On reading the 2016 field guild “Species at Risk in BC” I was amazed at the number of species of flora and fauna endangered or at risk. More amazing is the fact that British Columbia does not have any Endangered Species Legislation.
As we spend a large amount of time camping we are especially interested in wildlife often seeing wild animals and birds when camping. Also our yard borders a relatively large green belt “wildlife corridor”. At varying times we see deer, black bear, (hear) coyotes, raccoons, rabbits, frogs … snakes, bats and a pair of owls. This does not include the wide variety of birds and insects living in our gardens.
Threats to Survival or Recovery
This is the list, by classification, of greatest threats to species, starting with the highest occurrence:
- Man made such as forestry, mining, urban expansion, recreation vehicles i.e “habitat fragmentation”
- Poisoning with chemicals with some species more susceptible than others
- Climate Change, such as breeding cycle changes, migration, feed loss, habitat decline
- Introduced or invasive species including plants
- Increased Disease and natural causes
Crossbreeding is also an emerging threat to the wood bison and the polar and grizzly bear
Currently, about 7000 wood bison remain in the wild, located in the
Northwest Territories, Yukon,
British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba – Wikipedia
Endangered Species
A large number of species, especially endangered species, living in distinct habitats need to have larger areas of land set aside with limited / restricted entry. For example:
- Preserve old growth forests for endangered plants such as Tall Bugbane (Page 63)
- Set aside more grasslands and marshlands for the threatened Barn Owl (Page 5)
- Widen the areas along all waterways and prohibit logging to allow cooling of creeks and streams for salmon spawning. See Riparian Zones & Aquatic Fish Habitats (Pg 15) “Land Development Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Habitat” (1993)
- Prevent toxic chemicals from flowing into human and animal habitats through leaching of farm or industrial water runoff (see earlier)
- Restrict use of chemicals in mining, forestry (to kill undergrowth), rights of ways (glyphosate)
“Every year, millions of miles of roads, utility lines, railroad corridors
and other types of right-of-ways (ROWs) are treated with herbicides
to control the growth of unwanted plants”
~ Pesticides and You
What We Can Do
- Educate ourselves and our children about our local species
- Visit a travelling Species at Risk Museum from Royal BC Museum
- Plant wild flowers to attract Monarch butterflies and other insects and birds
- Vote for politicians who will represent what you believe at all levels of government
- Volunteer at a local conservation, salmon hatchery, environmental organization i.e. clean creeks and rivers
- Plant indigenous trees and wildflower species on your property or in your area where permitted
- Help eradicate invasive species or plants
- Do not release imported or unknown species of frogs, turtles, snakes or other animals into the wild. They can endanger indigenous species with the spread of disease and taking over habitat
This is an ongoing concern with more and more species becoming extinct each year. We need to take care of our environment both for humans and wildlife
When camping ~
“Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints!”
~ Chief Seattle
Links & References
- BCWF Town Hall Meetings to learn more about fish & wildlife & BC Habitat
- British Columbia Species at Risk – engagement ended November 30, 2016. Log on for updates
- Environment and Climate Change in Canada
- BC Legislation, endangered species and West Coast Environmental Law
- B.C. Government – Species & Ecosystems at Risk
- Endangered species – the Vancouver Island Marmot
- CAP article on Great Blue Heron Sanctuary in Chilliwack, BC
- Wild Pacific Sockeye Salmon Survival
- Potential Effects of Climate Change on Ecosystem & Tree Species Distribution in B.C
- How Wolves Change Rivers. 5 minute video on what happened when wolves were re-introduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995
- 90% of U.S. wildfires are caused by humans
- Reducing water pollution around your home
- Ideas to attract bees and other insects to your garden
