An individual in British Columbia has tested presumptive positive for avian influenza (also known as bird flu) caused by the H5 influenza virus, the first detection of avian influenza due to the H5 virus in a person in B.C.

George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, have released the following statement about a new partnership between the Province and the Grizzly Bear Foundation aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflicts and enhancing the well-being of grizzly and black bears in the province:

People and wildlife in coastal communities of British Columbia will soon benefit from a cleaner coast because of new funding from the Province.

Toquaht Nation and Uchucklesaht Tribe members on the west coast of Vancouver Island will have safer access to their communities with new improvements coming to forest service roads.

Government is taking further steps to limit the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer populations and to protect elk, moose and caribou that are also at risk of infection.

British Columbia’s chief forester has set the new allowable annual cut (AAC) level for the North Island Timber Supply Area (TSA).

A major expansion of Klinse-za Park, located west of Chetwynd and Hudson’s Hope in northeastern B.C., will better protect sacred sites and wildlife habitat, and contribute to the goal of protecting 30% of lands in B.C. by 2030.

To support government’s efforts to prevent invasive species, British Columbia’s chief veterinarian has issued an order making it illegal to transport watercraft in British Columbia with the drain plug still in place, as of May 17, 2024.

The Province, BC Hydro and conservation organizations are increasing efforts to protect local waterways and keep invasive mussels out of B.C.

The Province continues to address chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the Kootenay Region where two deer samples tested positive for CWD earlier this year.