In Paris, the sidewalks are now filled with huge rubbish rocks. The garbage workers are striking and do not intend to back down. Rats and mice, for their part, seem to have happy days.

As engineers and government officials try to locate the source of a sewage leak into the Capilano River, the Squamish Nation and a group of volunteers who monitor waterways on the North Shore say they are worried about the effect on young salmon in the river.

Eight skunks found dead last month in Vancouver and Richmond tested positive for avian flu.