Why I work for the Wilderness Stewardship and Training Foundation

With regard to my studies in the field of environment I looked for the possibility to complete my internship in environmental management- and seized the chance to work for the Wilderness Stewardship and Training Foundation.
The WSTF's wide range of projects offers many opportunities for everyone interested in wildlife research, natural resource management and environmental protection.
Particularly in this time of fast-growing industry it is more important than ever to help preserve our precious environment - everything from rare plants to impressive wildlife.
The protection of what surrounds us is as important as the management of what we use - we are responsible for what we do, how we use our natural resources and especially what we leave to following generations in order to secure a sustainable future.
The Wilderness Stewardship and Training Foundation contributes to these tasks with several projects to survey and monitor many species' development and ensure their presence in this area.
I particularly appreciate the diversity of WSTF's projects in many different areas, from mountain goat inventories and grizzly bear studies to grassland protection and that nature is seen as an interaction of different factors.
During my internship I learnt what to do in order to build up a foundation which is engaged in environmental work and what is needed to make an organization's work successful.
I know that I want to take part in the process of raising people's awareness concerning threats to nature, but also to establish the knowledge of how to use the environment and its resources in a sustainable way.
With these experiences I am sure I found a good start while working for the Wilderness Stewardship and Training Foundation.

Hannah Bettac

Mountain Goat survey in August 2011

The key to natural resource management is knowledge.
For recreational hunting this means that one needs exact information about the number of game animals to determine if they can be sustainably harvested. The Wilderness Stewardship and Training Foundation took part in a Mountain Goat survey in the Chilcotin Mountains.
Kevan Bracewell, one of the directors of the Stewardship Foundation joined the helicopter flight in the mountains keeping an eye out for Mountain Goats:

I was picked up at Spruce Lake in a bell 206 jet Ranger – 3 passengers: the two Biologist Chris Procter and 30- years- veteran Doug Jury, and the pilot Kevin – CC Helicopter out of Kamloops.
Right of on the way to the Survey zone 333F we saw a herd of goats walking a Ridge line, and on old Billy in the timber below.
The strategy was to fly the mountain tops of a section then come back across the tree line. This is not a reconnaissance flight – but a helicopter survey usually has about 70% sight ability factor.
The fist section we covered was a wintering area for Nannies in the front and a Billy hang out in the back Valley in summer. We did not find a single goat. What a poor start!
In the second section of the zone we hit a Jack Pot! 14 Nannies and kids- all pared up were crossing a glacier! The second herd we saw had 4 Nannies and 4 kids- 100% recruitement.
The next 3 hours continued with the same success: 3 Billies on Bluff, 11 Nannies and kids in the trees. We scouted the mountains from the ridge line down to the dense trees.

The goats were all spotted between 6500 and 7500 feet elevation and although the temperature hovered at a few degrees above freezing and we had snow at some points, the visibility was very good.
Seeing some big Billies was the highlight of this flight.
The helicopter pilot had 20 years experience of doing wildlife surveys in the mountains so I was unaware of the mountain flying risk and could easily focus on spotting goats.

Since a study from 2005 reported declining numbers and lead to the closing of several zones to recreational hunting, the new results are good news: The examined populations are not as low as previously thought.
To determine whether they really are stable, however, more research is needed.
You can help us with our ongoing research for a sustainable use of nature's resources by donating to the Wilderness Stewardship Foundation.

Working for the Wilderness Stewardship and Training Foundation

We have a unique opportunity for an enthusiastic, self-driven individual to act as the foundation’s coordinator and oversee its various activities. The coordinator will be responsible for field work on exciting research projects such as a grizzly bear population study, as well as organisational and fundraising work. This is an excellent way for an individual looking to gain hands-on experience in the field of environmental stewardship and resource management. For more information, visit our website.

Mosquito Warning

BC.'s cool spring season temperatures have helped keep the mosquito population in check. However, with temperatures on the rise, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is warning that the mosquito population is increasing, and some of these mosquitoes may carry West Nile virus (WNV).  

Increases have been seen particularly in the Okanagan and the Fraser Valley, and the public should to take appropriate precautions to prevent mosquito bites.

YOUR OWN MINI ZOO! (How to create a garden attractive for small wildlife)

Let the soil develop: Do not dig your garden soil if you aren't planting. Undisturbed soil with some compost on top is a great habitat for earthworms and beetle larvae that attract foraging robins and blackbirds.

Create corridors: Connect all parts of your garden with plant cover to encourage invertebrates, young frogs and newts to move freely. Bare ground and manicured lawns act as a barrier for wildlife.

Feed the birds: Provide diverse food to attract a variety of birds, such as green finches. Install plastic domes to hold off grey squirrels. Make sure to keep the feeders inaccessible for cats. Remember: The number of visitors will grow over the years.

Your garden glade: Sow bluebells and foxgloves, as well as other woodland flowers, in succession under trees – this shelter is invaluable for invertebrates, frogs and slow worms. In late summer, mow and mulch with leaf mould.

Logs and sticks: Logs and stickpiles around garden edges or in the shade provide refuges for a host of wildlife. Some earth or ivy on top will keep them humid.

Love your lawn: The center of your lawn should be kept short as a foraging ground for badgers, foxes and birds. The edges stay longer to provide cover for invertebrates.

Maintain your hedges: Cut your hedges in winter so you don’t stunt their growth or disturb nesting birds. Hedges should comprise a mix of native shrub species, such as hawthorn, to provide food for invertebrates.

Build ponds: If your garden has enough space, create more than one pond for diversity. A shallow ornamental pond is great for tadpoles while a deeper, larger one attracts newts and dragonflies.

Keep it varied: Straight edges in your garden cause sudden changes in temperature and lighting. Avoid them. Irregular outlines create varying patches of sunshine throughout the day and stop the wind. That way you'll maintain a succession of territories for a diversity of insects and other critters.

With these tips and some work you can create a beautiful garden that will, in time, evolve to be a good habitat for various small animals. Why not write down what you see and keep records of the wildlife in your area? And if you want to be involved in monitoring larger animals in the wilderness, contact WSTF.

Welcome to the Wilderness Stewardship and Training Foundation

The Wilderness Stewardship and Training Foundation strives to take resource management to a broader level to include research and local knowledge to influence management decisions on all resources. The goal is to train public and staff to become stewards of the wilderness resources and contribute to:

• Current Stewardship and Resource Management Projects
• Past Stewardship and Resource Management Projects
• Past Referrals and Assessments of Development Projects