Wed, 17 Sep 2025
Tags: F&W / News

Funding Available for Fraser Valley Raptor Projects

Photo by Susie McAdam

HCTF is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity beginning in the 2026-27 grant year, “Raptors of the Fraser Valley Lowlands.” This opportunity stems from a collaboration between HCTF, the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, and the Hancock Wildlife Foundation.

HCTF has a long history of investing in projects that restore, conserve, or enhance fish and wildlife populations and habitats, including avian raptor populations at risk. This new fund will support prioritized activities that improve outcomes for raptors (eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, etc.) of the Fraser Valley Lowlands (FVL) of B.C. (Hope to Richmond/Delta). These outcomes include both direct and indirect improvements to populations or habitat for these birds.

Photo by Laura Thede

The Fraser Valley is recognized as one of the most ecologically significant areas in B.C. for raptor populations. Its unique geography, climate, and historic land use patterns have created ideal conditions for a wide variety of raptor species throughout the year. The habitat mosaic of wetlands, estuaries, riparian corridors, agricultural fields, and forested areas supports foraging, nesting, and roosting for over 20 species of raptors.

Priority outcomes for the new fund are to focus on those species and habitats most at risk that represent the unique characteristics of the Fraser Valley Lowlands and prioritize those species that serve as ‘umbrellas’ where their conservation indirectly protects many other species that share their habitat. The three major goals of the fund are:

  • Protect and/or restore lowland grasslands, agricultural areas and wetlands for raptor breeding and/or foraging in the FVL;
  • Improve our understanding of the use and dependence by FVL raptors of remaining lowland grasslands, agricultural areas and wetlands for breeding and foraging; and,
  • Establish clear, flexible and realistic raptor breeding and foraging habitat supply objectives for the FVL.

A workshop is scheduled for mid-October to further refine the priorities and associated actions for this fund in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for these raptors. Additional guidance may be provided at that time via updates on this post. Applicants are encouraged to begin working on proposals in advance, utilizing the Word worksheet provided on the HCTF Resources tab, and to check back for more guidance before submitting their proposal.

Photo by Allan Farrant

Applying for Funding

This funding is currently available under HCTF’s existing Fish & Wildlife granting program, which is now open receive proposals until November 7, 2025, at 4:30pm (PST). To apply under the current intake, review the guidance document and additional information on the Apply tab. If you believe that your project would be a good fit for this funding, please add the acronym “FVL” at the beginning of your project title in your Survey Apply application.

We will provide additional guidance in 2026 if the funding expands to other programs, such as Action Grants or scholarships.

This will be a long-term program with available funding for at least the next 5 years, so applicants are welcome to submit multi-year proposals (note: the maximum duration of a continuing Fish & Wildlife proposal is 3 years). It is estimated that approximately $200,000 will be available each year. There is no minimum or maximum amount that one project can apply for, but the intention is to fund multiple projects per year, so applicants are encouraged to budget accordingly. There is no leveraging (match-funding) requirement, but additional partnership or in-kind funding will be viewed as a strength to an application.

If you have any questions, please contact grants@hctf.ca.

Tue, 16 Sep 2025
Tags: Education / scholarship / t4w / together for wildlife

Meet the 2025 Recipients of the T4W Scholarship!

HCTF in partnership with the First Nations-B.C. Wildlife & Habitat Conservation Forum and the Province of British Columbia’s Together for Wildlife Strategy (T4W) are proud to share more information about the 2025 Together for Wildlife academic scholarship recipients;

The Together for Wildlife scholarship is awarded annually to 10 masters and Ph.D. candidates conducting research that will have a positive impact on stewardship, management, policy, or decision-making of wildlife in BC. This scholarship aims to support reconciliation and collaboration, diversity of perspectives, and building community among Indigenous communities and rural areas of BC.

More Info

2025 Recipients

Mitchell Brunet

Mitchell Brunet is a Doctorate student at the University of British Columbia. They are using a suite of GPS-collared mule deer, white-tailed deer, and cougars, as well as vegetation sampling, and camera trap networks to identify the cause of mule deer limitation. Identifying the cause of mule deer decline will ensure we implement management actions such as on-the-ground habitat improvements (e.g., prescribed burns, access mitigation, UWRs) and harvest regulations that make meaningful differences.

