British Columbia's Southern Interior: Badger Wildlife Habitat Decision Aid

Abstract

Under the Forest and Range Practices Act, forest and range licensees in British Columbia are required to develop Forest Stewardship Plans and manage their operations to maintain limiting habitats of Identified Wildlife within their tenures. North American badgers (Taxidea taxus) are large members of the weasel family that are a Species At Risk within the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy (IWMS) and are listed as Endangered by COSEWIC. Several aspects of their ecology make them susceptible to forest and range management activities, including their dependence on the grassland, open forest, and modified forested habitat that supports their prey. This Wildlife Habitat Decision Aid (WHDA) summarizes the latest scientific and experiential information that forest and range managers, including silviculture planners, operational foresters, and ranchers, need to consider when managing for badger habitat requirements. This information was obtained through a literature review and discussions with researchers studying badger ecology in British Columbia.

The WHDA format has been used to convey information on factors requiring consideration when managing forests and range in British Columbia for specific wildlife species. This WHDA provides information on habitat features needed by badgers for reproductive dens, resting sites, and foraging habitats; biogeoclimatic zones where badgers occur; and considerations when conducting harvesting, silviculture activities, or livestock grazing in badger range. We provide a map of the distribution and list the biogeoclimatic zones in which badgers occur to help users identify where to apply management considerations. Also included is a valuable resource and reference list that contains more detailed information. Most reference material that is not available online can be ordered through libraries.