BC SPCA Nelson

11/05/2025

As daylight hours fade, owls become more active during early mornings and evenings, the same times many of us are on the road.

🦉Learn how to help protect these incredible nighttime hunters this season:

As the season changes and it gets darker sooner each day, Wild ARC is seeing an increase of nocturnal animals coming into its care.

11/04/2025

As temperatures drop, cats and wild animals may curl-up under car hoods or wheel wells for warmth. How can we help? Give the hood of our cars a quick tap or thump before starting the engine to help any animals that may be hiding inside a chance to escape safely!

Take Fred, a tiny kitten who was taken on a big, unexpected journey. A Good Samaritan discovered him tucked inside the engine bay of their vehicle after driving home on the highway. He was rushed to an emergency veterinarian where vets found burns on all four paw pads, a laceration behind his left ear, and lameness in his rear left leg.

Read Fred's story and learn more about how we can help prevent this from happening to other animals: https://spca.bc.ca/news/winter-think-and-thump/

10/27/2025

🦇Happy Bat Week🦇Looking for a spooky way to celebrate bats and Halloween? How about busting some bat myths!⁠
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Bats are among the most misunderstood animals in the world. Myths about bats abound, most of which perpetuate negative stereotypes.⁠
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Even the most innocuous myths are hurtful on some level. They stand in the way of appreciating bats, and taking action to help them when they need it. Here is the truth behind some of the most common misconceptions.⁠
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Myth #1: Bats are blind⁠
Bats can actually see quite well, especially in low light. Vision is thought to work alongside echolocation: bats look around to see where they are going, while at the same time sending out ultrasonic calls to find insects too difficult to spot with their eyes.⁠
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Myth #2: Bats are rodents⁠
Some people think that bats are just mice with wings. However, bats belong to their own order of mammals called Chiroptera, which means “hand-wing” (the bones of a bat’s wing are the same as those found in the human hand). In fact, bats are more closely related to primates than they are to rodents.⁠
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Myth #3: Bats like nesting in hair⁠
Bats are often seen swooping towards people’s heads at dusk — but not to get tangled in their hair. People give off heat and carbon dioxide, which attracts bugs. The bats are just attempting to eat these insects, so it only looks as though they are diving for your hair.⁠
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Myth #4: Bats are bloodsuckers⁠
Of the roughly 1,200 bat species, only three feed on blood; these are the vampire bats of Central and South America. None of the 19 species of bats found in Canada eat blood. Canadian bats eat nothing but insects and other arthropods (spiders, centipedes, etc.). ⁠
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Myth #5: All bats have rabies⁠
It is true that bats are a reservoir for rabies in British Columbia: they can carry and transmit the disease without showing any signs themselves. While bats have a reputation for being the main transmitter of rabies, the risk tends to be exaggerated. Random sampling of bat populations has revealed that less than 0.5 per cent of bats test positive for rabies.⁠
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Visit bcbats.ca to find out what you can do to help bats in your community!⁠
Photos by: ⁠Merlin Tuttle

10/21/2025

Ever stared at a tiny critter and wondered: mouse or rat? 🐭
Here's a tease: they're not just different in size. Rats and mice differ in their droppings, nesting habits, and food preferences.

When it comes to rodent control, knowing the difference is more important than you think!

Want to know how to really tell them apart? ‍👉 Dive into the full breakdown on the AnimalKind website ->

Have you ever wondered how to tell apart mice from rats? The most common rodents near homes and in urban areas are the Norway rat, roof rat and house mouse.

10/15/2025

Excited for fall celebrations ahead?

There are all kinds of human hazards in the environment that wild animals can get stuck in. Before you start placing decorations like fake spider webs outdoors for Halloween, learn about their impacts on wild animals and how you can choose safer alternatives:

Wild animals have a lot to worry about – from food, shelter and staying away from predators, to all kinds of human hazards. It’s not uncommon for wild animals to get stuck in things we throw away, or things that get left in their environment. There are a few common examples that the BC SPCA’s ...

10/07/2025

🐶 Ready to pick the right puppy school (so your pup doesn't come home knowing only how to chew your favourite shoes?

Check out Allison Schaefer's advice (Ethical Canine Training and Behaviour Modification) on Puppy School 101: how to spot a quality class that helps, from supervised playgroups to vet-care exposure, and how to avoid the old and debunked "alpha/dominance" fluff.

Curious? Find out what to look for (and what to avoid) → Link in comments!

10/05/2025

Stop by West Kootenay BC SPCA to meet.

10/03/2025

What a cutie!

Meet Liten! Liten is a sweet 1-year-old female with a heart full of love and cuddles to give. She’s incredibly affectionate and adores being close to her people. Whether it’s snuggling on the couch or curling up in your lap, Liten is happiest when she’s near you. She is still needing to be spa...

09/30/2025

All BC SPCA locations will be closed and going silent on social media on September 30 as we observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, in recognition of the history of residential schools in Canada and their impacts on Indigenous Peoples. The BC SPCA is committed to creating system change within the animal protection sector in partnership with Indigenous communities across British Columbia.

The BC SPCA will resume regular opening hours on October 1, 2025. To learn more, visit the link below:

The BC SPCA will honour National Truth and Reconciliation Day, in recognition of the history of residential schools in Canada and their impacts on Indigenous Peoples, by closing all its locations on Tuesday, September 30. The Society will also be ‘going quiet’ across all social media channels to...

09/25/2025

These lovely puppers need forever homes.

09/25/2025

🐶 Take this quick quiz and find out your dog’s profile (+ get personalized training tips based on your answers!).

💬 Share your results in the comments. We’d love to see what your dog’s profile is!

➡️ Take the quiz now: https://animalkind.ca/quiz-and-tips/