Check out a rundown of the projects we did last year in our 2023-24 SPLAT Update! A new venture was to help the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District mitigate the effects of a new bike path adjacent to the highway in a migratory corridor for Northern Red-legged Frogs and other amphibians. They placed new amphibian tunnels under the path and supported our efforts to build fencing to guide animals from the forest to beneath the path and then onward to cross through the original amphibian highway tunnel that we installed in 2011! Stay tuned to find out how well these new connectors work.
We also explored another wetland alongside the highway - a place where beaver activity occasionally floods the road. Turns out the beaver pond provides good summer habitat for amphibians. Maps and information given to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will help them decide how to reduce the risk of flooding while still maintaining wet habitat during summer droughts.
Our biggest continuing effort is our collaboration with the Huu-ay-aht First Nations. We are monitoring new tunnels under the Bamfield Road to test how well they protect Western Toads from being "splatted", and allow them to travel to breed at Frederick Lake. It's rare to find such a large breeding population in the region. We highlight a bit of our conversations with two Knowledge Holders from the Huu-ay-aht First Nations who spoke about their relationships with the lake and wildlife and the reasons why amphibians are important.
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