Raincoast Conservation Foundation

@raincoast

Raincoast is a team of scientists and conservationists empowered by our research to safeguard the lands, waters, and wildlife of coastal BC. Find us at www.raincoast.org.

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Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· 7d

Introducing the killer whale active hat! Made for salty air, long days on the water, and people who believe wild places and species are worth protecting. Wear what you stand for - available now in our online store while limited supplies last: www.raincoast.eco/product/kw-a...

a light green and beige hat sits on a rocky shoreline, killer whale art on the front of the hat depicting two killer whales, one small and one large.

a dark green five panel hat sits on the dashboard of a sailboat, with a pair of binoculars next to it.

a five panel hat in blue sits on top of a sailboat's winch.

A five panel hat in two shades of black sits on a wooden surface of a sailboat.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· 21d

Submit comments until TOMORROW! The federal government is proposing overriding a key section of SARA. This would allow the approval of projects despite the destruction of habitat that is critical to the survival of endangered species. View our template and guide: www.raincoast.org/2026/07/cana...

A blurred image of two Southern Resident killer whales as they surface the water, with text overtop that reads "take action, submit comments by July 22nd, speak up for Canada's endangered species."

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Jul 10

For #WorldOrcaDay, Raincoast is sharing a behind-the-scenes look at our study of endangered Southern Resident killer whales. www.raincoast.org/2026/07/biol...

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Jul 9

Will we see you this Saturday? Raincoast staff will be hosting a booth at Khatsahlano Street Party this year, thanks to Patagonia Vancouver! www.raincoast.org/event/commun...

A calendar design featuring black and white images of young scientists at a table laughing, looking at educational materials. It reads "Save the date, Saturday July 11th, 1994 West 4th Ave, 11-7, Khatsahlano Festival, Raincoast at Patagonia Vancouver

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Jul 1

Recently, Canada’s federal government proposed sweeping changes to overhaul the laws that protect our lakes and streams, our wildlife, our oceans and the landscapes that are part of our Canadian identity. What Canada are you for? www.raincoast.org/2026/07/what...

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Jun 26

As apart of our Land Healing Stewards program, we delivered another multi-day sea-to-soil expedition aboard the SV Achiever. A group of 8 BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ youth came together to learn, connect, and explore the coastal habitats of the Southern Gulf Islands. www.raincoast.org/2026/06/lear...

A group of youth wearing life jackets on board a sailing boat smile at the camera together.

A group of young stewards stand in a forest listening to the instructor, tall trees stretching out above their heads.

A young man kneels in the dirt, tending to a plant he has just placed in the ground.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Jun 2

Goodness grey-cious! Raincoast researcher, Janine McNeilly, recounts a surprise visit from a grey whale through our survey area in Swanson Channel and discusses how to reduce the risk of vessel collisions www.raincoast.org/2026/06/grey...

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· May 27

Did you know wolves can be genetically adapted to their environment? This is called an ecotype – and it matters more for conservation than you might think. Read the full article: doi.org/10.70766/23....

Wolf ecotypes and how they impact conservation in British Columbia

What is an ecotype?
An ecotype is a population within the same species that has developed unique genetic traits over time in response to the specific environment it lives in, such as local climate, available prey, or habitat type. Two primary wolf ecotypes are recognized in BC.

The Northern Rocky Mountain forest ecotype
Also referred to as the interior ecotype, it occupies the Rocky Mountains and interior plateaus in BC, characterized by larger body and head sizes, and a dietary reliance on large ungulates such as moose, elk, caribou, and deer.

The coastal rainforest ecotype
This ecotype occupies regions west of the Coast Mountain Range – such as the Great Bear Rainforest, Vancouver Island, and along BC's coast – characterized by smaller body and head sizes, a strong reliance on marine-influenced landscapes, and a diverse diet of salmon, marine mammals, intertidal invertebrates, and deer.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· May 22

We need to talk about cost, complexities, and what “sustainable salmon” really means. Full breakdown 👇 www.raincoast.org/2026/05/alas...

Backgrounder: So you live in B.C., but you're mostly finding Alaska-caught salmon in stores. Why?

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· May 12

Janine McNeilly is a research scientist for Raincoast’s Cetacean Research Program working to help us understand the effectiveness of Vessel Restricted Zones in Southern BC. Her fieldwork takes her to Pender Island, where she observes whales from a bluff overlooking the Salish Sea.

Janine, a research scientist, stands on a bluff overlooking the Salish Sea, looking at equipment she uses to monitor her sightings.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· May 11

What have our estuary salmon fieldwork crews been up to...? Our Lower Fraser Salmon Conservation Program Field Researcher, Paige Roper, reflects on the beginnings of an eighth year of fieldwork in the Fraser River Estuary. www.raincoast.org/2026/05/estu...

