Kiskatinaw Fisher Research and Inventory

Fishers (Martes pennanti) are medium-sized members of the Mustelid (weasel) family that occur in the lowland forested areas of central and northeastern British Columbia. Research in other areas of BC have shown that forest harvesting that focuses on late-successional forests may have detrimental effects on fisher populations. However, gaps in the knowledge of the habitat relationships of fishers in the Peace region hamper the ability of forest licensees to adequately manage for fisher habitat. Through inventory and research of a population of fishers in the Kiskatinaw Plateau ecosection, this project addresses several primary objectives to support sustainable fisher populations in the Peace River Region.

Clients: Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd. and BC Ministry of Environment.

Status: Ongoing.        View latest report 

Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy - Bear-viewing Strategy

In 2006, 102,875 hectares on Princess Royal Island were  designated as the Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy. Because this area is home to the highest concentration of white-phase (Kermode) bears in the world, it has the power to draw considerable viewing traffic to areas that support these bears. However, commercial and non-commercial viewing activities may negatively affect both individuals and entire populations of black bears. To ensure that commercial viewing tenures and licensing are consistent with ecosystem-based management objectives, a review of bear-viewing activities and opportunities within the Conservancies was needed.

This project summarizes the current knowledge regarding the impacts of bear-viewing activities on bears, the implications of this activity for ecosystem-based management, and develops recommendations to ensure that bear-viewing within the identified Conservancies is consistent with sustaining populations of black bears and grizzly bears.

Client: BC Parks

Status: Completed 2008. 

Western Screech-owl Conservation along the Shuswap River

The macfarlanei subspecies of the western screech-owl (Megascops kennicottii macfarlanei) is a federally endangered owl that occurs in the dry southern interior of British Columbia. It is believed that fewer than 200 pairs occur in Canada. This species is a non-migratory resident that is assumed to rely on large, declining black cottonwood trees for nesting; loss of this habitat has been listed as the primary factor contributing to the current conservation concern. Effective conservation and habitat restoration efforts for screech-owls have been difficult to develop because very limited information is available about the ecology of this species in British Columbia, even though a conservation need has been clearly identified.

The purpose of this project was to collect information on the ecology of this species, including essential habitat requirements, so that effective population recovery can be attained. Research was needed to identify the link between screech-owls and riparian forests and determine which features of these forests are needed for nesting, foraging, and roosting. By following radio-tagged birds, we hoped to identify these features and determine the relative importance of each to life-cycle limiting factors affecting population viability. Secondly, the extension component was meant to engage landowners in active stewardship of important habitats and provide them with tools to conserve, enhance, and restore habitats to increase the productivity of screech-owls. The final component of the program assessed changes in behaviour and perceptions of landowners and feedback from end-users to increase program effectiveness.

Full executive summary

Project initiated and conducted by Artemis Wildlife Consultants, in cooperation with the Splatsin First Nation, with contributions from the Bridge-Coastal Restoration Program of BC Hydro, Government of Canada Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk, Forest Science Program of the Forest Investment Account, World Wildlife Fund and Environment Canada through the Endangered Species Recovery Fund, Tolko Industries Ltd. and the BC Ministry of Environment.

Status: Completed 2008.     View Final Report     View Stewardship Manual

View Screech-owl Fact Sheet

Badger Conservation Assessment

The landscape that currently supports badgers (Taxidea taxus) in British Columbia is likely to change over the next century. The federal recovery team for this species needs to identify options for landscape management that best ensure the persistence of this endangered carnivore. A conservation assessment is a process by which spatial and temporal factors that affect the probability of population persistence are evaluated for a particular species and projected forward in time. The broad objective of this conservation assessment is to develop a spatially explicit prediction of the effects of landscape change on badger populations. Using landscape change modelling and population viability analysis, we will recommend policy options that will be most likely to contribute to population persistence.

Client: British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Federal Recovery Team for jeffersonii Badgers.

Status: Ongoing.

Species At Risk Inventory and Research

With the passage of the Species At Risk Act (SARA) in December of 2002, more data was needed on the presence of species at risk on federal land to which SARA applies. This project aimed to fill several knowledge gaps by conducting inventories for species at risk in the North Okanagan region:

Great Basin spadefoot (Spea intermontana)

Western screech-owl (Megascops kennicottii macfarlanei)

Clients: Spallumcheen Indian Band, Okanagan Indian Band.

Williston Fisher Research and Inventory

The broad goal of this study was to collect information on the ecology of fishers in an industrial forest landscape of north-central British Columbia. Our intent was to determine habitat relationships, spatial organization, and behavioural aspects of fisher ecology to facilitate their improved management in the province. Of particular emphasis was the identification of factors that may curtail or expand fisher populations (e.g., mortality agents, dispersal ability) or their use of different habitats, thereby providing suggestions for enhancement opportunities.

Client: Peace/Williston Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (BC Hydro and Ministry of Environment)

Status: Completed.    View final report

Badger Wildlife Habitat Area Delineations

The objective of this project is to identify areas for consideration as potential Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHA) for badgers under the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy within the Thompson region. Candidate WHA sites were identified based upon a number of criteria that provided information on the importance of each site.

Client: British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Ministry of Environment.

Status: Completed 2008.

Conservation of Badgers in the Thompson and Okanagan Regions

From 1999 to 2003, we examined the distribution and ecology of North American badgers (Taxidea taxus) in the Thompson and Okanagan regions of British Columbia, with the broad objective of developing conservation strategies for the species. The project had 4 specific objectives: to determine where badgers occur in the region, increase public awareness and understanding about badgers and grassland ecology, collect ecological information about badgers by conducting a radiotelemetry research study, and synthesise this information into effective conservation strategies for the species. We captured, radio-tagged, and monitored 13 badgers (11 male, 2 female) between 1999 and 2002. Transportation corridors were the primary source of mortality for badgers in the Thompson region; 7 of 13 radio-tagged study animals died on highways or on railways and an additional 13 road-kills of untagged badgers were reported in the region during the study. Badgers appeared to make the majority of their habitat decisions on the basis of soil features and prey availability.

Conservation strategies for badgers in the Thompson and Okanagan regions focus primarily on reducing mortality within the population, providing for foraging and burrowing habitats at a variety of spatial scales, and establishing translocation protocols for badgers that are at risk of being destroyed by private landowners.

Project initiated and conducted by Artemis Wildlife Consultants and the University College of the Cariboo, with contributions from the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, Endangered Species Recovery Fund, Tolko Industries Ltd., Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd., and the University College of the Cariboo.

Status: Completed 2003.

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Last modified: 27/11/11