Frances Backhouse

Author bio

Frances Backhouse is a biologist turned writer who has called the British Columbia coast home for more than half her life. Her work has appeared in Audubon, Canadian Geographic, Canadian Wildlife, High Country News, Nature Canada, Up Here, and other publications. She is also the author of six books, including Woodpeckers of North America, Owls of North America, and Once They Were Hats: In Search of the Mighty Beaver.

Frances Backhouse’s Contributions:

Little Action from Canadian Government as Deadline to Remove Salmon Farms Looms

Eight years ago, the Cohen Commission gave Fisheries and Oceans Canada a deadline to prove salmon farms do not threaten wild sockeye. Despite evidence of harm, it seems unlikely the government will follow the recommendation to prohibit salmon farming in part of British Columbia.

Sep 24, 2020 | 1,000 words, about 5 minutes

Hidden Hawaiian Bird Nests Finally Found

Night vision binoculars, a scent dog, and video cameras have caught band-rumped storm petrels coming and going from their volcanic nests for the first time.

Mar 20, 2019 | 850 words, about 4 minutes

The Last Cannery Standing

The British Columbia coastline once pulsed with action around salmon canneries. Today, guided by Indigenous leadership, only one cannery processing wild salmon remains.

Aug 14, 2018 | 2,100 words, about 11 minutes

For those working to restore the salmon run in Douglas Creek, within Victoria, British Columbia, this dead fish represents hope for life. Photo by Shanna Baker

Throwing Dead Fish for Fun and Ecological Profit

Chucking chum and coho carcasses into a salmon-spawning stream supports more than just an ecosystem.

Jun 1, 2017 | 1,700 words, about 8 minutes

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Frances Backhouse

Author bio