Canadian Conservation Photographers Collective

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Canadian Conservation Photographers Collective The CCPC is a collective of Canadian photographers and videographers.

We emphasize conservation and habitat stewardship, follow ethical photography principles and use our images to increase awareness and promote education of national conservation issues. The Canadian Conservation Photography Collective (CCPC) was formed in 2021 with the objective of promoting conservation and science education through the production of strong, thought-provoking visual content. The collective is composed of freelance photographers from across the country and from a wide variety of occupational training backgrounds including biology, education, journalism, social work and business. We firmly believe that networking as a team and combining our strengths and experience dramatically furthers our ability to shed light on pressing conservation issues and to reach, inform and engage a much wider audience. In addition to regularly publishing content on its social media platforms and through established media channels, the CCPC plans to expand its outreach activities to include conferences, presentations and in-house print publications. We recognize the importance and effectiveness of a collaborative hands-on approach and therefore also plan to offer workshops, mentorship sessions and guided expeditions aimed at a variety of skill levels and age groups. To effectively and accurately document and relate often complex and time-sensitive conservation issues throughout the entirety of the country, we work in concert with other collectives, NGO’s, non-profits, research organizations, governments and communities. The CCPC strongly believes in photography as a tool to educate, inspire and engage and our goal is to produce content that will open dialogues, stimulate conversations and ultimately bring about change.

10/13/2026

Fur farms can bring large numbers of susceptible animals into close contact, creating conditions where infectious diseases can spread rapidly.

Between December 2020 and May 2021, three mink farms in British Columbia experienced SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks. Genetic analysis linked infections among mink and farm workers, showing that mink farms can become sites of cross-species transmission (Paiero et al., 2022).
Researchers later investigated whether infected farmed mink could come into contact with wildlife outside the farms. Around the three affected farms, 71 animals from nine species were sampled. Three escaped domestic mink tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, while the other 68 sampled wild animals tested negative (Strang et al., 2022).

The study did not confirm infection in a free-living wild animal that did not originate from a farm. However, it demonstrated that infected farm animals had moved outside confinement and could potentially come into contact with wildlife (Strang et al., 2022).

Canadian guidance has also identified manure and composted carcasses as possible pathways for the spread of Aleutian mink disease virus between farms and wild mustelids (Community for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases).

Together, these findings highlight how fur farms are interconnected with the surrounding environment and wildlife. While Canadian evidence does not establish that SARS-CoV-2 spread from farms into wild animal populations, it shows how animals and materials associated with farms can extend beyond their boundaries.

Video captured by Jo-Anne McArthur () / We Animals ().

Follow our page as we continue exploring the wildlife, conservation concerns, and stories behind the Fur-Bearers campaign.

American mink are widespread across Canada and play an important role as mid-level predators in wetland ecosystems.Farme...
10/10/2026

American mink are widespread across Canada and play an important role as mid-level predators in wetland ecosystems.

Farmed mink are selectively bred for larger body size, unusual coat colours, and high reproductive output. Some adults are roughly twice the size of their wild counterparts. When farmed mink escape, they can bring these traits into ecosystems where wild mink have evolved under very different conditions. Larger escapees may compete with wild mink for food, territory, mates, and den sites, potentially displacing wild individuals from productive home ranges and threatening their survival (Keen, J., 2022).

A genetic study of more than 500 free-ranging mink in Ontario found that 18% were identified as escaped domestic mink or farm-wild hybrids (Mossotti et al., 2024).

Escaped mink can also create opportunities for disease transmission between farms and wildlife. In British Columbia, three escaped domestic mink captured near SARS-CoV-2-positive farms tested positive for the virus (Blanco et al., 2022).

The ecological effects of escaped farmed mink have been well documented internationally, including impacts on ground-nesting birds and small mammals. In Canada, however, the full population-level effects remain less well studied.

Together, these examples show how the effects of fur farming can extend beyond the boundaries of the farm itself. An animal that escapes from captivity can become part of the surrounding ecosystem, bringing with it traits, genetics, and potential pathogens that would not otherwise be present in the same way.

Follow our page as we continue exploring the wildlife, conservation concerns, and stories behind the Fur-Bearers campaign.

Photography by guest contributors Brittni Panter () and Jeremy Schaller ().

Unlike some areas of agriculture, fur farming does not have a comprehensive federal regulatory framework governing the i...
10/08/2026

Unlike some areas of agriculture, fur farming does not have a comprehensive federal regulatory framework governing the industry across the country. Instead, animal welfare regulation is primarily handled at the provincial level, creating a system where the rules surrounding fur farming can vary considerably depending on where a farm operates.

Only four provinces have regulations specifically addressing fur farming:

• Alberta�• British Columbia�• Newfoundland and Labrador�• Nova Scotia

Other provinces rely on general animal welfare legislation, while some have no specific regulations addressing fur farming.

There is also a national set of industry standards. The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) has Codes of Practice for mink and fox farming, which outline recommended practices for the care and handling of these animals. However, these codes are generally voluntary and are not legally enforceable unless a province references them in its legislation (National Farm Animal Care Council).

