Wildlife in the Kootenays Need Your Help
We are working to conserve key land for wildlife in the Kootenays and we need your help. The Columbia River Wetlands-Edgewater property near Radium Hot Springs covers 171.5 hectares (423 acres) and features outstanding habitat for Grizzly Bears and American Badgers. It also provides winter range for Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer and Moose.

One of The Nature Trust of BC's goals is to add new properties to existing ones to create larger complexes which are beneficial for the health of wildlife and plants. The Columbia River Wetlands-Edgewater property will be added to 539 hectares (1,331 acres) of Nature Trust conservation lands that are part of the Columbia National Wildlife Area. An additional benefit to conservation is that the property is adjacent to the Columbia Wetlands Wildlife Management Area which has significant migratory bird habitat for over 200 species.
 
Help us acquire this important land for bears, badgers, deer and more. 
Every single dollar helps.
You can also donate via credit card by calling 604-924-9771 in Vancouver area or 1-866-288-7878 (toll free) or by mailing a cheque payable to The Nature Trust of BC - #260-1000 Roosevelt Cres., North Vancouver, BC V7P 3R4
The Perfect Mother's Day Gift
Bighorn Sheep, like these ones on our conservation lands at Vaseux Lake in the Okanagan, have their young in the spring. Lambs can walk within hours of being born. Their mothers keep them safe from predators in rocky areas.

Consider a donation to The Nature Trust of BC in honour of your mom for Mother's Day on May 13 and you can help us protect land across BC for all kinds of wildlife mothers.  

Call to donate 1-866-288-7878 (or 604-924-9771 in the Vancouver area) 

Donate online and you can send a nature e-card notifying your mother of your gift.


Welcoming Joe to Our Team

The Nature Trust of BC is pleased to welcome Joe Strong to the new position of Kootenay Conservation Land Coordinator.

Joe has a passion for wildlife and fisheries. He spent time working with both the Ontario and British Columbia provincial governments in their fish and wildlife branches. He has worked in the Kootenay region for over 10 years, and has a true appreciation for the conservation values and opportunities in the area. Joe previously worked for The Nature Trust from 2009-2014, on a seasonal basis as a Conservation Youth Crew member and Field Operations Coordinator. He brings a strong fisheries and aquatic habitat background to the position, and is happy to return to the organization.

Events
Brant Wildlife Festival

Thank you to the many volunteers and organizations that helped with the Brant Wildlife Festival on Vancouver Island! 
 
The festival celebrated nature, particularly the amazing migration of Brant geese as they rest and feed on the shores of Parksville and Qualicum Beach. Events ranged from wildlife viewing to a bioblitz. The festival was made possible by volunteer tour leaders, especially the Arrowsmith Naturalists, Friends of French Creek, Pacific Rainforest Adventure Tours, Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute, Qualicum Beach Streamkeepers, and VIU Deep Bay Marine Field Station.
 
The Nature Trust of BC coordinated the festival with sponsorship from the City of Parksville , Town of Qualicum Beach and the Mid Island Co-op.
Meadowlark Festival

Join The Nature Trust of BC's Carl MacNaughton and Nick Burdock for a McIntyre Bluff/ nʕaylintn Hike on Friday, May 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of the annual Meadowlark Festival. 

Enjoy a spectacular view and learn about conservation holdings, a variety of flora and fauna, and the cultural significance of this site as you hike to one of the Okanagan's best settings. 

Please note: this is a strenuous hike for physically fit people.

In addition, there will be a number of other hikes on Nature Trust lands including a Twin Lakes Walk and Sagebrush Wildflowers & Butterflies plus other events. 

Visit  meadowlarkfestival.ca for details.
Bird of the Week
Did you know that BC has 573 bird species?
Many of these species can be found in and around Vancouver.

Leading up to the International Ornithological Congress in August 2018, the Vancouver International Bird Festival is profiling a new BC bird species each week for you to discover.

View the Bird of the Week



For more news and events see our
Spring 2018 newsletter