More About Mitchell

Melissa Butynski

Melissa is a Doctorate candidate attending the University of British Columbia. Her research is examining two key issues. The first is organizing a wildlife crossing and corridors forum to bring together various stakeholder groups to align on management strategies, braiding together Traditional Knowledge and Western science. The second focus is using camera traps to determine factors that influence the use of wildlife crossings

More About Melissa

Westin Creyke

Westin is a MSc student at the University of Northern BC. His research examines the impacts roads have on Stone’s sheep, to define the spatial and temporal extent of the road’s influence on stress in the sheep population.

More About Westin

Nathan Earley

Nathan is a PhD student attending the University of Victoria. His study is examining how community science can be better used and integrated with more traditional biodiversity data to inform conservation and will identify the role that community science already plays in informing conservation prioritization.

More About Nathan

Johanna Griggs

Johanna is a master’s student at the University of Victoria. Johanna is investigating the impacts of industrial logging in the Heiltsuk Territory. By using detection data from remote camera Johanna and Heiltsuk land managers seek to understand how industrial logging could be impacting spatiotemporal interactions between wolves and their prey. This work may minimize future impacts of logging on wildlife in the Heiltsuk Territory.

More About Johanna

Sima Khanal

Sima is a PhD student studying at the University of British Columbia. Their work aims to explore ways in which we can minimize human-wildlife interactions, specifically between humans and bears in Provincial parks and recreational areas. By examining multiple simple intervention choices Sima hopes to make evidence based recommendations to BC Parks and conservation agencies to reduce the frequency of Human-Bear interactions.

More About Sima

Zoe Konanz

Zoe is a master’s student studying at the University of British Columbia. Her work is supporting the Yunesit’in Government’s goals to restore cultural burning as part of a broader vision for land healing. To do this Zoe is exploring two questions: how moose and mule deer forage responds to cultural burns and how habitat usage changes for wildlife following burning. This study aims to support Yunesit’in in their fire stewardship goals while contributing to broader ecological understanding.

More About Zoe

Danny McNeil-Wilmott

Danny is a Doctorate student currently studying with the University of Northern British Columbia. Their work in partnership with Williams Lake First Nation, is examining how the reintroduction of cultural burning practices can help minimize the effects of historical changes have on the area. This project seeks to understand how fire stewardship can restore habitat networks and biodiversity, while also ensuring the T’exelcemc people are able to maintain culturally important practices.

More About Danny

Yaelle Sarid-Segal

Yaelle is a doctorate student at the University of Northern British Columbia. Their research is exploring the impacts that glyphosate-based herbicides on wildlife and ecosystems, specifically small mammals. To determine the potential impacts of Glyphosate-based herbicides on voles and deer mice physiology, gut microbiome, and population trends Yaelle will utilize fecal analysis. This will allow them to determine a basis for how the mammalian food web could be impacted by Glyphosate-based herbicides as voles and deer mice are critical seed dispensers and food sources.

More About Yaelle

Robyn Stack

Robyn is a master’s student currently studying with Thompson Rivers University. Her research is exploring the relationship building between Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Scientific Ecological Knowledge in the Nicola Watershed. Given the recent flooding and wildfire events in the area, a high amount of restoration work has been taking place in the area. This has opened the door to better integrate these two knowledge systems to create more effective, and inclusive, stewardship and restoration actions.

More About Robyn

If you or someone you know may be interested in applying for the Together for Wildlife Scholarship, check out the following links:

Background

Apply Now

Fri, 12 Sep 2025
Tags: Don McCubbing / Education / McCubbing / scholarship

2025 Don McCubbing Scholarship Recipients Announced

We are excited to announce this year’s recipients of the HCTF Don McCubbing Undergraduate Scholarship. This year, HCTF has revamped the Don McCubbing Scholarship, making it an internally managed scholarship available to applicants from post-secondary institutions across BC. This scholarship demonstrates our commitment to supporting the academic and professional growth of students, ensuring they have the resources and opportunities to excel in their studies and future careers. This years recipients are: Tlell Schreiner, Emma Richardson, Johanne Marshall, Caio Nicholson de Figueiroa, and Robin Jans

For several years, Don McCubbing actively contributed to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation’s Fisheries Technical Review Committee. His extensive practical experience and science-based decision-making greatly enhanced the project review process. In honor of his contributions, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation has established the Don McCubbing Scholarships. These scholarships, valued at $4,000 each, are awarded annually to up to five students who are pursuing studies in fish and/or wildlife conservation.

