PKOLS – Mount Douglas Conservancy

Bear notices have been posted at Mt. Douglas Beach and on Churchill Drive, in PKOLS – Mount Douglas Park.

The following article highlights the struggle to be a responsible dog owner.

A journal dedicated to wildlife conservation in the Pacific Region has published the following research about the impact of dog ownership on wildlife. This information is essential to responsible dog owners, who are also concerned about the wildlife in our fragile ecological system. The key findings are that the dogs within waterways or on beaches, even on leash, are disruptive to shore birds, and if they leave any urine or faeces behind, they continue to have a detrimental impact. Responsible dog owners or people considering pets will want to understand these things.

A second article published by the Guardian addresses the need for dog owners to understand their pets’ impact on the environment. Current studies indicate that “the environmental impact of owned dogs is far greater, more insidious, and more concerning than is generally recognized.”

Reference Materials

• Gone to the Dogs Man’s best friend is a shorebird’s worst enemy. What will it take to control beach dogs—and, more importantly, their owners? 
•  FMDPS Holistic Dog Review Request.pdf
• Saanich Pound Report.pdf
• Animal Control Complaint Form
• Dogs as agents of disturbance, study by Weston and Stankowich. (The median distance for flight response of wild animals, including all wildlife in the park, is 100m when walking a dog, on or off leash)
• Role of Pets in Human Disease, HealthLink BC, role of feces and urine in outbreaks of E. Coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Yersinia, Toxoplasma, etc. 
• Understanding the Ecological Impacts of Dogs in Natural Areas. 
• Environmental Protection Tribunal of Canada ruling on dogs of leash in Cadboro Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

The Saanich News reported today on a severe situation in PKOLS Mt. Douglas nature park. Our park is unique in having a broad range of endangered ecological systems, and the province has designated all the systems in the park as endangered. We are fortunate to have such a South Island jewel within the city limits being preserved by the District of Saanich under a charter that requires its preservation for all future generations.

In the article, the PKOLS—Mount Douglas Conservancy Vice-President highlights what needs to be done to prevent further damage to the nature park and allow its unique ecological system to recover.

A month-by-month review of the projects, initiatives, volunteer efforts, observations, and issues that shaped 2024 in PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park)

The federal government is currently advising people not to touch or feed wild birds by hand in order to prevent the spread of H5N1 (a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus) in some wild birds in BC.  As a precautionary measure, Saanich has remove signs related to feeding of ducks in Saanich’s parks, which encouraged the feeding of only appropriate food as an educational measure.

As of today, all the duck feeding related signs we have been able to locate have been removed from the following parks:

• Bow Pond
• Beckwith Pond
• CHP – King’s
• CHP – Derby
• Rithet’s Bog
• South Valley Pond

Saanich is exploring additional information sharing measures, likely by using their website and directing people there so they can be nimble as information and advice may change quickly.

• Influenza in wild birds – Government of Canada
• Prevent the spread of avian influenza in wild birds: poster – Government of Canada
• Help respond to the Avian Influenza outbreak – Birds Canada
• Backyard bird feeders and avian flu: What British Columbians need to know

Protecting Norn Pond

An extended split-rail fence has been installed along Norn Trail to protect a rare and fragile wetland ecosystem (Norn Pond). The Saanich Parks Natural Areas crew made this work possible by carrying 50 fence posts from the Churchill/Irvine crossing to the Norn Trail Pond last week—no small feat!

After advocating for this extended fencing for some time now, we deeply appreciate Parks’ hard work and collaboration to ensure this measure is taken to help restore the degradation of this area by people and dogs unaware of its fragility. 

The fence will help remind users that PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) contains rare, at-risk ecological systems, including some of the most extensive remaining Camas and Garry Oak meadows in Saanich, which are incredibly fragile. Every ecosystem in the park has been provincially and globally identified as endangered.

Replanting Native Species