TC Energy Grant to continue the Wildlife Recreation Study

TC Energy Build Strong Grant to Continue Wildlife Recreation Study

The FTA is thrilled to announce, with support from Dr.Clayton Lamb, we have received a grant from TC Energy to continue the Wildlife Recreation Study on going on the Provincial Park and Crown land.

The Elk Valley is a truly remarkable region where industry, recreation, transportation, and wildlife coexist in a delicate balance. The valley is a critical transportation corridor, supporting highways, rail lines, and pipelines that facilitate the movement of goods and people, while also serving as a gateway to some of the most pristine natural landscapes in British Columbia. It’s also a hub for major industries such as mining and logging, which play a vital role in the local economy but place additional pressure on the valley’s ecosystems and wildlife.

At the same time, the Elk Valley is a hotspot for outdoor recreation, supporting the wellbeing of residents and drawing people from around the world to experience its natural beauty through mountain biking, hiking, skiing, and more. The benefits of outdoor recreation are immense—boosting physical and mental health, creating social connections, and supporting a thriving tourism sector that strengthens the local economy.

However, with this increased recreational use, combined with industrial activity like mining and logging, the valley’s wildlife and ecosystems are facing growing pressures. Mining and logging, while key economic drivers, contribute to habitat fragmentation and create new access points that can increase human-wildlife interactions. These activities, along with the region’s critical transportation infrastructure, place strain on the very landscapes that support the valley’s iconic wildlife species, including grizzly bears, elk, and mule deer. In this complex landscape, it’s crucial that recreation, industry, and conservation work together to sustain both the natural environment and the communities that depend on it. 

Our project, “Creating Ecologically Sustainable Active Communities in the Elk Valley,” is designed to ensure that this balance can be maintained. By analyzing how wildlife interacts with recreation, transportation corridors, and industrial activities, we are gathering the data needed to inform sustainable management practices. Over the past three years (2021-2023), we have collected over 1.7 million images (Figure 1) from 29 camera trap locations within the northern half of Fernie’s trail network (Figure 2), capturing how wildlife such as bears, deer, and elk are using the landscape and responding to various human activities. The cameras are spread between wildlife trails, single track mountain bike and hiking trails, and roads. Data collections for 2024 is ongoing. Early findings suggest that wildlife behavior is influenced by trail use, and there is evidence of avoidance of busy recreation areas during peak human activity (Figure 3).



With support from TC Energy, we can analyze this extensive dataset to better understand how wildlife respond to recreational use. This research will enable us to provide evidence-based recommendations on how to sustainably manage the Elk Valley’s recreational footprint.

This project aligns closely with TC Energy’s environmental focus area, which emphasizes the protection and restoration of ecologically sensitive landscapes and wildlife habitats. By investing in this project, TC Energy will help safeguard the valley’s wildlife and natural landscapes, ensuring that future generations can continue to benefit from its natural beauty, thriving industries, and recreational opportunities. This funding will allow us to make informed decisions on whether and how we can continue these activities without compromising the ecological integrity of the Elk Valley.

Together, we can ensure that the Elk Valley remains a place where industry, recreation, transportation, and wildlife thrive in harmony, building a resilient and sustainable future for all.