The codes also cover only mink and foxes, despite other wild species being legally permitted to be farmed for fur in some provinces.

The Fur-Bearers research found that oversight of fur farms is limited, with inspections generally being complaint-based and no third-party auditing system in place.⁠

These provincial differences create a regulatory landscape that varies significantly across Canada. Understanding how the industry is regulated, and where those regulations apply, is an important part of understanding the conditions under which fur farming operates.

Follow our page as we continue exploring the wildlife, conservation concerns, and stories behind the Fur-Bearers campaign.

Photography by Abdulla Moussa ().

Canada is home to 16 owl species, but their populations vary dramatically depending on the species, region, and conserva...
10/07/2026

Canada is home to 16 owl species, but their populations vary dramatically depending on the species, region, and conservation status. Because owls are nocturnal, nest early in the season, and can be difficult to detect, estimating their populations is often challenging (Birds Canada, 2025).

Some owl species remain relatively abundant. NatureCounts estimates there are approximately 830,000 Great Horned Owls, 560,000 Barred Owls, and 400,000 Boreal Owls in Canada (NatureCounts, 2025).

Others have much smaller populations. There are an estimated 15,000 Snowy Owls across North America, with roughly half breeding in Canada. NatureCounts also estimates approximately 4,300 Eastern Screech-Owls, 270 Burrowing Owls, and fewer than 20 Eastern Barn Owls remain in Canada (NatureCounts, 2025).

Some species are even more vulnerable. As of March 2024, the Government of Canada reported 37 Northern Spotted Owls associated with the Canadian recovery program, two living in the wild after release and 35 managed through the conservation breeding program. Before widespread habitat loss, the region was estimated to support approximately 500 breeding pairs (Government of Canada, 2024).

These numbers highlight an important reality: while some owl species remain common, others are at serious risk. Understanding population trends helps guide conservation efforts and underscores why protecting habitats is essential to ensuring Canada's owl diversity persists for future generations (Birds Canada, 2025; NatureCounts, 2025).

Photography by Ray Maichin () and Cari Siebrits ().

Follow our page to join us as we explore the species and conservation stories behind the Last Hope Campaign.

10/06/2026

Canada is home to a wide range of wild species that may be farmed for their fur. While mink and foxes are among the species most commonly associated with fur farming, they are not the only wild animals that may be raised for this purpose.⁠
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Rules surrounding fur farming vary considerably between provinces, and the species that can be farmed in one province may not be treated the same way in another.⁠
⁠
Importantly, having permission to farm a species does not mean that species is currently being farmed. Our research found that the species currently identified as being farmed represent only a portion of those that may be farmed in some parts of Canada.⁠

According to information compiled by The Fur-Bearers:

Saskatchewan: Bobcat, coyote, Eurasian lynx, fisher, fox, lynx, mink, timber wolf, wolverine
Ontario: No specific regulation
Quebec: No specific regulation
British Columbia: Chinchilla, fisher, fox, marten, nutria
Alberta: Arctic fox, badger, beaver, bobcat, coyote, ermine, fisher, lynx, marten, mink, muskrat, raccoon, red fox, river otter, skunk, wolf, wolverine
Nova Scotia: Mink, fox
Manitoba: No specific regulation
Prince Edward Island: No specific regulation
Newfoundland and Labrador: Mink, fox, with other species permitted by permit
New Brunswick: No specific regulation

(The Fur-Bearers)

The differences between provinces create a patchwork of rules around which wild species can be kept and bred for commercial fur production.

Understanding these differences is important when looking at the broader regulatory landscape of fur farming in Canada. The legal framework does not look the same across the country, and the absence of species-specific regulations can also leave important questions about how different wild species are managed in captivity.

Follow our page as we continue exploring the wildlife, conservation concerns, and stories behind the Fur-Bearers campaign.

Video by We Animals().

Which wild animals are currently being farmed for their fur in Canada?When people think about fur farming, mink and foxe...
10/05/2026

Which wild animals are currently being farmed for their fur in Canada?

When people think about fur farming, mink and foxes are likely the first animals that come to mind. These remain the most prominent species in Canada's fur farming industry, but farms raising other wild species for commercial fur production have also been identified.

The species currently identified include American mink, red foxes, lynx, bobcats, and wolves.

The scale of mink and fox farming also varies considerably across the country. According to the 2021 Census of Agriculture, there were:

• 26 mink farms and 6 fox farms in Nova Scotia�• 26 mink farms in Ontario�• 12 mink farms in British Columbia�• 3 mink farms and 3 fox farms in Alberta�• 1 mink farm and 5 fox farms in New Brunswick�• 5 mink farms and 1 fox farm in Newfoundland and Labrador�• 3 mink farms in Manitoba�• 2 mink farms and 1 fox farm in Quebec�• 1 mink farm and 1 fox farm in Prince Edward Island�• 1 fox farm in Saskatchewan

(Statistics Canada, 2022)

Freedom of Information requests made by The Fur-Bearers have also uncovered farms involving wolves, lynx, and bobcats, providing evidence that commercial fur farming in Canada extends beyond the species documented through agricultural census data.

