Seminar on trailcamera usage
Dr. Chris Bone of the Surreal Lab based out of University of Victoria, Nitya Chari Harris, a director of the Coexisting with Carnivores Alliance as well as Scott Harris, a citizen scientist with a focus on trailcamera usage led this seminar. The speakers provided the attendees from T’Sou-ke Nation information on trailcamera use in relation to wildlife and land use management, flora and environmental monitoring, anticipated equipment necessary for installation as well as a variety of other technical considerations.
Following the classroom session, the group went into the field for a hands-on demonstration of trailcam installation as well as an insightful Q&A period. The Nation members walked away from this seminar with the knowledge of how to initiate, monitor and maintain a science based trailcamera study
Acknowledgments: This project was enabled due to the generous funding provided by the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada and filmed by Tilai Ellis-Stairs.
WILDLIFE CAMERAS IN SOOKE HILLS PARK: MONITORing the EFFECTS OF HUMAN PRESENCE on wildlife
The Sooke Hills Wilderness Project is a collaboration between the Capital Regional District (CRD), the University of Victoria Surreal Lab and the Coexisting with Carnivores Alliance. Multiple trail cameras are used to track the movement of both park users and wildlife like cougars, bears, deer and wolves. The cameras not only capture animals and people, but also the surrounding forest and plant life, giving researchers the opportunity to see how seasonal and climate changes impact the entire ecosystem over time. According to the CRD, data collected from the project will help inform management decisions in the regional park to better protect important wildlife habitat and support a positive visitor experience.
Farmer/Carnivore Coexistence Project
Over the past 5 years, 54 bears and 30 cougars have been killed in the Capital Regional District (CRD) due to conflict; of these, 14 bears and 22 cougars were killed due to agricultural conflicts. The CwCA is presently working towards:
1. Engaging community members, including farmers and hunters, to assess the degree of carnivore conflict and level of interest in mitigation tools, and to communicate available information on conflict reduction strategies.
2. Implementing mitigation trials based on proven management options to reduce conflict between farmers and large carnivores (cougars, bears and wolves).
3. Examining the effectiveness of these conflict mitigation methods for carnivores and people within the Metchosin study area.
4. Developing a Human Wildlife Conflict Management Plan for Metchosin, and a phased in plan for Southern Vancouver Island, based on the results of this assessment.
Habitat Supply Modelling
The CwCA Carnivore Habitat Working Group is developing regional carnivore habitat supply maps for wolves, cougars, bears and relevant ungulates in the CRD. These maps will be shared with the public and decision makers to inform municipal planning and allow for the consideration of these large carnivores when condcuting an environmental development assessment.