Vancouver sits beautifully between ocean waters and mountain wilderness, creating the perfect home for countless wild creatures. From your backyard to forest trails, you could spot everything from furry mammals to colorful birds going about their daily lives. These animal neighbors remind us that nature thrives right alongside our busy city streets.
Always observe wild animals from a safe distance and never attempt to feed or approach them, as this can be dangerous for both you and the animal.
1. Black Bears
With a powerful build and surprisingly nimble movements, black bears roam through Vancouver’s forests searching for berries, insects, and vegetation. Spring through fall marks their most active period as they prepare for winter hibernation.
Males can weigh up to 300 pounds, though most are smaller. Keep garbage secured and fruit trees picked clean to avoid attracting these magnificent creatures to residential areas.
2. Coyotes
Spotting a coyote trotting along a pathway has become surprisingly common across Vancouver neighbourhoods. These adaptable canines hunt mainly at dawn and dusk, feeding on rodents, rabbits, and sometimes fallen fruit.
Their eerie howling often echoes through valleys at night. Pet owners should supervise small animals outdoors, especially during breeding season between January and March when coyotes become more territorial and protective.
3. River Otters
Playful and curious, river otters bring joy to anyone lucky enough to watch them slide down muddy banks or float on their backs. They inhabit streams, lakes, and coastal waters throughout the Vancouver area, hunting fish and crustaceans with remarkable skill.
Families travel together in groups, communicating through chirps and whistles. Look for them near False Creek, Stanley Park waters, or quieter streams during early morning hours.
4. Bald Eagles
Nothing compares to watching a bald eagle soar overhead, its white head gleaming against cloudy skies. Vancouver hosts one of the largest urban populations of these majestic raptors in North America.
They build massive nests in tall trees near water, returning to the same spot year after year. Winter brings hundreds more eagles to feed on spawning salmon, creating spectacular viewing opportunities along local rivers and coastlines.
5. Raccoons
Those tiny masked bandits raiding your compost bin possess intelligence that constantly surprises researchers. Raccoons thrive in urban Vancouver, using their dexterous paws to open containers, climb fences, and explore every possible food source.
Nocturnal by nature, they emerge after sunset to forage. Mother raccoons often raise babies in attics or under porches, so seal potential entry points before spring when babies arrive.
6. Great Blue Herons
Standing perfectly still like a statue, the great blue heron waits patiently before striking at fish with lightning speed. These tall, elegant birds frequent Vancouver’s beaches, marshes, and garden ponds throughout the year.
Pacific Spirit Park hosts a significant nesting colony where dozens of pairs raise their young. Watch for their slow, graceful wingbeats as they fly overhead, legs trailing behind their streamlined bodies.
7. Harbour Seals
Round, whiskered faces pop up curiously from the water as harbour seals investigate boats and kayakers around Vancouver’s shores. These marine mammals haul out on rocks and logs to rest, digest meals, and warm themselves in whatever sunshine appears.
Pups are born in summer, often on protected beaches. Their mottled coats provide camouflage against predators. Resist the urge to approach resting seals, as disturbance causes unnecessary stress.
8. Barred Owls
Their haunting call sounds like someone asking, “Who cooks for you?” echoing through Vancouver forests after dark. Barred owls have expanded their range westward and now hunt successfully in urban parks and wooded neighbourhoods.
Unlike many owl species, they sometimes hunt during daylight hours. Watch for them perched quietly on branches, scanning the ground below for mice, voles, and small birds with their keen eyesight and exceptional hearing.
9. Douglas Squirrels
Smaller and feistier than their grey cousins, Douglas squirrels chatter loudly at anything they consider a threat to their territory. Their reddish brown coats and white eye rings make them easy to identify as they race through Vancouver’s coniferous forests.
Also called chickarees, they harvest and store thousands of pine cones each fall. Listen for their sharp, scolding calls and watch them perform acrobatic leaps between branches with remarkable confidence.
10. Anna’s Hummingbirds
Jewel-toned and impossibly tiny, Anna’s hummingbirds zip through Vancouver gardens year-round, even braving cold winter months. Males sport brilliant rose-pink heads that flash in sunlight as they perform dramatic diving displays to attract mates.
Their wings beat up to 80 times per second, creating that distinctive humming sound. Plant native flowers like red flowering currant or hang feeders filled with sugar water to welcome these energetic visitors.
11. Black-Tailed Deer
Graceful and surprisingly bold, black-tailed deer browse through Vancouver parks and suburban gardens, munching on flowers, shrubs, and tender vegetation. Their dark tail tips give them their name, though most people first notice their huge, expressive ears constantly swiveling to detect danger.
Does often hide spotted fawns in quiet corners during spring. Gardeners frustrated by nibbled roses should consider deer-resistant plants or protective fencing around prized specimens.
12. Stellar’s Jays
Bold, loud, and impossibly beautiful, Stellar’s jays announce their presence with harsh, rattling calls that echo through Vancouver’s forests. Their deep blue plumage contrasts dramatically with charcoal black heads topped by a prominent crest that rises when they become excited or alarmed.
These intelligent corvids remember human faces and food sources. They often mimic hawk calls to scare other birds away from feeders, revealing their clever, mischievous nature perfectly.