Chinook captured on the South Arm of the Fraser River.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· May 10

Guided by mom: The matriarchal world of killer whales. Like us, motherhood is a lifetime commitment for these mammals. #HappyMothersDay #ThankyouMom www.raincoast.org/2026/05/guid...

A great grandmother killer whale, T059, swims with a great granddaughter, T059A1A, off of Pender Island.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· May 8

With Mother’s Day approaching, we’re reminded that care for the next generation is rarely the work of one alone. In both wolves and people, it is shared among mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunties, and the broader community that surrounds them. www.raincoast.org/2026/05/a-mo...

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· May 5

We are searching for participants to join our next Land Healing Stewards Initiative sailing expedition! This trip will bring together eight Indigenous, BPOC, and 2SLGBQT+ youth, ages 19-29, to engage in hands-on conservation activities. www.raincoast.org/2026/05/educ...

A sail boat floats along the water, with text over the image that reads: The Land Healing Stewards Initiative, a five-day land-to-sea educational expedition through the Salish Sea aboard Raincoast's sailing vessel, Achiever. June 9-12, 2026. Eight spots for Indigenous, BPOC, and 2SLGBQT+ youth ages 19-29. Departing and returing to Sidney, BC. Free of charge. Apply by May 15th. Activities include habitat restoration and monitoring, hiking and sailing, wildlife observation, and making new connections. For any questions, contact Pascale at pascale@raincoast.org

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Apr 22

We’ve known for years that underwater noise is a problem for the Southern Residents. What we didn’t have, until now, was a detailed, decade-long picture of how much things have changed, or a rigorous assessment of whether current management measures are making a difference (2/4).

A dorsal fin of a killer whale is seen from a distance, a forest in the background. Text overtop reads: The effectiveness of current protections is limited by several factors
only in effect from June through November
compliance among non-commercial vessels is inconsistent
zones are narrow enough that any SRKW inside them would still be acoustically exposed to vessels operating outside
Multiple occasions were recorded where individual vessel transits completely eliminated the whales’ acoustic space, silencing them entirely.

A killer whale is pictured swimming just below the water's surface. The image has text overtop that reads: Education, strengthening recovery actions, and giving killer whales a voice
Our newly launched NoiseTracker Education Hub covers how scientists detect and measure underwater sound, why different species are affected differently, and what mitigation efforts are underway.

A close up shot of a killer whale as they break the wavy ocean surface to breath, with text overtop of the image that reads: Killer whales depend on sound for virtually every aspect of their lives: finding food, maintaining family bonds, and navigating their world. The least we can do is understand what we are taking from them, and act on what we know.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Apr 22

This #EarthDay, and every day, we’re listening to killer whales (1/4).

A Southern Resident killer whale is seen from above, breaking the surface to breathe, with text laid over the image: New research and public education hub document the acoustic crisis facing the southern residents, Nearly a decade of findings from the Salish Sea, a new resource to make sense of the science, and what can be done.

Two scientists stand on a rocky shore as they install a hydrophone, a small boat in the background on the water. Text is on top of the image: A hydrophone in Southern Resident critical habitat off Pender Island. Deployed by Raincoast Conservation Foundation, this hydrophone sits directly within the Pender Vessel Restricted Zone, a seasonal protected area established in 2019 to reduce vessel noise and disturbance to Southern Resident killer whales.

A close up of a hydrophone wire travelling along a rocky shore, with text over top of the image: A decade of listening off Saturna Island. The SAturna ISland Marine Research and Education Society (SIMRES) has maintained a hydrophone off Monarch Head since 2014, one of the longest continous underwater acoustic records in SRKW critical habitat. Their collaboration with Raincoast made this trend analysis possible.

A scientist stands on a rocky shore, looking out at open ocean, and she holds a hydrophone wire that travels to the right of the image. Text overtop reads: The analysis compares acoustic conditions in 2017, 2023, and 2025.
Put simply: the acoustic environment in one of the most important stretches of habitat for these whales has deteriorated sharply and consistently over the past eight years.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Apr 21

Many hands make light(er) work! #NationalVolunteerWeek Our deepest gratitude and utmost admiration goes out to all of the volunteers, far and wide, who show up for nature. Often overlooked is the sheer volume of human hours it takes to achieve long-term restoration goals.

A young steward stands holding a shovel and wearing a sack that holds shrubs that need to be planted, while two workers wearing gardening gloves add plants to the sack. They all smile contently.

