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The Land for Wildlife Fund achievements and projects have allowed for the protection of critical wildlife habitat and the conservation of species at risk affected by the loss of their habitat. These achievements have been completed with the assistance of partnerships with groups, companies and government entities. Here are some of our achievements:

Horsefly River, (Black Creek Ranch), Cariboo Chilcotin

September 1999

The Horsefly River supports one of the most important sockeye salmon runs in BC and the world. In addition to sockeye production, the Horsefly is home to unique runs of chinook and coho salmon and rainbow trout. Wildlife species on the ranch include big game animals, furbearers, upland game birds and waterfowl. Blue listed species include the fisher, trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, great blue herons; yellow listed species include the grey wolf, cougar, mule deer, moose, red squirrel, beaver, muskrat, coyote, red fox, marten, ermine, long tailed weasel, mink, river otter, bobcat, black bear and lynx as well as an abundance of raptors such as eagles and osprey.

East Columbia Lake DL 345 Properties, East Columbia Wildlife Management Area

July 2000

The properties are completely surrounded by crown land, which is designated as a Wildlife Management Area, and are classed as Class 3 winter range for bighorn sheep. Two plant communities are present: Douglas Fir-snowberry-balsamroot (Red-listed) and bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass (Blue listed). To the south of the properties two ecological reserves have been established to preserve unique plant communities. The Armstrong bay area to the north is also known to support rare and endangered plant species.

The property represents habitat at risk in the East Kootenays (grassland,open forest) and is important early winter habitat for the Blue-listed Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and elk. The habitat is also home to the Blue-listed Flammulated owl.

Rankin Property, Big Ranch/Musils Property, Elk Valley

February 2003

The Rankin property abuts the Big Ranch/Musil Conservation Area. This area represents the largest, uncultivated grassland habitat in the Elk Valley.

A quarter of this property consists of forest or mixed open forest/grassland including mature stand of lodgepole pine, trembling aspen and cottonwood. The remainder of the property contains a mosaic of native grassland plant communities (grass-herb-shrub). The grasslands are the major source of ungulate winter forage and important habitat for small mammals and birds. Class 2 winter range for elk and moose, class 3 summer range for muledeer and white-tailed deer. Badgers, (Red-listed) have multiple dens on this property.

Hoodoos/Hofert Property, East Kootenay Trench

February 2003

The third most important property for critical habitat in BC is comprised of bunchgrass, shrub (saskatoon, willow,shepherdia, rabbit brush) and small clumps of Douglas-fir and supports grassland dependent bird species such as Vesper Sparrow, mammals such as badger (Red listed) and winter forage for elk and deer.

Along the eastern edge, Great Blue Herons (Blue listed) feed in the wetlands along with over 100 other species of birds as well as beaver and muskrat. Garter snakes and amphibians are common here.

Small pockets of aspen forest, a well developed shrub layer and the occasional paperbirch provide winter habitat for grouse, forage for white-tailed deer and nesting habitat for a variety of songbirds.

Wycliffe Wildlife Corridor, St. Mary's Prairie

November 2001, February 2003

The Wycliffe Wildlife Corridor provides key winter range habitat for elk and deer (Class 1 and 2 winter range). This property provides habitat for the red-listed badger, the blue-listed Lewis's Woodpecker, lond billed curlew and 8 red or blue listed plant species.

The riparian area contains well established Black Cottonwoods and other riparian vegetation includes red-osier dogwood, willow species and green alder. The combination of dry grasslands, moist depressions, river frontage and pine covered hilltops makes this property highly desirable as a wildlife corridor.

Vaseux Lake Conservation Area

In 1985, the Nature Trust acquired this 27 hectares of critical California Bighorn Sheep range adjacent to the Vaseux Bighorn National Wildlife Wildlife Area (750 hectares). This property adjoins a 64 hectare parcel acquired in 1984.