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The "Provincial Agriculture Zone Wildlife Program" (PAZWP), had been developed by the B.C. government out of recognition that agricultural zones throughout the province are subject to special objectives and hold special opportunities for hunters. Based upon the results of two pilot projects from the Peace Region (PREP) and the East Kootenays (EKLEP), PAZWP hired its first full time field staff members in 2009. The provincial government’s reorganization in 2011 modified PAZWP into a regional delivery format; the program’s name now has the regional identifier added.
The “Provincial Agriculture Zone Wildlife Program – Kootenay Boundary Region” (PAZWP-KBR) will help coordinate the following activities in the agriculture/winter range zones of the KBR:
- crop damage prevention, mitigation and compensation strategies,
- increase hunting opportunities in agricultural zones, and
- promote healthy hunter-landowner relationships.
Agriculture/winter range zones were delineated because of concerns with elk depredation on agriculture crops and/or rangeland condition and forage availability on important winter range. These zones are used mainly for setting ungulate population targets for hunting regulations.
PAZWP “Agriculture/Wildlife Specialists” will coordinate crop damage prevention, mitigation and compensation strategies with Ministry of Agriculture’s “Resource Stewardship Agrologists”. They will also work with provincial and regional “Wildlife Biologists” to change hunting regulations to increase hunting opportunities in agriculture zones where appropriate, to reduce crop depredation by ungulates. As well, they will work with other government ministries, First Nations, NGO’s and local stakeholder groups to promote healthy hunter – landowner relationships.
“Regional Agriculture Wildlife Committees (RAWC’s)” are being established in regions where there is a need to
promote discussion and development of ideas for reducing agriculture/wildlife conflicts.
 
WILDLIFE FRIENDLY FENCES
A good fence for wildlife is one which does not impede the movement of any age class. It is highly visible so it can be avoided or clearly seen if it is crossed. It is not so high as to be a barrier to adults, nor so low as to be a barrier to young animals. It has no risk of entangling an animal crossing the fence.
The best fence for wildlife is smooth wire fence with wooden lathe woven between the wires. Based on experience in the Kootenays, a 3 wire fence with the top strand 42” above ground and the bottom strand 16” above ground, with posts at 20’ intervals and 3 or more wooden lathes between posts, is effective at containing cow-calf and yearling cattle, but not restrictive to wildlife.
This type of fence:
- has good visibility for wildlife,
- has fewer ‘hang-ups’ (entangled legs),
- is low enough for adult deer, elk or moose to cross over,
- has enough space for young ungulates and other wildlife to cross under,
- has lower maintenance than wooden or barbed wire fences.
If the wire is loose stapled it can stretch without breaking. If it has ratchets installed at various locations, stretch and sag can be removed each year prior to cattle use.
An alternative is a fence with “knock down” sections. At points of known animal movement, sections are built into the fence that can be laid flat while not controlling cattle, to allow unimpeded wildlife movement. As another alternative, these areas can have extra lathe installed to improve visibility.
 
In the Kootenays Boundary Region, to book an appointment or a presentation for your organization’s next meeting about the PAZWP-KBR program, please contact FLNRO/MOE Reception at 250-354-6333 or email: anne.reichert@gov.bc.ca
PAZWP Brochure (PDF 865 KB) |
