On January 20th, 2010 a second phase for the release of Lower Mainland Roosevelt Elk in the Toba Valley commenced in the early morning hours. Participants and volunteers from MOE, BCCF, Klahoose First Nations Sliammon First Nation and Kiewit Construction were all involved in the transfer of the Elk.

Ben Lessard, a partner in Theechim Management Group, has been involved from the beginning and was excited to be a part of the second release. “Elk are an important wildlife resource for the Klahoose First Nation and we would like to work in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and other First Nations in relocation and recovery of elk to our traditional territory.” said Lessard.

Ben reflects on the Toba Valley:

“We are starting to do our entire grizzly bear habitat, goat polygons and deer polygons. It's the Klahoose logging here so we know where all the tradition use stuff is. It's a lot to take into planning. More recently we had some grizzly bear polygons identified that weren't productive so we took some parts that were not actually slated for grizzly bear and converted it into grizzly bear habitat. Before, we probably could have logged it, but being on the ground all the time and getting it to know it, you can determine this habitat is way more productive than that habitat. You can make those changes. We are going to get a biologist on the ground here to confirm that.”

“We look at all aspects. Being a band member gives you a different insight. For me it has deeper meaning. My family has been up here. They were raised here and I have family buried all over up here. I look at everything. I don't just look at clear cut dollars. I look at what makes sense for us in the long run.
We feel huge ownership in here.”

The second release moved seven Elk (4 adults and 6 juveniles) from the Powell River area. Officials hope to have a moratorium on hunting for at least two years so the Elk population has time to grow.
Click on link at bottom of page to view video of release.

Background

Since 2000, the Lower Mainland Roosevelt Elk Recovery Project’s main objectives were to maintain healthy levels of the Elk population in traditional habitats while at the same deal with nuisance elk that were released on the lower mainland in 1997 and 1988.

A release program was established through the efforts of wildlife biologist, Darryl Reynolds with the Ministry of Environment to send Elk populations to flourish in the Toba, Ramsey and Bute watersheds. “The opportunity to add charismatic mega-ungulates to the species composition of this area, which will be increasingly frequented by eco-tourists, backcountry recreationists and commercial recreation, is both singular and exceptional.” says Darryl.

See video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac761ixzv_0