These animals are not domesticated species. They are wild animals whose behaviours, physical characteristics, and ecological roles have developed in natural environments. Wolves, lynx, and bobcats are adapted to hunting, moving through, and interacting with complex natural habitats. Keeping these species in captivity restricts many of the natural behaviours and ecological interactions that have developed as part of their lives in the wild.

Understanding which species are being farmed, and where, also helps illustrate the broader conservation issues associated with fur farming. The industry involves wild animals that have evolved to live within particular ecosystems, and keeping them in captivity can raise concerns that extend beyond fur production.

Follow our page as we explore the wildlife, conservation concerns, and stories behind the Fur-Bearers campaign.

Photography by Guest Contributor Amy Collins (), Lauren Todd (), and We Animals / Jo-Anne McArthur.

We’re launching a new campaign in collaboration with The Fur-Bearers called Keep Them Wild, where we’ll be looking at th...
10/01/2026

We’re launching a new campaign in collaboration with The Fur-Bearers called Keep Them Wild, where we’ll be looking at the conservation issues and environmental impacts associated with commercial fur farming in Canada.

So, what exactly is fur farming?

Fur farming is the practice of breeding and raising animals in captivity for the production of fur. In Canada, this industry has involved wild species including American mink, red foxes, lynx, grey wolves, and bobcats.

According to the 2021 Census of Agriculture, there were 79 mink farms and 18 fox farms across Canada (Statistics Canada, 2022). Freedom of Information requests have also uncovered farms raising wolves, lynx, and bobcats, demonstrating that commercial fur farming in Canada involves more than the two species most commonly associated with the industry.

These animals are wild species whose behaviours and ecological roles have developed in natural environments. American mink, for example, are found throughout Canada and are closely associated with wetlands, rivers, lakes, and other waterways. Red foxes are also widespread across the country and are adaptable predators that occupy a wide range of habitats.

Life on a fur farm is fundamentally different from life in these natural environments. Rather than roaming, hunting, foraging, and carrying out the behaviours that have shaped these species over generations, animals on fur farms are bred and raised in captivity for commercial production.

The contrast between the natural environments wild animals depend on and the conditions on fur farms is important to understanding the industry. The impacts of keeping these animals in captivity can extend beyond animal welfare, with potential implications for wildlife, ecosystems, disease transmission, and the environment surrounding farms.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll explore what fur farming looks like in Canada, the conservation and environmental issues associated with the industry, and what potential solutions could look like.

Follow our page to learn more about the wildlife and conservation issues behind this campaign.

Photography by Josh DeLeenheer (.nation) and Donna Feledichuk ().

🌿🛍️ The CCPC Conservation Collection is here!Our collection features original wildlife inspired designs created to suppo...
10/01/2026

🌿🛍️ The CCPC Conservation Collection is here!

Our collection features original wildlife inspired designs created to support our conservation and storytelling work across Canada. We’ve also aimed to choose more mindful materials and production practices wherever possible.

Every purchase helps support our mission, but so does sharing, following, and engaging with our work. 💚

🔗 Visit the link in our bio to explore the store.

As part of our Last Hope Campaign, we’re exploring the conservation challenges facing owls in Canada and the importance ...
09/30/2026

As part of our Last Hope Campaign, we’re exploring the conservation challenges facing owls in Canada and the importance of protecting the habitats they depend on.⁠
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Several owl species, subspecies, and populations in Canada are protected under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), reflecting the conservation challenges these remarkable birds face across the country (Government of Canada, 2025).⁠
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Endangered: Burrowing Owl, Eastern Barn Owl, and Spotted Owl (caurina subspecies). Threatened: Western Barn Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl (brooksi subspecies), and the kennicottii and macfarlanei subspecies of the Western Screech-Owl. Special Concern: Flammulated Owl and Short-eared Owl (Government of Canada, 2025).⁠
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Each owl species has unique habitat requirements and faces different conservation challenges, but all depend on healthy ecosystems to survive. Understanding the pressures these birds face is an important step toward protecting Canada’s owl diversity for future generations.⁠

Photography by Cameron Hunter (), Jaquie Matechuk (), and Donna Feledichuk (). ⁠

Follow our page to join us as we explore the species and conservation stories behind the Last Hope Campaign.

📷 Have a favourite wildlife photo? A breathtaking view from a KBA?The 2026 wants to see it!Celebrate the country’s ric...
09/29/2026

📷 Have a favourite wildlife photo? A breathtaking view from a KBA?

The 2026 wants to see it!

Celebrate the country’s richest habitats and you could win a KBA Canada prize pack including up to $600 cash!

Submit your photo of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) by October 15th.💚⁠

You can enter by visiting .canada and using the link in bio.

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6995 Nordin Road
Sooke, BC
V9Z1L4

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