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Community Education & Outreach

Inspiring stewardship and highlighting biodiversity in our region

PROWLS engages our community about the ways we can protect our wildlife at home, at work, at school and in our day-to-day lives. We aim to help foster respect and wonder for the amazing biodiversity that surrounds us here!

Learning more about our fantastic coastal local wildlife is the key to making sure we continue to grow up alongside these species for generations to come. In the context of continued growth and development in our region, we must do our best as a community to minimize the impacts of our human endeavours on local wildlife.

Many of the ways you can help prevent human-caused injury to our local wildlife are fun and interesting projects for the whole family!

Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter and receive infrequent updates about events and educational opportunities!


Due to Covid, PROWLS is unable to attend events or offer workshops, but we look forward to seeing you around town again as restrictions ease! In the meantime, please enjoy our online resources, and get in touch if you have any specific wildlife queries.

Wildlife Tips


PROWLS addresses dangers for songbirds
PROWLS addresses dangers for songbirds

WINTER WONDERS: Even as we welcome back all the wonderful songbirds like dark-eyed juncos, song sparrows, golden-crowned sparrows, fox sparrows , chestnut-backed chickadees and spotted towhees that arrive in the fall and leave in the spring, we find they are frequently the victims of cat attacks. The resulting bacterial infection then requires a course of… Read More »PROWLS addresses dangers for songbirds

Birds and window strikes
Birds and window strikes

Just like humans, it can take a day or two for a concussion to show up in a bird that hits your window. Leaving the bird to fly away can mean a painful and confusing death, while a couple of days R&R with PROWLS can guarantee a safe return to its habitat! If a bird… Read More »Birds and window strikes

Outbreak of salmonella in pine siskin population related to feeders
Outbreak of salmonella in pine siskin population related to feeders

Birds Canada has noted a major interruption in pine siskins across North America in this winter of 2020/2021. PROWLS has also seen an increase in the number of pine siskins we have treated this season. What’s going on with the pine siskins? From Birds Canada: “Bird experts believe that a shortage of conifer seeds in… Read More »Outbreak of salmonella in pine siskin population related to feeders

PROWLS reminds residents to leave fawns alone
PROWLS reminds residents to leave fawns alone

Only rarely do fawns need human help. The mothers have to forage for food and can be gone for up to six hours. During this time the fawn, waiting quietly, may need to get up and stretch but will soon settle down again. Fawns have no scent and do not attract predators. If truly concerned,… Read More »PROWLS reminds residents to leave fawns alone

Birds and cat attacks
Birds and cat attacks

Did you know that cats carry bacteria in their mouths which is deadly to birds? Even the tiniest scratch can cause an infection that is fatal if not treated with antibiotics within 24 hours of the injury! Proper medication and a little R&R at PROWLS can ensure a bird that has escaped a cat attack… Read More »Birds and cat attacks

Timing affects results: Don’t wait to call us!
Timing affects results: Don’t wait to call us!

Often those who discover birds that are nestlings, injured or displaying unusual behaviour decide to wait and see how it goes before calling PROWLS. Sometimes they call the next morning, or even in a few days. This is never a good idea. They should call right away. If it is a case of a cat… Read More »Timing affects results: Don’t wait to call us!

Don’t touch the fawns! A reminder for 2023
Don’t touch the fawns! A reminder for 2023

DARLING DEER: April brings the start of baby season in the qathet region, and PROWLS has already taken a call about an “abandoned” fawn. It is alarming to see a tiny newborn fawn curled up on the cold ground in the rain, all alone. Dainty and vulnerable, it seems impossible that it is not abandoned,… Read More »Don’t touch the fawns! A reminder for 2023

Pruning your hedges? Get it done by the first week of April to protect nesting birds
Pruning your hedges? Get it done by the first week of April to protect nesting birds

Our winter birds, from Anna’s hummingbirds to ravens and raptors, are already nesting! Many birds love to nest in dense hedges, and their homes can be difficult to spot through the foliage they prefer. To avoid disturbing them, please prune your hedges by the first week in April or wait for August. The hummingbird nests… Read More »Pruning your hedges? Get it done by the first week of April to protect nesting birds

Hummingbird Feeders: Don’t use honey!
Hummingbird Feeders: Don’t use honey!

Most of our hummingbirds are already back, and some are nesting! These birds are a spring and summer favourite, hovering around us and buzzing in and out of salmonberry and thimbleberry patches. Did you know that honey in hummingbird feeders causes a fungal infection that causes death? Also, the red mixture that many stores carry… Read More »Hummingbird Feeders: Don’t use honey!

PROWLS asks people to stay away from fawns
PROWLS asks people to stay away from fawns

A very young fawn was sitting quietly on the beach as the tide started to come in. It was staying in place just as its mother had told it to. This was essentially good, except the tide was now rising quickly and the fawn was below the high-water mark. It was a cool evening with… Read More »PROWLS asks people to stay away from fawns

PROWLS asks people to stay away from fawns
PROWLS asks people to stay away from fawns

A very young fawn was sitting quietly on the beach as the tide started to come in. It was staying in place just as its mother had told it to. This was essentially good, except the tide was now rising quickly and the fawn was below the high-water mark. It was a cool evening with… Read More »PROWLS asks people to stay away from fawns

Timing affects results: Don’t wait to call us!
Timing affects results: Don’t wait to call us!

