Photo by Dave Hutchison Photography / Getty
Vancouver Island is a unique ecosystem, shaped by its isolation from mainland British Columbia and the rest of Canada. Separated by the Strait of Georgia, the island developed its own distinct wildlife, with some species thriving while others are completely absent. The island’s history, geography, and climate have played major roles in determining which species have made their home here, and which have been left behind on the mainland.
This separation has led to a fascinating contrast between Vancouver Island’s biodiversity and that of mainland BC. Species that are common in other parts of the province and Canada are conspicuously absent on the island. The reasons for this are complex, including factors like the lack of land bridges during periods of glaciation, differences in available habitats, and human influences. The result? An island where certain species, like wolf, black bears and cougars, thrive while others, like grizzly bears and moose, are extremely rare or completely missing.
Let’s look at some of the mammals that you’ll commonly find in mainland BC or other parts of Canada but won’t encounter on Vancouver Island:
Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)
Photo by Jillian Cooper / Getty Images
While black bears are abundant on Vancouver Island, grizzly bears are not native here. There have been occasional, very rare sightings of grizzlies swimming across from the mainland, but these occurrences are extremely unusual.
Moose (Alces alces)
Photo by Jillian Cooper / Getty Images
The moose is an iconic species in Canada and can be found across much of British Columbia, particularly in the north and central regions. However, these large herbivores are not native to Vancouver Island, where the forested habitats differ from their preferred landscapes.
Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Photo by Anita Elder Design / Getty Images
On the mainland, bobcats are common predators in forested and semi-forested regions, but they have never established a population on Vancouver Island, where their larger cousin, the cougar (Puma concolor), can be found all over Vancouver Island.
Coyote (Canis latrans)
Photo by Devonyu / Getty Images
Coyotes are widely distributed across North America and mainland BC, adapting to rural and urban environments alike. However, they haven’t made it to Vancouver Island, where their niche is largely filled by other predators like the wolf (Canis lupus).
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Photo by Lynn_Bystrom / Getty Images
The red fox is another highly adaptable species found throughout Canada, but you won’t find them on Vancouver Island.
North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)
Photo by Larry Dallaire / Getty Images
Though commonly found in mainland BC’s forests, the porcupine is notably absent from Vancouver Island. The island’s predators, such as cougars, may make it less hospitable for this slow-moving species.
Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
Photo by lillybell / Getty Images
Though opossums have spread into parts of Canada, especially in the southern regions, they have yet to reach Vancouver Island.
Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)
Photo by Frank Fichtmuller / Getty Images
These sure-footed climbers are common in the mountainous regions of mainland BC but don’t live on Vancouver Island.
Fisher (Pekania pennanti)
Photo by slimmmerman, iNaturalist. (CC BY-NC 4.0)
This elusive member of the weasel family thrives in the dense forests of mainland BC, but they are not present on Vancouver Island.
Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis)
Photo by Michel Viard / Getty Images
The lynx, with its tufted ears and snowy camouflage, roams the northern forests of Canada, but its presence stops short at Vancouver Island.
Wolverine (Gulo gulo)
Photo by AB Photography / Getty Images
Once thought to inhabit Vancouver Island, the last sighting of a wolverine was in 1994. Since then, this fierce predator has been considered extirpated from the island.
In addition to these mammals, bird species including the black-billed magpie, gray jay and reptiles including venomous snakes are also absent from the landscape of Vancouver Island.
Why Vancouver Island Has Fewer Species
The isolation of Vancouver Island plays a major role in the absence of these species. During the last Ice Age, Vancouver Island was separated from the mainland by rising sea levels, and only certain species managed to cross or become established afterward. The island’s ecosystems evolved differently, favouring species that could adapt to its distinct climate, geography, and limited resources. While some species, like the cougar and Vancouver Island wolf, have flourished, many mainland species either couldn’t make the journey or found the island’s habitat unsuitable.
Additionally, human influence has played a role in maintaining these species gaps. Some animals, such as the wolverine, may have once lived on the island but disappeared due to logging and trapping.
Vancouver Island’s distinct biodiversity is a testament to the power of isolation, geography, and environmental conditions in shaping ecosystems. For those who live here or visit, it’s a reminder that nature evolves in ways that are both fascinating and unpredictable, creating a rich diversity of life that is unlike anywhere else in British Columbia.
