Help Protect Okanagan Lake and Create a Corridor For Wildlife
Join us in supporting the B.C. Parks Foundation in its efforts to conserve 151 acres of waterfront private land, surrounded by Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park.
The foundation has already raised all but $750,000 of the $4 million required to complete the deal, but the remainder must be raised before the closing date on the offer to private owners of July 15.
The alternative is development of this beautiful parcel of land, located across from Peachland.
The SILT board has unanimously voted to offer its support to the foundation, but the land trust is not in the business of contributing money to other causes, but in conserving land for wildlife and restoration work for lands already in its portfolio.
But, we can inform and encourage our supporters to lean more about this opportunity to protect this key part of the puzzle which could provide a corridor of connectivity from the border north through Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park for wildlife.
As wildflowers, grasslands and forest are rapidly being lost to concrete and asphalt in the Okanagan, it’s vital that we set aside some wild land so our children’s children will know what this valley is like naturally, and so some wild critters can continue to survive.
Learn more about this opportunity and donate whatever you can at:
https://bcparksfoundation.ca/projects/parks-bank/okanagan-mountain-park/
Southern Interior bighorn sheep decimated by disease
Twenty wild bighorn sheep were recently found dead near Grand Forks. They have determined the sheep died from bluetongue, also known as epizootic hemorrhagic disease, a virus caused by mites which has no specific treatment.
Though the catastrophic loss of cherished wildlife is indeed unfortunate, it does not affect the habitat value of SILT’s conservation properties. In fact, this occurrence highlights the importance of acquiring and maintaining quality wildlife habitats in places where wildlife may thrive. It will take time for the Grand Forks bighorn sheep herd to recover.
In the meantime, SILT will remain committed to managing its Grand Forks Grasslands property to benefit wild sheep and other wildlife. SILT looks forward to cooperating further with its conservations partners, including the Wild Sheep Society of BC, to help the Grand Forks bighorn sheep herd recover as quickly as possible.
Photo: BC Wild Sheep Society
SILT Honoured by Low Brothers Bottle Drive
SILT was recently presented with a donation of $1,000 through the efforts of brothers Josh and Jayk Low collecting bottles and cans in their community. “SILT is honoured to receive the benefit of Josh and Jayk’s hard work” said SILT’s executive director Al Peatt, “the boys’ community spirit and leadership is truly outstanding. SILT appreciates their support and that of everyone who donated their bottles and cans.” SILT will use the donation to help manage wildlife habitat at its R.E. Taylor Conservation Property in Olalla.
Read the full story here on Castanet
Love Olalla
SILT Bioblitz – Snakes & Amphibians with Mike Dunn R.P.Bio
Watch our video on Reptiles & Amphibians. Learn more about the habitat value at SILT’s R.E. Taylor property thanks to Lindsay Lalach and Mike Dunn R.P.Bio.