2025 Recipients

Caio Nicholson de Figueiroa

Caio is an undergraduate biochemistry student at the University of the Fraser Valley studying how rainbow trout muscle cells respond to ammonia stress. He focuses on lysosomes and the vacuoles that form when these lysosomes (cellular recycling centers) are disrupted, investigating mechanisms such as lysosomal membrane proteins and using chemical tools to test their role. By helping understand how fish cells are damaged by and defend against ammonia, this research supports both aquaculture and wild fish conservation.

More About Caio

Robin Jans

Robin is currently studying Natural Resource Science at Thompson Rivers University. As an honours student at TRU, her research focuses on understanding how the presence of invasive cheatgrass affects the foraging behaviour of California bighorn sheep. Her research has given me an even greater appreciation for how important ecological balance is in supporting healthy wildlife and resilient ecosystems.

More About Robin

Johanna Marshall

Johanna is a 4th year student in Combined Honours Biology and Oceanography at the University of British Columbia. She is working on her Honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Evgeny Pakhomov in the Marine Zooplankton and Micronekton Lab. Her project uses stable isotope analysis to study the trophic interactions of the invasive freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii in BC lakes.

More About Johanna

Emma Richardson

Emma is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Victoria. Their research is examining the genetic diversity of the Pacific marten across coastal B.C. to better understand the connections between populations of marten in different areas in relation to the availability of old growth forest. Emma’s research will expand our knowledge on the habitat needs of Pacific marten and how vulnerable they are to habitat changes from forest management and climate change.

More About Emma

Tlell Schreiner

Tlell is an undergraduate student studying wildlife and fisheries at the University of Northern British Columbia. She is working on an undergraduate thesis under the supervision of Dr. Heather Bryan. The thesis explores the larval winter tick abundance in different forest age stands in the Prince George South area. In addition to a climatic and habitat analysis of the winter ticks, she is hoping to dive into the idea of subalpine fir needles and their effects on the winter tick larval survival, as extracts of the conifer have shown lethality to other hard tick species.

More About Tlell

Background

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Fri, 12 Sep 2025
Tags: Al Martin / Conservation / Education / scholarship

2025 Recipients of the HCTF – Al Martin Scholarship!

Photo By: British Columbia Conservation Foundation
Project 1-664

HCTF and HCTF Education are proud to announce the 2025 Al Martin Conservation Scholarship recipients: Olivier Jumeau, Alicia Woods, Noa Mayer, Torrie Nicholas, Larisa Murdoch, Grace Melchers, Julie Thomas, Selena Carl, and Shannon Werden.

The Al Martin HCTF Conservation Scholarship is dedicated to supporting graduate students who are passionate about fish or wildlife conservation and management in British Columbia. Each recipient is awarded a $10,000 scholarship to further their research. This year, HCTF has expanded the number of Al Martin Scholarship recipients to nine students from various post-secondary institutions across BC.

These scholarships are in honour of Al Martin, a highly respected figure in conservation. Al began his career in 1977 as a biologist in Penticton, BC, and held several key positions over the years, including Fisheries Manager, Director of the Watershed Restoration Program, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Branch, Executive Director, and Assistant Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. After retiring from BC public service, Al continued to lead in conservation as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the BC Wildlife Federation and served on HCTF’s board. Although Al passed away in October 2019, his legacy of integrity, humour, and passion for preserving fish and wildlife habitats for future generations lives on.

HCTF is proud to invest in the future of conservation by supporting students like these.

More About Al

2025 Recipients

Olivier Jumeau

Olivier is a master’s student from Thompson Rivers University. His research working alongside Ulkatcho First Nation aims to provide a baseline of information to inform indigenous management of caribou habitat. By integrating Ulkatcho oral history, Dakelh linguistics and caribou-centric plots, and a holistic approach towards assessing habitat, Olivier hopes to better understand post fire habitat usage by caribou

More About Olivier

Alicia Woods

Alicia is a PhD student working out of the University of Northern British Columbia. Her research is working to assess the responses of Stone’s sheep habitat treated with prescribed fire. To determine this, changes in forage quality, sheep diet, and stress hormones will be measured on burned and unburned sites before and after the habitat is burned. Alicia’s results will provide recommendations for the use of prescribed burning as a habitat management tool for Stone’s sheep and contribute to landscape management planning.

More About Alicia

Noa Mayer

Noa is a doctorate student at the University of British Columbia. Their work, focusing on Kokanee salmon, is examining potential adaptions of Kokanee salmon that have allowed them to remain more abundant than other salmon species that are in decline due to climate change. Noa’s research seeks to answer how Kokanee respond to heat stress, what biological markers indicate when salmon are struggling, and which populations are most at risk as rivers continue to warm? This research aims to protect Pacific salmon and the communities that rely on them, ensuring these iconic fish persist despite a rapidly changing climate.

