show on my own at two or three AM. What a beautiful universe we live in!