What’s going on with Bragg Creek Wild?
In the very early part of this year, I wrote about how our family found a dead doe right outside our house, that had been run over by a vehicle. As I wrote then, that experience was one of the main things that prompted me to join a newly formed local group who wanted to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions in the area.
Since then a lot has happened. The group has attracted well over 50 members from a wide range of backgrounds, with a range of expertise and just plain passion.
The group has decided on the name “Bragg Creek Wild” and has worked on a number of exciting projects that we hope will all contribute to realising our vision: for Bragg Creek and area to be a safe and sustainable environment where wildlife and humans co-exist.
Here are just some of the things that members have been working on:
• Leading and coordinating a mapping project to get a clearer picture of what wildlife neighbours are where in the community. This has been very successful so far, and information is coming in via a range of sources, not least social media and direct messages from people in the community.
• Earlier this year, members of the group met with Wilco to discuss how the berm might affect the ability of wildlife to travel along their regular routes/corridors.
• We also met with Dick Koetsier to introduce our concerns about maintaining wildlife habitat and corridors in the midst of development.
• You’ve probably seen the signs along the road to West Bragg Creek and Wintergreen warning motorists to watch out for fawns and does. These were the result of discussions with Rocky View County. You may also have seen the signs placed on private properties along the road with the same message: these were designed and created by members and friends of the group.
• As well, we’ve been regularly addressing the litter problem in the Provincial Park by meeting up and collecting what has been left behind by weekend visitors. Some of us joined the Ladies’ Auxiliary on June 26th for their major Clean Up event, and we’re grateful too for the other members of the community who do this as a regular habit. It all contributes to keeping local wildlife safe by not tempting them to get into the garbage.
Some of our aims are to develop positive and collaborative relationships with other groups and individuals in the community and to keep you informed of what we’re doing. We’ll be chatting with local people and finding out their thoughts over the coming months, too.
And look out for the Wild Questionnaire, coming soon!
If you want to get involved or get in touch with Bragg Creek Wild on a specific topic, there are now lots of different ways to contact us:
Visit our website: www.braggcreekwild.ca
Or email us direct: braggcreekwild@gmail.com