More About Noa

Torrie Nicholas

Torrie is a master’s student from Thompson Rivers University. Torrie’s research is focused on the impacts of predation on Chinook salmon by invasive Smallmouth bass. Working with the Okanagan Nation Alliance and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Torrie is exploring the potential that Smallmouth bass are preying on juvenile salmon in key rearing and migrating habitats. To determine if this is the case, she will be analyzing the stomach contents of approximately 200 Smallmouth bass collected in the Okanagan area. This research will provide critical data to support conservation management strategies, mitigating threats to sk’lwist populations in the Okanagan.

More About Torrie

Larisa Murdoch

Larisa is a master’s student at Thompson Rivers University. Larisa is studying whether female bighorn sheep select rugged, steep terrain—known as escape terrain—during the lambing season and how the availability of such terrain influences their ability to give birth and raise their young safely. Additionally, she is exploring whether herds are more successful when they have better access to escape terrain and the impact of cheatgrass on bighorn sheep movement patterns.

More About Larisa

Grace Melchers

Grace is a master’s student studying at the University of British Columbia. Her research in partnership with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, uses beach seining and eDNA to uncover the mysteries behind the early marine life stage of salmon entering Burrard Inlet, the water body supporting Canada’s largest port and BC’s largest city. Using eDNA Grace hopes to determine migration routes, preferred habitats, and possible interactions between fish that might occur during this stage that could affect their survival.

More About Grace

Julie Thomas

Julie is a PhD student attending the University of Northern British Columbia. She is researching the impacts of cougar predation on Woodland caribou. Specifically, Julie is examining if feral horses are allowing cougars to exert more pressure on caribou by providing an additional food source to cougars, if increased feral horse abundance post fire is forcing caribou further into cougar ranges, and if the removal of cougar competitors (wolves) is allowing for a greater abundance of cougars. This research will improve our understanding of the predator-prey relationship of cougar and caribou, which has direct implications for woodland caribou recovery in BC and beyond

More About Julie

Selena Carl

Selena is a master’s student currently studying at Thompson River University. Selena’s work on the geographically distinct chinook salmon population in the Okanagan- Columbia River system seeks to address three knowledge gaps about this culturally important species. First the survival rate of hatchery juveniles, second what habitat is being used by juvenile chinook salmon and third is their outmigration behaviour. Results from this study will inform restoration efforts and recovery planning for this culturally and ecologically significant species and contribute critical insight to support their survival and recovery.

More About Selena

Shannon Werden

Shannon is a master’s student conducting their research at Thompson River University. Her research seeks to address critical knowledge gaps in the reproduction and habitat use by fishers in the Interior Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zone. To fill this knowledge gap Shannon will be tracking adult female fishers using radiotelemetry. Additionally, she will be assessing habitat quality to determine the drivers of reproductive output. By linking reproductive success to habitat characteristics, this research will help identify mechanisms limiting population growth and inform science-based forest management strategies.

More About Shannon

 

If you or someone you know is interested in applying for the Al Martin Scholarship click the link below.

Apply Now

 

Mon, 9 Jun 2025
Tags: invasive mussels

$230k for Invasive Mussel Monitoring This Summer

4-582: East Kootenay Invasive Mussel Monitoring, East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

For many in British Columbia, the arrival of summer means endless adventure, time spent outdoors with friends and family, and especially, time spent on the province’s stunning freshwater lakes and rivers. However, for a few B.C. residents, the summertime signals the beginning of critically important environmental monitoring work to protect the health of treasured waterways.

There are some tiny yet mighty animals that B.C. is on the lookout for: these unassuming creatures are known as the zebra and quagga mussels, a pair of freshwater mollusks that are known across Canada for wreaking havoc on freshwater systems that have involuntarily come to house them.

5-310: Invasive Mussel Monitoring in the Cariboo Regional District, ISCBC
Photo by Alex Mutch

Originally from the Caspian and Black Seas, these tiny animals were introduced to North America in the 1980s and established themselves in eastern Canada. These mussels grow and multiply astonishingly quickly, with colonies rapidly consuming much-needed nutrients from water, clogging and destroying important infrastructure and habitat, as well as outcompeting freshwater mussels that are native to B.C. Zebra and quagga mussels are introduced to new waterways via contaminated watercraft or aquatic gear that have not been Clean, Drained, and Dried.

