Locals making a difference for species at risk

By Contributor

With summer in full swing, 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 the unique environment and the habitats it provides especially in the 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, explained Jenny Coleshill, co-ordinator for Granby Wilderness Society. Along with these listings comes the responsibility of each government to manage these species to ensure their continued existence.

 

The society has committed to 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 which we have partnered with the Boundary Museum Society to do and the monitoring of a mass amphibian migration between Boothmans and Gilpin Parks each spring and fall which will hopefully result in a culvert to aid crossing,” Coleshill added. “Rattlesnake den monitoring; and promoting wildlife tree stewardship for Lewis’s Woodpecker are a couple of other projects.”

 

The society is looking for sighting reports (dead or alive) of Tiger Salamanders, Spadefoot Toad, Golpher Snakes, Rattlesnakes, Yellow Bellied Racers, Badgers, Western Screech Owl, Bobolinks and Grizzly Bears. Building up a database of where these species occur will help them to determine if any and what conservation measures are needed.

 

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, said Coleshill.

 

“We need snakes to keep the balance in our ecosystems,” said Coleshill. “There are a few people in our community who will come and rescue a rattlesnake from yards and such 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 them at or call 250-442-7969. Please enjoy your summer and do your part to help conserve species at risk.