Veronica McKelvey

My PhD started alongside the release of 26 orphaned black bears back into the wild. These bears represent the third cohort of this project, continuing the work established by former ACS student Emma Biolobzyski (MSc). In partnership with Northern Lights Wildlife Society and the Government of British Columbia, I am studying the post-release survival and behaviour of these orphaned and rehabilitated black bears across British Columbia.  

I am an early-career wildlife biologist whose research is rooted in better understanding the nature of human conflict and coexistence with wildlife.  I earned my Master of Science at Thompson Rivers University, where I studied how an industrial disturbance and subsequent mitigation measures affected a population of three threatened snake species. Before graduate school, I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, where I contributed to freshwater fish conservation by researching threats to at-risk fishes across Canada.

Outside of wildlife research, I enjoy mountain biking, running, and admiring wildlife in wild places (with a camera always forgotten). However, you can also find me at home trying to finish my never-ending TBR list, attempting to knit, or baking too much.

This project is made possible by the generous support of donors, the Raincoast Conservation Fellowship program, and the University of Victoria Department of Geography. I am grateful to work alongside Northern Light Wildlife Society and fellow researchers in the ACS lab.