Catherine Babault

Two Vancouver Island marmots (one pup and one yearling) playing in the mountains on Vancouver Island. Lots of theatrics and some friendly wrestling but nobody got hurt. They were just having fun and it was fun to watch! Photo taken years ago. #photography #nature #marmot #VancouverIslandWildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada

Black bear and her cub looking for salmon in a river on Vancouver Island last week. #photography #nature #bears #wildlife #VancouverIslandWildlife #BritishColumbia #Canada

This gorgeous chunky black bear just spotted a delicious salmon. At this time of year, bears consume up to 20,000 calories per day. It is called hyperphagia. I can only hope to eat that much! 😆 #photography #nature #bears #VancouverIslandWildlife #BritishColumbia #Canada #wildlife

Black bear cubs waiting for their mum while she is catching salmon. There was a lot of communication between the cubs and between the cubs and their mum. Verbal and also tactile. I enjoyed watching their interactions, I just wish I could understand. #photography #nature #wildlife #bears #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada #VancouverIslandWildlife

Spot the bear! #photography #nature #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada #VancouverIslandWildlife

We interrupt your regular program for a photo of a flying dinosaur on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. #photography #nature #birds #VancouverIslandWildlife #wildlife #Canada

Egg Yolk Jellyfish haunting the Pacific Ocean near Vancouver Island. #photography #nature #VancouverIslandWildlife #BritishColumbia #Canada #jellyfish

#SilentSunday #photography #VancouverIslandWildlife

Autumn is here, cooler nights, shorter days. Soon the Vancouver Island marmot will go into hibernation. This adult marmot was enjoying the last days of summer. Photo taken a few years ago. #photography #nature #marmots #VancouverIslandWildlife #VancouverIslandMarmot #BritishColumbia #Canada

Black bear sow looking at her two cubs. Photo taken earlier this week. She is a good mother and experienced. In a previous post, I mentioned that she might be the matriarch in the clan based on my observations of the past years. Here's more info about matrilinear hierarchy in black bears in North America: https://kilhambearcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Matrilinear-Hierarchy-of-black-bears.pdf #photography #nature #wildlife #bears #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada #VancouverIslandWildlife

Mama Grizzly in a field of wildflowers on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Isn't she beautiful? #photography #nature #wildlife #VancouverIslandWildlife #Canada

After catching a salmon in a river, bears walk to the forest to eat it. They eat the fatty parts of the fish such as the brain, skin and eggs. The rest of the fish feeds birds, insects, invertebrates, and trees. #photography #nature #wildlife #bears #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada #VancouverIslandWildlife

Today I played hide-and-seek with black bears and I also photographed and filmed a herd of elk (wapiti) and that was my goal for today so I am very happy. Rut season has started. The bull I saw has a large harem and an impressive set of antlers. I then visited another of my secret spots for elk where I saw large scratches on a tree left by a bull. I could smell elk urine as well, it is distinctive. Vegetation was thick and visibility limited so I left for safety reasons.

I am a quiet and calm wildlife photographer. I move slowly. I pause often. I feel, smell and listen to nature around me. Sometimes wildlife gets close because they trust me or they are just curious. Recently a family of Black-tailed deer, 2 females and their fawns, walked towards me and then around me while foraging. They were so close that I could have touched them. I didn't. I remained still. Here's one of the fawns. #photography #wildlife #nature #VancouverIslandWildlife #VancouverIsland

Mrs. and Mr. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) on an early morning stroll at a marsh. Spotted during a recent photo tour. We heard their call first so we approached very slowly and quietly. #photography #nature #birds #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada #VancouverIslandWildlife

A fawn sticks its tongue out at me as I catch it with its mother, eating the last of the blackberries. #photography #nature #WildlifeWednesday #VancouverIslandWildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada

British Columbia is logging its last old growth. Protesters are sleeping in the road to stop it. https://cheknews.ca/british-columbia-is-logging-its-last-old-growth-protesters-are-sleeping-in-the-road-to-stop-it-1340473/ #environment #OldGrowthForests #logging #foresty #nature #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia

One of my busiest time of the year is about to start with the return of the salmon. That annual event attracts a lot of wildlife such as black bears and a keen interest from amateur and pro wildlife photographers. Don't worry if I don't post every day, nothing bad has happened, I will simply spend a lot of time in the field with guests. Long days ahead. I still have some availability for private tours in September if you're interested. #photography #VancouverIslandWildlife

When someone steals your lunch... #photography #wildlife #nature #marmots #VancouverIslandWildlife #BritishColumbia #Canada

California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) on the coast of Vancouver Island. Sometimes they come close to the shore to check you out and bark at you. #photography #VancouverIslandWildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #wildlife

Nom nom nom!! 🐻 Can't wait for the salmon run. Photo taken last year. #photography #BearsOfMastodon #wildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #VancouverIslandWildlife

