Sq'éwqel Critter Camera and Community Wildlife Sightings
Community members are encouraged to share their observations and photos directly with our team. We look forward to seeing what you’ve spotted!
Discover Wildlife on our Territory
Choose an option below to view or share wildlife observations from the area.
View and submit wildlife captured by the community.
Images coming soon!
Images coming soon!
Images coming soon!
Images coming soon!
Images coming soon!
Images coming soon!
Images coming soon!
Images coming soon!
Mammals, birds, and other animals that live on land.
Native Terrestrial (Land) Animals
Spá:th (Black Bear)
- Spá:th are large land animals.
- The only bear species present on Seabird Island.
They can be distinguished from Grizzly Bears by looking for these things:
- No shoulder hump.
- From their forehead to tip of their nose is straight.
- Prominent, tall, oval-shaped ears.
- Curved claws less than two inches long.
- Tracks: For tracks of the front foot, a straight line from the outside toes crosses over the pad.
Smôqw'e (Great Blue Heron)
- Smôqw’e are a large bird.
- Have a unique long, thin neck and long legs. These traits are beneficial when these birds wade in shallow water (where they can typically be found) looking for small fish to eat.
- Their light, neutral colour also helps them sneak up on fish, as they blend in with the light sky above them.
American Robin
- Abundant songbirds in the Lower Mainland can be found all-year.
- Have a noticeable red-orange belly with a grey back and darker gray head and yellow beak.
- Short, sharp beak used to gather insects, fruit and berries.
- From April to July, they make small nests where they lay three to six blue eggs. The eggs take about two weeks to hatch, and it takes another two weeks for the young to leave their nests.
Fish and other species that live in rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Native Aquatic (Water) Animals
Sqelá:w (American Beaver)
- Sqelá:w can be seen in or around Maria Slough.
- They build lodges where they raise their young and spend the winters. They build dams downstream of their lodge to keep the water level high enough to keep the entrance to their lodge underwater all winter long. This protects them from predators.
- Have brown fur, a large flat tail and prominent front teeth used for chewing wood.
- Sqelá:w’s teeth will continue to grow for their entire life, like our nails. They keep them from growing too long and file them down by chewing on wood.
Sq'á:tl' (River Otter)
- Sq’á:tl’ are mainly aquatic but do also come on land.
- Thick water-repellent, brown fur, small ears and long, streamlined bodies.
- Their ears and eyes are near the top of their head for improved vision while swimming at the water surface. Sq’á:tl’ are very skilled predators, though they have very cute faces and playful personalities.
- They are carnivores feeding on amphibians, turtles, crayfish, fish and other invertebrates.
- Sq’á:tl’ are skinnier and have less fur than sea otters.
- Sq’á:tl’ grow to around 22-32 cm long and weigh 10 to 30 lbs, with long tails which make up a third of their bodies.
- *A major difference between Sq’á:tl’ and sqelá:w (beaver) is the shape of their tail. Sq’á:tl’ have thin long tails whereas sqelá:w has wide, flat tails.
Fun fact: Sq’á:tl’ have a mutualism relationship (when a species benefits from an action of another species) with sqelá:w
- sqelá:w increases species variation within the environment increasing the food sources for sq’á:tl’
- Sq’á:tl’ will den in abandoned beaver lodges
Learn how to use this page and submit sightings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I submit a photo?
Please email your sighting information to our dedicated address with the subject “Critter Camera”: fishandwildlife@seabirdisland.ca
