1/12 Snowshoe hare, BC sockeye, whale numbers, do not travel, Island Gwawis, octopus friend, Steven Guilbeault, 'iceberg' pix

Snowshoe hare
[D.Gordon E. Robertson//WikiCommons]

Snowshoe hare Lepus americanus
The snowshoe hare, also called the varying hare or snowshoe rabbit, is a species of hare found in North America. It has the name "snowshoe" because of the large size of its hind feet. The animal's feet prevent it from sinking into the snow when it hops and walks. Its feet also have fur on the soles to protect it from freezing temperatures. (Wikipedia)

Why are Alaskan fishers allowed to catch B.C.-bound salmon?
A new report says the majority of 800,000 sockeye salmon caught in southern Alaska in 2021 were headed to B.C. rivers. The preliminary data comes as Pacific salmon face major declines and B.C. fishers are severely restricted from fishing in their own waters. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Record number of orca, humpback whales spotted in Salish Sea
There were 1,067 unique sightings of Bigg’s killer whales last year — up from the 2019 record of 747. Jessica Cheung reports. (CBC)  Southern Resident orcas hit Puget Sound absence record in 2021  (My Northwest)

U.S. issues 'Do Not Travel' warning for Canada
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. State Department on Monday advised against travel to neighboring Canada because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases as the Omicron variant spreads. David Shepardson reports. (Reuters)

What is the name of B.C. Ferries' new vessel?
The name Island Gwawis celebrates “the cultural connection between the original mariners of the coastal waters and the communities the vessel will soon serve.” (Times Colonist)

Can We Really Be Friends with an Octopus? 
When octopuses are social, are they reaching out or simply reacting? Ferris Jabr reports. (Hakai Magazine)

‘We need to learn to do things faster’: Canada’s new environment minister talks climate — and compromise
From overseeing 2030 targets to phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, Steven Guilbeault has been tasked with one of the largest to-do lists of the entire federal cabinet. The environment minister says he'll act quickly, even if it means not getting exactly what he wants. Caitlin Stall-Paquet writes. (The Narwhal)

‘It was so convincing, so real:’ floating Salish Sea ‘iceberg’ stumps Nanoose photographer
Simone Engels was left in disbelief while taking pictures of a recent evening sunset. She was at a beach in Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay on Sunday, Jan. 9, taking snapshots of the changing sky and a distant Mt. Baker when an unusual object seemingly floating in the water caught her attention. “When I looked through the camera, I couldn’t believe my eyes because what I was looking at was an iceberg,” Engels told NanaimoNewsNOW. “I looked again then put my camera down…then I looked through it again and thought this was really strange.” An unusually sharp image of a white mass sat on the water line in the distance but with no-one else around to confirm what she saw, she decided to snap some photos to post online. (Nanimo News Now)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  301 AM PST Wed Jan 12 2022   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING 
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING THROUGH  THIS AFTERNOON   
TODAY  E wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SE 25 to 35 kt in the  afternoon. Combined seas 9 to 12 ft with a dominant period of  14 seconds. Rain. 
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell  9 ft at 13 seconds. Rain after midnight.

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