With summer in full swing, all the critters are busy with breeding, raising young and foraging, filling up for their yearly supply of food.
Grand Forks is home to many species at risk because of its unique environment and the habitats it provides, especially in its grasslands – a species at risk is one that is endangered of becoming extinct.
There are provincial, federal and global species listings for the status of “at risk” species. Along with these listings comes the responsibility of each government to manage these species to ensure their continued existence.
The Granby Wilderness Society has committed in helping to conserve species at risk in the Grand Forks area with monitoring and educational outreach. Some of our projects include the Saddle Lake Tiger salamander project, of which we have partnered with the Boundary Museum Society.
The monitoring of a mass amphibian migration between Boothman Oxbow’s provincial park and Gilpin Parks each spring and fall, which will hopefully result in a culvert to aid crossing, rattlesnake den monitoring and promoting wildlife tree stewardship for Lewis’ woodpecker. We are looking for sighting reports (dead or alive) of Tiger salamanders, Spadefoot toad, Gopher snakes, rattlesnakes, yellow-bellied racers, badgers, Western Screech owl, bobolinks and Grizzly bears.
Building up a database of where these species occur will help us to determine what conservation measures are needed, if any.
Often times, some of these species are feared, such as rattlesnakes, but please remember these species are protected from unnecessary harassment, capture or killing under the B.C. Wildlife Act.
Wildlife is far more scared of us than we are of them; we need snakes to keep the balance in our ecosystems. There are a few people in our community who will come and rescue a rattlesnake from yards and return them to safety, including our mayor.
To find out more, report a sighting, to participate in a project, or become a member of the Granby Wilderness Society please contact us at info@granbywilderness.ca or call 250-442-7969.
Please enjoy your summer and do your part to help conserve our species at risk.
– Submitted by Jenny Coleshill