4-581: Preserving the Ecological Function of BC’s Freshwater, CKISS
Photo by Khaylish Fraser

To combat these animals and their potential invasion, groups across B.C. prepare their sampling gear every year to protect their local waterways from these mussels. Equipped with plankton tow sampling tools, sediment samplers, and a keen eye for any suspicious organisms, these groups take to their local waterways and sample high-risk waterbodies. Early detection, if found, is a key component in a quick and rapid response to any potential introduction.

This year, HCTF’s Invasive Mussels Monitoring Grant will administer 10 projects for a total of $230,893 in funding. Each monitoring organization will undertake the sampling of several local waterbodies throughout the summer months, when detections are most likely to appear. In the fall and winter, results will be reported to HCTF and the Province of B.C.

See the map below for this year’s monitoring locations:

HCTF is incredibly thankful for the Provincial ($130,000) and Federal (DFO) Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund ($180,000) funding support for the Invasive Mussels Monitoring Program that HCTF administers. This year, the total funding requested came in below the total amount available. The next opportunity to apply for the grant will be in winter 2025-26.

To learn more, go to the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship’s Invasive Mussels webpage: Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels – Province of British Columbia.

For questions about the Invasive Mussel Monitoring Grant, reach out to HCTF’s Aquatic Programs Coordinator at cathryn.klincans@hctf.ca or our Grants Officer at grants@hctf.ca.

 

Mon, 28 Apr 2025
Tags: Fish & Wildlife / News

HCTF Approves $8.6 Million for Fish & Wildlife Conservation Projects

1-826 Vancouver Island Steelhead Stock Decline Investigations, BC Conservation Foundation - Upper Gold Snorkel Survey, photo by Danny Swainson

The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation is proud to announce over $8.6 million in funding for 110 conservation projects throughout British Columbia.

For over forty years, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) has provided grants with over $242 million contributed to conservation projects and programs. The range of project leaders and conservation actions supported all share the goal of conserving B.C.’s freshwater fish, wildlife, and habitats today for generations.

As a registered charity and foundation, HCTF’s unique funding model is led by a surcharge on hunting, fishing, trapping, and guide outfitting licences. “Each year, the conservation surcharge from these contributors funds over one hundred fish, wildlife, and habitat projects above and beyond government funding,” says HCTF’s CEO, Dan Buffett. “Yet, we recognize that government funding, such as the Together for Wildlife Strategy, along with funding from partners, First Nations and other organizations and individuals, remains crucial to meet the shared goals to conserve and enhance B.C.’s fish, wildlife and their habitats.”

7-570 Stone’s sheep seasonal range use in the Omineca Region
Wild Sheep Society of BC

“Our government has been working alongside First Nations, conservation organizations and other key partners for many years to help protect and restore important ecosystems throughout this beautiful province,” says Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “It is deeply rewarding to see the ongoing progress of this crucial work, which is improving the lives of British Columbians today and will continue to benefit future generations. The surcharge revenue, which is dedicated to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation’s funding program, complements a suite of integrated conservation initiatives in B.C., including the Together for Wildlife Strategy, the Tripartite Framework Agreement on Nature Conservation, the Conservation Lands Program, the draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework, and our commitment to protect 30% of the province’s land base by 2030.”

Projects supported this year include:

  • $84,000 to replace aging infrastructure at the Redfish Creek Spawning Channel to continue to supply stock conservation and fishery benefits
  • $68,224 to restore whitebark pine ecosystems for bear habitat in the Skeena region
  • $94,050 for the restoration of year-round fish passage and improvement of aquatic and riparian habitat at the Westside Road weirs in Six Mile Creek
  • $262,650 towards restoring caribou habitat on approximately 86 km of roads within the Whitesail Priority Restoration Area
  • $99,621 to conduct cultural burns to enhance forest health in the Mount Currie/Líl̓wat area and improve habitats for grizzly bears, black bears, deer, and elk
  • $45,645 to better understand the factors that limit porcupine survival in north central B.C., given the limited ecological knowledge of this species

To see the complete list of HCTF-funded projects and learn more about the conservation work being done near you, view the 2025-26 Approved Project List.

In addition to Fish and Wildlife grants, HCTF provides grants for conservation stewardship and education. Additional projects will be announced in June under our Action, Capacity, and Community Grant programs, and scholarship recipients in autumn.

Update June 18, 2025: The Approved Project List now includes 2025-26 Invasive Mussel Monitoring Grants and Highland Valley Enhancement Fund projects. There are now a total of 122 projects and over $8.9M in funding.