Often those who discover birds that are nestlings, injured or displaying unusual behaviour decide to wait and see how it goes before calling PROWLS. Sometimes they call the next morning, or even in a few days. This is never a good idea. They should call right away. If it is a case of a cat… Read More »Timing affects results: Don’t wait to call us!

Birds and cat attacks
Birds and cat attacks

Did you know that cats carry bacteria in their mouths which is deadly to birds? Even the tiniest scratch can cause an infection that is fatal if not treated with antibiotics within 24 hours of the injury! Proper medication and a little R&R at PROWLS can ensure a bird that has escaped a cat attack… Read More »Birds and cat attacks

Birds and window strikes
Birds and window strikes

Just like humans, it can take a day or two for a concussion to show up in a bird that hits your window. Leaving the bird to fly away can mean a painful and confusing death, while a couple of days R&R with PROWLS can guarantee a safe return to its habitat! If a bird… Read More »Birds and window strikes

Pruning your hedges? Get it done by the first week of April to protect nesting birds
Pruning your hedges? Get it done by the first week of April to protect nesting birds

Our winter birds, from Anna’s hummingbirds to ravens and raptors, are already nesting! Many birds love to nest in dense hedges, and their homes can be difficult to spot through the foliage they prefer. To avoid disturbing them, please prune your hedges by the first week in April or wait for August. The hummingbird nests… Read More »Pruning your hedges? Get it done by the first week of April to protect nesting birds

PROWLS reminds residents to leave fawns alone
PROWLS reminds residents to leave fawns alone

Only rarely do fawns need human help. The mothers have to forage for food and can be gone for up to six hours. During this time the fawn, waiting quietly, may need to get up and stretch but will soon settle down again. Fawns have no scent and do not attract predators. If truly concerned,… Read More »PROWLS reminds residents to leave fawns alone

Hummingbird Feeders: Don’t use honey!
Hummingbird Feeders: Don’t use honey!

Most of our hummingbirds are already back, and some are nesting! These birds are a spring and summer favourite, hovering around us and buzzing in and out of salmonberry and thimbleberry patches. Did you know that honey in hummingbird feeders causes a fungal infection that causes death? Also, the red mixture that many stores carry… Read More »Hummingbird Feeders: Don’t use honey!

Outbreak of salmonella in pine siskin population related to feeders
Outbreak of salmonella in pine siskin population related to feeders

Birds Canada has noted a major interruption in pine siskins across North America in this winter of 2020/2021. PROWLS has also seen an increase in the number of pine siskins we have treated this season. What’s going on with the pine siskins? From Birds Canada: “Bird experts believe that a shortage of conifer seeds in… Read More »Outbreak of salmonella in pine siskin population related to feeders

Don’t touch the fawns! A reminder for 2023
Don’t touch the fawns! A reminder for 2023

DARLING DEER: April brings the start of baby season in the qathet region, and PROWLS has already taken a call about an “abandoned” fawn. It is alarming to see a tiny newborn fawn curled up on the cold ground in the rain, all alone. Dainty and vulnerable, it seems impossible that it is not abandoned,… Read More »Don’t touch the fawns! A reminder for 2023

Your Bird Feeders: How to Prevent Infection and Guarantee Return Visitors!
Your Bird Feeders: How to Prevent Infection and Guarantee Return Visitors!

With the warm weather arriving, it’s time to keep your birds feeders clean! Feeders can spread many diseases that can be fatal to new arrivals at the feeder. Whether it is seeds or hummingbird syrup, pathogens grow, so empty the feeders and wash them regularly.


In our community

PROWLS has…

… given talks at the Naturalists Club.

… hosted tables at most of the events in town, answering local wildlife questions and sharing our brochures.

… become eligible for the Federal Youth Employment Grant, allowing us to employ local youth interested in gaining hands on experience working the field of wildlife biology.

… connected with our local library about hosting accessible evening wildlife talks in the future. 

… inspired a couple of classrooms, with more to come!

… connected with leaders of our fantastic outdoor and environmental educational programs about including PROWLS in their syllabus (stay tuned!!)

Help us open a visitor’s centre

PROWLS plans to offer a Visitor’s Centre when we reach our fundraising goals for a new forever facility.

We are inspired by the work of other coastal wildlife and interpretive centres, and want to create an interactive place where our community and visitors can come to learn about the biodiversity of our region. We aim to offer workshops, presentations by visiting biologists, a multi-media library, class field trip opportunities and more!

We invite you to support PROWLS today, as our need for a new facility is urgent and pressing, both in terms of our patient and volunteer capacity.

Help us engage our community and younger generations, and inspire future stewards of our amazing front and backcountry today!