{"id":7966,"date":"2016-09-01T13:49:08","date_gmt":"2016-09-01T18:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2016.wildlifepreservation.ca\/?page_id=7966"},"modified":"2016-10-18T09:14:02","modified_gmt":"2016-10-18T14:14:02","slug":"fraser-valley-wetlands-wildlife","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/fraser-valley-wetlands-wildlife\/","title":{"rendered":"Fraser Valley Wetlands Wildlife"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbsection\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbRow\u00a0\u00bb make_fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb use_custom_width=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb width_unit=\u00a0\u00bbon\u00a0\u00bb use_custom_gutter=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb padding_mobile=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb allow_player_pause=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax_method=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb make_equal=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax_1=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax_method_1=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax_2=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax_method_2=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb column_padding_mobile=\u00a0\u00bbon\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_4″][et_pb_sidebar admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbSidebar\u00a0\u00bb orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb area=\u00a0\u00bbet_pb_widget_area_11″ background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb remove_border=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb disabled=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb disabled_on=\u00a0\u00bbon||\u00a0\u00bb header_line_height=\u00a0\u00bb1.2em\u00a0\u00bb] [\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb3_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbImage\u00a0\u00bb src=\u00a0\u00bbhttps:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/western-painted-turtle-wc.jpg\u00a0\u00bb show_in_lightbox=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb url_new_window=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb use_overlay=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb animation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb sticky=\u00a0\u00bbon\u00a0\u00bb align=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb force_fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb always_center_on_mobile=\u00a0\u00bbon\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbRow\u00a0\u00bb make_fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb use_custom_width=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb width_unit=\u00a0\u00bbon\u00a0\u00bb use_custom_gutter=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb padding_mobile=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb allow_player_pause=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax_method=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb make_equal=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax_1=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax_method_1=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax_2=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax_method_2=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax_3=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb parallax_method_3=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb column_padding_mobile=\u00a0\u00bbon\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_4″][et_pb_sidebar admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbSidebar\u00a0\u00bb orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb area=\u00a0\u00bbet_pb_widget_area_8″ background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb remove_border=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb disabled=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb disabled_on=\u00a0\u00bbon||\u00a0\u00bb] [\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbText\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin=\u00a0\u00bb-200px|||\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_phone=\u00a0\u00bb-100px|||\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_last_edited=\u00a0\u00bbon|phone\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n

Fraser Valley Wetlands Wildlife<\/h1>\n

The species<\/b><\/h3>\n

This project focuses on two flagship species for B.C. wetlands.<\/span><\/span> The <\/span><\/span>Oregon spotted frog <\/span><\/span><\/a>is Canada\u2019s most endangered amphibian, with fewer than 300 breeding individuals in the wild.<\/span><\/span> Without intervention, <\/span><\/span>it will almost certainly disappear<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> Meanwhile, the <\/span><\/span>w<\/span><\/span>estern <\/span><\/span>p<\/span><\/span>ainted <\/span><\/span>t<\/span><\/span>urtle<\/span><\/span><\/a> is B.C.\u2019s only remaining native pond turtle<\/span><\/span>, and the Pacific Coast population is dwindling<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The project<\/b><\/h3>\n

The freshwater ecosystems of B.C.\u2019s Lower Mainland have been severely impacted by pollution, runoff, climate change, invasive species and large numbers of predators such as raccoons. At least one species native to the area, the northern Pacific pond turtle, has already disappeared from Canada, while others have dropped to such low numbers that their only hope of surviving rests on direct, hands-on conservation.<\/p>\n

The recovery plan for Oregon spotted frog calls for conservation breeding, headstarting and release to re-establish viable populations in at least six sites. Wildlife Preservation Canada began coordinating these efforts in 2010, adding a conservation breeding program to the headstarting work taking place at the Greater Vancouver Zoo. This expanded on the breeding efforts underway at the Vancouver Aquarium.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, an ongoing mark-recapture program and extensive egg mass monitoring by our recovery partners is tracking the success of this initiative. Young are being used both to increase the size of existing wild populations and to establish new ones at appropriate sites where the species had been lost.<\/p>\n

In 2012, we expanded our work to include the western painted turtle. In order to save this population, experts recommend protecting nests, artificially incubating eggs, headstarting young turtles for release and establishing a conservation breeding program.<\/p>\n

Accordingly, we began salvaging western painted turtle eggs from nests at high risk \u2014 such as those on gravel boat ramps \u2014 and headstarting them. We also began collecting adults found living alone or in such small groups that effective breeding was unlikely. These turtles form the nucleus of a conservation breeding population. We headstart hatchlings for at least a year, until they are too large to be eaten by their major predators: bullfrogs that have been introduced to British Columbia.<\/p>\n

Results<\/b><\/h3>\n

As of fall 2015, we have reared and released over 450 Oregon spotted frogs and 85 western painted turtles. Initial results suggest these individuals are thriving in the wild. A 2015 survey turned up an unexpectedly large number of healthy young turtles that we released the previous year, while the frogs that we released into a restored, formerly unpopulated wetland have begun breeding there.<\/p>\n

Impact<\/b><\/h3>\n

Ramping up our conservation breeding program for each species will allow us to release more frogs and turtles, significantly increasing wild populations and restoring them to historic areas. In the coming years, we also hope to use the techniques from our western painted turtle program to reintroduce the Pacific pond turtle<\/a> to Canada.<\/p>\n

Read more about the latest developments in our <\/span><\/span>Oregon<\/span><\/span><\/span> spotted frog<\/span><\/span> <\/a>and <\/span><\/span>Western<\/span><\/span><\/span> painted turtle <\/span><\/span><\/a>recovery efforts on our <\/span><\/span>field blog<\/span><\/span>s.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Support Fraser Valley Wetlands Wildlife! Contribute to Wildlife Preservation Canada today.<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Want to do more? Find out<\/a> how you can help reptiles and amphibians at risk.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_team_member admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbPerson\u00a0\u00bb animation=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb background_color=\u00a0\u00bbrgba(136,183,119,0.47)\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb custom_padding=\u00a0\u00bb8px|8px|8px|8px\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n

The People<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"andrea-gielens\"<\/a> Andrea Gielens<\/strong>
\n Lead Biologist<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andrea has been volunteering with wildlife since she was 13 years old, when she began helping at a local centre for orphaned wildlife, bottle-feeding young deer, raccoons and squirrels. She holds a Master\u2019s degree in ecology from Royal Roads University, as well as a Bachelor\u2019s degree in biology with a focus on zoology and animal behaviour. She has worked at zoos both in Canada and in the U.K., first with primates and small cats and later with the Oregon spotted frog. She has also studied pack dynamics and social behaviour among African wild dogs.<\/p>\n

In 2011, Andrea spent a year in the amphibian and reptile department of Wildlife Preservation Canada\u2019s U.K. sister organization, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey. There, among other things, she learned how to treat conservation colonies infected with the deadly chytrid fungus that has been wiping out amphibian populations worldwide. Andrea coordinates our B.C. Wetlands Wildlife project, as well as our work with Taylor\u2019s checkerspot butterfly recovery<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbText\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin=\u00a0\u00bb-200px|||\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_phone=\u00a0\u00bb0px|0px|0px|0px\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_last_edited=\u00a0\u00bbon|desktop\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n

Supported by<\/strong><\/p>\n