Temporary Closure of Beaches to Dogs
Beaches within the Parksville Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area (PQBWMA) will be temporarily closed to dogs to the annual Brant geese migration. Rathtrevor Beach will be closed to dogs from February 15 to April 30. Parksville Bay Beach and Qualicum Beach from March 1 to April 30.
More InfoCalifornia Sea Lion & Harbour Seal Viewing
From September to May you can see California sea lions swimming and basking along the coast, especially where points of land jut out into the sea and around river mouths during salmon migrations in the fall.
French Creek marina is one of the best places to see them up close, especially during herring season. They also haul out on rocks in the Winchelsea archipelago and on logs at log sorts along the coast.
Just listen for their barking and home in on the sound. If you are lucky you may even see a pod of transient orcas stopping to snack on the sea lions. Harbour seals are found in the same locations all year.
Patrick Walshe, R.P. Biologist, Coastal Revelations Nature Tours.
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Patrick Walshe