Brant Geese Info & Viewing in Parksville Qualicum Beach

Each spring thousands of Brant fly non-stop from Mexico to the Strait of Georgia where they have a short time to feed on eelgrass, green algae and herring roe in order to regain their weight and strength before making another non-stop flight to the Alaska Peninsula and then to their nesting grounds in Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, and beyond.

One can easily observe Brant as they feed among the local bays and sheltered beaches but watch for and obey regulatory signs restricting walking your dog on the beach and even restricting people from walking near feeding Black Brant. The restrictions are important because dogs and humans in close proximity cause the Brant to take flight, preventing them from feeding or resting.

A disturbance caused by something as simple as a child running on the beach can have drastic effects on the geese while feeding. For this
reason, Parksville beaches close to dogs both on-leash and off-leash for a period each year.

Please note, the Parksville-Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area has regulations in place that dogs must always be leashed within the wildlife management area. Information about PQBWMA may be found here. In addition, Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park has regulations that pets are not permitted in the day use beach areas of the park and are allowed on the beach adjacent to the campground between May 1 and February 14 as long as they are on a leash. Information about Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park may be found here.

Questions should be directed to the RAPP line (Report All Poachers and Polluters) at 1 877 952-7277, #7277 on the Telus mobility network or online.