RLAPP Updates

Ryder Lake Amphibian Protection Project Updates for 2011

For the fourth year in a row the Fraser Valley Conservancy has been conducting an Amphibian Protection Project in the Ryder Lake area of Chilliwack BC. The project includes night-time monitoring for adult amphibians during the spring and a migration event for the juvenile western toads in the summer. Year round, the Fraser Valley Conservancy raises money for this project and the money collected is used to pay for the migration monitoring, traffic control during the toadlet migration and hopefully in the near future, for a tunnel structure and fencing.

Amphibian Tunnel Updates

This year the staff from FVC attended a workshop on Herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles) and their mortality on roads, in Nanaimo BC. The Ministry of Environment, BC Frogwatch, Ministry of Transport ation and Infrastructure, Northwest chapter of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, the Association of Wetland Stewards for Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds, and the Biology Department of Vancouver Island University co-hosted the two-day workshop on Herps and Roads. The workshop brought scientists, environmental managers, engineers and non-governmental organizations together to discuss the impacts of vehicular mortality on herpetofauna while migrating across roads and mitigative measures that can be used to reduce those impacts. As a result of this workshop we now have a better understanding of what type of mitigative measures work best.

Since amphibians need as much natural light and substrate as possible, we have decided that instead of using an amphibian tunnel in the road we are going to construct “cattle guard like structures” that the toads and other amphibians in the area can use to cross the road, decreasing the rate of amphibian deaths due to vehicular traffic. Here are some examples of what this “wildlife guard” will hopefully look like:

-Video of the toads using the testing structure will be posted soon!

Fundraising Initiatives

Year round, the Fraser Valley Conservancy raises money for this project through the ‘Toonies for Toads’ Campaign. The toonies collected will be used to pay for the migration monitoring, traffic control during the toadlet migration and hopefully in the near future, a tunnel structure and fencing.

There are several ways you can donate:

In Person: Drop by the office with your contribution

By Mail: Send a cheque payable to the Fraser Valley Conservancy to our address:

PO Box 2026 Abbotsford BC V2T 3T8

On the Internet: Make a payment through Canada Helps.org