Learn more about one of the most elusive predators in the region at The Secret Lives of Wolves, an all-ages guided walk at East Sooke Regional Park on Saturday.
Join a CRD Regional Parks cultural programmer and a park naturalist on a stroll to learn more about the natural and cultural history of the coastal wolves of Vancouver Island.
While the majority of coastal wolves on Vancouver Island are found in the northern part of the Island, there are two known packs in the south. There are usually between 12 and 24 members in each pack.
“We will be talking about their cultural significance to local First Nations [and their] family dynamics, habitat and diet,” said Leslie McGarry, cultural programmer for CRD Parks. “We want to break down the negative stereotypes around wolves — like in Little Red Riding Hood or the idea of werewolves — with information of their value to the ecosystem.”
During the walk you will look for tracks and signs of wildlife, as well as learning how sea wolves survive on the coastal landscape.
Canis lupus crassodon, known as the coastal wolf or sea wolf, is a subspecies of the grey wolf. Found mainly along the coast of the province and Vancouver Island, they differ from wolves found further inland due to their semi-aquatic lifestyle. They usually hunt game, such as deer, in packs and forage along the shorelines and the adjacent mossy forests.
Their strong swimming skills enabled them to inhabit islands along the Salish Sea and follow the migration of salmon when in season.
The walk is free. The event runs 1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 at East Sooke Regional Park. Meet at the information kiosk at the Aylard Farm parking lot, off Becher Bay Road. The walk is 800 metres in length on a slight incline, with a smooth gravel surface. The path is wheelchair accessible.
For more information, go to crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture.
Longest Night Service a chance to pause and reflect ahead of Christmas
Say a prayer and light a candle for hope and remembrance of a person who was special in your life at the Longest Night Service at St. Luke’s Church, Sunday.
The lead-up to Christmas can be hard for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one or a change in their lives. Others are looking for a simpler, less commercial way to celebrate the season.
The special service, also known as Light in the Midst of Darkness, invites people to pause and reflect during an hour-long quiet prayer service.
The service is free to attend. It will be held 7 to 8 p.m. at St. Luke’s Church, 3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd. (corner of Cedar Hill Cross Road and Cedar Hill Road). The parking lot is accessed via Cedar Hill Cross Road.
For details, call 250-477-6741 or go to stlukesvictoria.ca/events.
