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Resuscitated otter baby returns to family
By Kathy O'Reilly, North Island Eagle, August 14 2026
A river otter rescued in Alert Bay July 28 has been returned to the water and its family after a short stay at MARS Rescue Hospital.
The otter was found trapped in a gillnet that had wrapped around its neck cutting off the animal’s ability to breathe. Two other otter siblings were released from the net and returned to their mother.
Gordie Mellish performed CPR and mouth to mouth resuscitation on the animal successfully reviving it.
“A few volunteers felt Nalatu is a female because she wanted a clean house,” said Quirk, however it is too early to tell its sex for sure.
Mellish named the river otter pup Nalatu after his niece Nala. He added ‘tu’ because the otter is the second Nala.
‘Nala’ in Kwak̓’wala means brave one, said rescuer Robin Quirk.
Nalatu was taken to MARS where it was treated with antibiotics and monitored until they felt it was ready to be returned home Aug. 7 and released Aug. 8. MARS had packed an otter’s lunch and breakfast made up of raw fish, soaked kibble and boiled eggs for its trip home.
“On Aug. 7, I received a call from Robin notifying me that she would be in Alert Bay that evening with the otter and requested assistance with locating its family and returning it,” said Anne Jackson.
“That evening we went to the site where it was saved a week and a half before. The otter was quite content in the crate in Robin’s car but there was a clear change in behaviour the moment we brought the crate down to the dock,” Jackson said. “It became very vocal and active, clearly wanted out.” With no sign of the otter’s family, it was decided to wait until the next day and try again. “The next morning before daybreak we regrouped again at the dock. The moment we got there, the otter once again became vocal and active. We each took a spot at different points on the island to watch for any other activity,” she explained. At about 9 a.m. it was decided to go ahead on MARS’s advice and open the crate.
“It was interesting to watch the cautious behaviour as it slowly poked its head out to observe its surroundings before fully exiting. Once out, it circled the otter box sniffing its way down to the water for a quick dip before coming out and looking at Robin and Gordie as though it was saying goodbye before heading back in to swim out to the dock close to where it was found,” said Jackson.
Later on around 5 p.m. Robin returned to check on the pup. She brought the last of its food that MARS packed for the otter’s trip. She stood on the dock above the hole in the dock and looked down into the ocean. Robin whistled a little short tune that she had repeatedly whistled for the otter while it was in her care. Under the dock the water swooshed, and something swam in a circle below. Robin looked down to see a small otter swimming. It circled and its webbed feet and little face could be seen from above. “I was glad to have the experience to save the life of the baby river otter. I have saved over ten peoples’ lives in my lifetime and being able to save the life of a baby otter is definitely a different experience but a worthwhile one,” Mellish.
Photo — Submitted
Gordie Mellish, Anne Jackson, and Robin Quirk celebrating a successful River otter pup release of Nalatu.
Climate change, urbanization factors in Grizzly move?
By Kathy O'Reilly, North Island Eagle, August 14 2026
A Grizzly Bear has hibernated and given birth to cubs on Vancouver Island in the first confirmed case of its kind since before the last ice age.
The family of grizzlies near Sayward was the topic of discussion at a presentation at the Port Hardy Library Branch on Aug. 6.
The presentation covered grizzlies’ diet, behaviour, physical characteristics, evolution and adaptation, why their patterns are changing, and why they may be coming to Vancouver Island.
Grizzly bears tend to be much larger than Vancouver Island’s Black Bears, said WildSafe BC Port Hardy Community Co-ordinator Christina Kuzma-Wells. Kuzma-Wells works alongside local groups such as Bear Smart Port Hardy to educate residents on reducing human-wildlife conflicts, host public information sessions, and attend community events.
“They have large shoulders, and that very big shoulder hump is a huge muscle that they have because they do a lot of digging, which also contributes to their claws. Grizzly Bears have the largest claws of all bear species,” Kuzma-Wells said.
Grizzly bears are omnivores, with about 70 per cent of their diet made up of plant-based foods.
Grizzly Bears do not have traditional territories or defend land. Their ranges span from 25 to 700 kilometres.
Higher concentrations of grizzlies are found along the mainland coast, in central British Columbia, and throughout the Rockies into Alberta. Their population is estimated at 28,000. “About half of those live in British Columbia,” she said.
Grizzlies are currently classed as a species of special concern; however, they were once classified as a species at risk of extinction.
“Lots of Grizzly Bears were actually killed illegally through hunting,” Kuzma-Wells said, adding that farmers would also kill them because they believed they posed a risk to livestock.
“There is archaeological evidence that Grizzly Bears used to inhabit Vancouver Island before the last ice age, approximately 8,000 to 10,000 years ago,” Kuzma-Wells said.
“Since then, even though they have had the ability to come to Vancouver Island, they have chosen not to,” she said, adding that scientists do not know exactly why.
There are a few theories. One is that Vancouver Island’s Black Bear population creates competition for grizzlies. Another is that food availability on the mainland is so rich that grizzlies have not had a reason to swim over.
Things are changing, however.
“We’re seeing more come over recently, and it kind of begs the question: why are they coming over now if they’ve had 8,000 years to do so and haven’t? What’s changed?”
On the mainland, increased development and urbanization have fragmented grizzly habitat.
Climate change is shifting patterns of food availability, which could also be influencing their behaviour.
The population of grizzlies on the mainland is growing while their habitat is decreasing, “so they’re seeking out new ranges and new habitat,” which could account for more sightings on Vancouver Island.
“It’s very natural that males come over during the summer. Typically, they’ll realize there are no females here come fall and they’ll go back.”
In 2025, a female grizzly and her cubs were spotted near Sayward, indicating she had hibernated on Vancouver Island.
This was significant because the cubs were the first known grizzlies born on Vancouver Island in modern records.
Cubs usually stay with their mothers for about three years.
There have been signs and sightings around Sayward that the family is still on the island.
It is unlikely that grizzlies will establish a significant population on Vancouver Island, but because this is an unprecedented time for climate change and urbanization, the future is impossible to predict.
“Because it is fairly new, we don’t have much data or research right now, but it is something we hope to gain more of in the future.”
Photo — Kathy O'Reilly
WildSafe BC Port Hardy Community Co-ordinator Christina Kuzma-Wells gave a presentation on Grizzly Bears on the island at the Port Hardy Library Aug. 6.