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BC SPCA announces wildlife photograph winners and they're frickin' adorable (PHOTOS)

Three of the winners are from Vancouver

The BC SPCA's annual Wildlife-in-Focus photography contest has wrapped up for another year and winners are amazing.

This was the 13th edition of the event which features the best of amateur wildlife photography in BC with contestants entering in two categories, Backyard Habitats and Wild Settings. The organization is calling it their most successful year ever for the contest.

“With more than 2,092 photos submitted, it was a challenge for the contest judges to highlight only a few of the many amazing photos celebrating B.C.’s diverse wildlife,” says Erin Ryan of the BC SPCA in a press release.

The contest also works as a fundraiser; this year the BC SPCA raised nearly $35,000 for their Wild ARC program which focuses on injured or orphaned wild animals.

The winners as chosen by the judges along with the 25 most popular photos as picked by the public will be turned into a photo book. It'll go on sale in October on the BC SPCA's store.

The seven winners this year featured three Vancouver-based photographers.

Backyard Habitats

1st place: Christiane Cottin (Vancouver) – Raccoon coming out of garbage can

2nd place: Eric Marshall (Cranbrook) – Great blue herons at sunset

3rd place: Erin Kellie (Gibsons) – Black bear cubs saying hello

Wild Settings  

1st place: Steve Burgess (Whistler) – Merganser family 

2nd place: Trevor Haldane (Fernie) – Pika on a rock

3rd place: James Painter (Vancouver) – Bighorn sheep and the blue sky

People’s Choice Award

Colin Beadle (Vancouver) – Coyotes on the alert