Talking about furry beasts, here's a black bear looking for salmon in a river on Vancouver Island. Photo taken a few years ago. #photography #wildlife #bears #VancouverIslandWildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia

A beautiful encounter last week while tracking a cougar. The deer was nervous. A cougar was spotted there two days prior to my first visit. It is only a matter of time before I see and photograph one. There has been a lot of sightings in different areas in my region recently. #photography #wildlife #nature #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #VancouverIslandWildlife

Spot the bear! #photography #wildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #VancouverIslandWildlife

Little suns to brighten your day or evening. Entire-leaved gumweed aka Oregon gumweed (Grindelia stricta), Vancouver Island, British Columbia. #BloomScrolling #photography #flowers #nature #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #VancouverIslandWildlife

Peaceful day at a marsh on Vancouver Island, where two herons were patiently waiting for a prey to show up. #photography #BirdsOfMastodon #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #VancouverIslandWildlife

So I am watching Beachcombers on Knowledge Network for the first time because I am an immigrant and was living in another country when it came out. Canadians, British Columbians: tell me more about the show, the cast, the location and things that I should know about this iconic series. #Beachcombers #BritishColumbia #Canada #TV

Here's a Vancouver Island marmot pup to start your week. Young animals are curious and sometimes they get closer to the camera to the delight of photographers. Note that I used a telephoto lens for this photo of a wild marmot in a subalpine meadow on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. #photography #nature #wildlife #VancouverIslandWildlife #marmots

Ten years ago, I won First Place in the Wildlife category and Best in Show in the Beginner category of the Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Contest for this photo of a gull trying to steal a herring from a sea lion. A few years later, I decided to follow my dream and become a full-time nature photographer. This August will mark 8 years since I started my own business. Being self-employed has its rewards and challenges and is not for everyone. Personally I have no regrets.

Stepped in bear scat with my right foot this morning. It should bring me luck.

Update: I sent an official complaint to FP Champagne, Minister of Finance, because my tax return has not been processed by CRA. I sent it 5 months ago. Received a reply 3 weeks later from his Communication office telling me that it is not their responsibility and I shall contact CRA by phone, mail or learn more online. Checked the status of my CRA file online: Service unavailable. Last week I emailed my MP (NDP), his office replied within 2 hours: they are going to help me.

@xkataquapit@mstdn.ca I am so happy for you, Xavier. Thank you so much @Tode@indieweb.social for sharing the link. I am discovering languages too. :)

A young Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) learning to forage for themselves under the watchful eye of a mature one (not in the photo). #photography #BirdsOfMastodon #birds #wildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada #VancouverIslandWildlife

Mid-August to November is when we have the best chances to see and photograph black bears catching salmon on Vancouver Island. One of the most popular times for my photo tours. Two more weeks... 😁

@carolannie@c.im Beautiful colour. :)

#SilentSunday #photography

The salmon that got away. #photography #wildlife #bears #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #VancouverIslandWildlife

@DavidM_yeg@beige.party It is heart-breaking to see parts of the landscape on Vancouver Island. You look at mountain ranges and it's a patchwork of clear cuts and second-growth forests. I am not against logging, I use wood products every day, but I am for responsible logging. Stop logging old-growth forests, once they're gone, they're gone.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/seemed-appropriate-vancouver-island-artist-uses-horse-manure-to-paint-trump-portrait/ #art #VancouverIsland

@PhoenixSerenity@beige.party That tarnishes the battle to save old-growth forests but let's remember that most demonstrators over the last decades are good people who won some of the battles and I am thankful to them for saving some old-growth forests on Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii.

Dinosaurs: The True Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYXpRWHVIPE&list=PLs_v0WJdNfE6XiOwdW_VBijDAyIqKwbaM&index=9 #dinosaurs #ShortFilm #humour #humor

@krnlg@mastodon.social I read somewhere they use it for toilet paper too in the UK. I don't remember the source so I am not sure if it's true or not.

The Common Chamaleon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtFRWaC-aU4 #humour #humor #ShortFilm #animals

@tantramar@zeroes.ca Did you notice the small print at the end of the article: ''Editorial process Space Daily articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed by editorial staff before publication.''

@CStamp@mastodon.social It is.

Western sandpiper foraging at low tide last week on Vancouver Island. I love sandpipers, they are interesting to photograph as I have to anticipate which way they're going and they move fast, stop, run, stop... #photography #nature #birds #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #VancouverIslandWildlife #Canada

@Tode@indieweb.social It's a small world. :) @xkataquapit@mstdn.ca

How many elk in this photo? #photography #nature #wildlife #VancouverIslandWildlife

Another reminder to keep your dog on-leash, particularly on Vancouver Island! https://cheknews.ca/hiker-injured-in-black-bear-attack-near-cumberland-sunday-1337526/

@tantramar@zeroes.ca I just blocked them too. I actually read the article, which led me to read another article, and that's how I found out about the AI thing. The writing was 'weird', sorry I can't think of a proper English word to describe it.