Five lesser-known historical animal encounters involving Vancouver, from crow bounties to Grumpy Cat

The Story

Long before Vancouver became known for its parklands and coexisting urban wildlife, the city and the surrounding region were shaped by encounters that ranged from formal animal-control efforts to improvised rescues. A set of historical examples illustrates how quickly public attitudes, public safety concerns and even the laws governing animals have evolved over time.

In 1903, the provincial government authorized the City of Vancouver to pay a bounty of a nickel per crow head, targeting what was described as the “voracious crows” in the city. The stated goal was to kill 5,000 crows. City aldermen debated how the bounty should operate, including whether it should be limited to a small number of men or extended to boys as well. They also weighed whether poison would be effective, noting concerns that crows showed “almost human intelligence,” and discussed using guns in the city to carry out the work.

A very different kind of confinement followed in 1924, when a raccoon ended up detained after an incident near Hastings Park. According to the account, a raccoon was up a tree and chased by men, then attempted to escape but landed close to the Vancouver police chief, who caught it. Instead of releasing the animal, the police chief took it to the zoo.

Marine mammals were also part of Vancouver-area attention. In 1954, an albino orca was spotted in Burrard Inlet. The sighting may have been connected to another albino orca previously noted in 1947 around Vancouver Island, referred to as “Albino Alice.” At the time, the animal drew sharp criticism from a local columnist, who described the orca as savage and framed it as exceptionally dangerous. Years later, in 1970, a different albino orca was reportedly caught off Vancouver Island and brought to Sealand in Victoria; it was named “Moby Dick” and died a couple of years afterward.

Some of the most dramatic animal stories involved land-based livestock. In 1976, boaters in Burrard Inlet reportedly saw nine cows go overboard one night. The cows had been moved from a ranch on Gambier Island to market on the mainland by tugboat and barge, and the animals reportedly jumped ship as the convoy passed near Lions Gate Bridge. The response began with calls to the surrounding area after cows had entered the water. Two calves were pulled from the water, while the adult cows swam off in different directions.

The rescue operations continued at multiple locations. The account describes that two cows were lassoed and guided to shore, a few others were caught at Third Beach, and police were called to a West Vancouver beach for two more. One cow was found swimming and given a life jacket to keep its head above water. The last cow found alive was reportedly spotted by the Coast Guard the next day and brought home safely, while two cows did not survive.

Vancouver’s animal history also includes episodes involving celebrity animals in the entertainment era. Grumpy Cat, known publicly as Tardar Sauce, was described as an exception among famous animals that typically do not travel widely. The cat was taken to various events and spent time in Metro Vancouver, with filming of “Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever” taking place in Coquitlam in 2014 at Coquitlam Centre Mall.

Together, these episodes show that animals in Vancouver have repeatedly intersected with human systems—public policy, policing, zoos, marine observations, and emergency response. They also reflect changing approaches to how the city and its residents have dealt with wildlife and animals, from formalized bounties and confinement to rescue efforts and the later prominence of animal culture in local film production.