Monitoring Endangered Western Screech-Owls Video:

The FWCP has been working to help endangered western screech-owls for several years.

Join wildlife biologists on a night excursion as they attempt to catch a western screech-owl and outfit the bird with a transmitter. Given their scarcity in B.C., monitoring these birds to gain a better understanding of their range, distribution and feeding habits is no easy matter. To help collect this important information, a small transmitter is attached to a bird and the subsequent signals emitted during the breeding season are tracked and recorded.

Re-building Kokanee Stocks in the South Arm of Kootenay Lake Video:

See kokanee "eyed-eggs" being placed in the gravel

Conservation efforts aimed at restoring kokanee populations to the south arm of Kootenay Lake include nutrient additions, placing spawning gravel and transplanting four million kokanee "eyed-eggs" into man-made gravel nests - known as redds - in selected south arm tributaries. The efforts to rebuild south arm kokanee stocks continued in 2008 with the addition of more kokanee "eyed-eggs." In time, these kokanee will return and spawn in these tributaries.

Helping Conserve Wildlife Trees For Species-At-Risk Video:

Learn more about wildlife trees (courtesy of Shaw Cable TV)

Dead and decaying trees are important habitat for more than 80 species including several species at risk like the Western screech-owl and the Lewis' Woodpecker. The problem is that these same trees are attractive to people gathering firewood. The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program is asking people to avoid cutting down wildlife trees. In fact, we are trying to help mother nature create more wildlife trees in the East Kootenay. Find out more about this unique project that uses fungus and time to create much-needed habitat.

Osprey Webcam Highlights From 2007 Video:

In 2007 a webcam was placed on an osprey nest in Creston Valley in the south-east corner of British Columbia. It was a joint-initiative of the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program and the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area. The images of the adults, fish being brought to the nest, and the two chicks growing stronger, were streamed live via the FWCP website throughout the breeding season. This video provides a snapshot of 2007. Check out the osprey webcam link on the home page at www.fwcp.ca.

Helping Endangered Sturgeon in the Columbia River Video:

See adult sturgeon being caught and released as part of the sturgeon aqua-culture program

The FWCP is an active partner in the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative. In addition to helping release thousands of juvenile sturgeon into the Columbia River each spring, the FWCP also funds the rearing of juvenile sturgeon which are critical to the future of this species.

Supporting Gerrard Rainbow Trout in the Lardeau River Video:

See rare underwater film footage of Gerrards Spawning

The Gerrard rainbow trout are the largest trout species in the world. Each year this unique fish - which often weighs up to 10 kg or 22 pounds - spawns in the Lardeau River at the north end of Kootenay Lake. This fish is just one of many species that benefit from the Nutrient Restoration Program. This effort to re-build the food web in Kootenay Lake is coordinated by the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program and the B.C. Ministry of Environment. It is viewed as one of the most successful large-lake restoration efforts in the world. Special thanks to Gerry Nellestijn for providing video footage.