UFV’s Wildlife Protection Club, headed by president Molly Tilden, has plans for various events in the coming months for their ongoing work to protect habitats and endangered local species.
Through partnerships with groups such as the Fraser Valley Conservancy, The WaterWealth Project, the Wild Salmon Defender’s Alliance, and The Reptile Room, the Wildlife Protection Club is helping to bring attention to the needs of the many endangered animals who call the Fraser Valley their home. They have worked with the Fraser Valley Conservancy to help with the “Precious Frog” program, which is focused on protecting the habitats of Canada’s most endangered amphibian, the Oregon Spotted Frog. The club has plans to set up an information booth at The Reptile Room’s World Turtle Day, an educational outreach event happening on May 22 at Salish Park in Chilliwack.
The Wildlife Protection Club is a dedicated group of students with various backgrounds and a shared passion for the wellbeing of all creatures, fuzzy, slimy, or scaly. They focus on animals that do not get much attention — like the Oregon Forestsnail and the Oregon Spotted Frog, two endangered species in B.C. Tilden explained that these animals have suffered from the building of new infrastructures in and around the Fraser Valley, which is destroying their habitats. Through the group’s various events, action is being taken to help these endangered animals while also educating the public on conservation efforts and providing information about local endangered species.
So far, the Wildlife Protection Club has hosted a 50/50 raffle during the Abbotsford floods to help fund the Fraser Valley Conservancy, as many displaced animals were put under their care. This, according to Tilden, was their most successful event to date, raising over $500 from the UFV community to support the Conservancy. They are now planning monthly litter pick ups to ensure that the trash that is thrown into local riverbanks will not be washed down into the ocean when the spring ice melt happens. The first pick up occurred at Fishtrap Creek Park on March 27, and another was scheduled for May 15 at the Tamihi staging area in Chilliwack, but was postponed due to rainy weather. Another pick up is scheduled for June 15, with a location still to be decided. Follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WildlifeProtectionClub/ or Instagram at @ufvwildlifeprotectionclub to find out where it will be. These events are a great way for UFV students to get involved in their community, and are open to anyone who is interested.
Tilden also mentioned the upcoming Art for Wildlife event that will be held this September. UFV students and community members are asked to donate their art to the Club for a silent auction on Sept. 23, with all proceeds going towards the Fraser Valley Conservancy. Anyone interested in donating their wildlife- or nature-themed art can contact the club through their Facebook page or email ufvwildlifeprotectionclub@gmail.com. The club is also looking for senior students of the Visual Arts program to donate their time to help appraise these pieces for auction.
For another easy way to help with conservation efforts, the club also suggests being on the lookout for frogs and toads while you are out and about. If you see one, just snap a picture and fill out a Frog Finder form from the Conservancy, and you can help with the data collection about important amphibians in the Fraser Valley region.
Allison is starting her BA in English with a minor in Criminology to become a publishing contract lawyer. In her spare time, she watches way too many true crime shows and reads a lot of Y.A. fiction, while slugging along on various articles.