A grassy forest floor is covered with small red flags, indicating where new native species have been planted. Volunteers with shovels dig and tend to the land.

A group of volunteers kneel over the forest floor, their hands in the soil as they plant native species.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Apr 16

Why is it important to know the different types of killer whales and keep your distance? www.raincoast.org/voice/

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Apr 16

🔍Whale whale whale… who do we have here? Welcome to Raincoast CSI … Cetacean Species Identification! Let’s look at clues for identifying the two types of killer whales you’re most likely to encounter in the Salish Sea www.raincoast.org/2026/04/tell...

Text on an image of three killer whales emerging from the water's surface reads: Clues to help you tell Southern Resident and Bigg's (transient) killer whales apart. Swipe to read full.

A grid of four different killer whale dorsal fins, two on the left being Southern Resident's, and two on the right being Bigg's. Text on the images reads: Dorsal fins, Southern Residents tend to have narrow, rounded dorsal fins that are typically free of nicks or scratches. Bigg’s killer whales have dorsal fins that are broader at the base with pointed, shark-like tips. Their fins often have nicks and notches, likely from hunting large prey with teeth!

The image is split in half, showing a Southern Resident saddle patch on the left, and a Bigg's on the right. The text reads: Saddle patches, A killer whale’s saddle patch is the grey area just behind and below their dorsal fin.

SRKW often have “open” saddle patches, where black pigmentation cuts into the grey, creating a unique pattern that can be used to identify individual whales. Bigg’s killer whales typically have large, solid saddle patches with no black pigmentation patterns.

An image of three killer whale dorsal fins in the fog, with text that reads, Remember, vessels should never intentionally approach marine mammals. Close approaches can cause stress, disrupt important behaviours like feeding and resting, and create unsafe situations for both humans and animals. Underwater noise from vessel engines and propellers is also a serious concern, as it can mask the calls and echolocation clicks that whales rely on to communicate, navigate, and find food.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Mar 26

Submit your comments, help protect the Southern Residents. We've drafted a guide 👉 www.raincoast.org/2026/03/guid...

A group of Southern Resident killer whales break the surface of the ocean to breathe, frothy white water surrounding them. Text overlay reads "Your comments on proposed regulations can protect the endangered Southern Residents from vessel disturbance. Take action by Tuesday, April 21st.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Mar 25

LISTEN: hydrophone recordings capture killer whales navigating through a noisy ocean… Raincoast’s hydrophone deployed off of Pender Island captured nearly five hours of Southern Resident killer whale vocalizations during an overnight pass through Swanson Channel.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Mar 20

We call on the federal government to make good on its promise to protect the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BC SRIF). You can help defend critical salmon habitat - copy and send our draft action letter email. #Salmon #Habitat raincoast.org/2026/03/prot...

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Feb 13

Killer whale, or kazoo? Sound on! www.raincoast.org/2026/02/what...

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Jan 27

A paper authored by Raincoast scientists became the most downloaded article of The Canadian Journal of Zoology in 2025. “Grizzly bears detected at ecotourism sites are less likely than predicted by chance to encounter conflict,” had been read by almost 1,500 independent users last year. (Continued)

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Jan 21

Do belugas have bromances? A new scientific review by a research team including Raincoast scientists just dropped at Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, bringing together decades of research to provide the most complete picture yet of the social nature of belugas. www.raincoast.org/2026/01/do-b...

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Dec 18

To protect #KillerWhales, we need to understand their communication. In 2025, Raincoast and @earthspecies.bsky.social unified field biologists, acoustic specialists, and experts in modern analytical methods to study killer whale communication like never before. You can help. raincoast.org/listen/

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Dec 16

New paper alert! Gaps in policy implementation obscure conservation progress after two decades under Canada’s Wild Salmon Policy #WildSalmon #policy doi.org/10.1139/cjfa...

A bright red Sockeye salmon is seen under the water, bathed in gorgeous yellow and green light, surrounded by rocks and grasses and other smaller salmon.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Oct 15

These films are stunning. You might see water and salmon and people in new ways. #SharedWaters #SalishSea

People sit in a dark theatre watching the Raincoast and PSF crew on the big screen.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Oct 15

Brooke Gerle and Murray Ned, Executive Director of the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, say, "Come down for a film! Three films!" #yyj

Brooke Gerle and Murray Ned stand side by side.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation@raincoast· Oct 15

It's happening! Krysten Maier and Bailey DeBaie, with @psfca.bsky.social, getting ready for the showing of Shared Waters of the Salish Sea. #SalishSea #yyj