PIQUE (Whistler, British Columbia) 17 October 13 Endangered snake findings disputed Stewardship Pemberton, Sunstone Group hope to work together on mitigation efforts (Eric MacKenzie)
Pemberton council is hopeful to learn more about how development in the Mackenzie Ridge hillside area could impact an endangered local snake population.
The sharp-tailed snake is a red-listed, federally endangered species that had never been found on the Canadian mainland until local herpetologist (and Pique contributor) Dr. Leslie Anthony found one by chance in 2011.
Stewardship Pemberton then obtained a Habitat Conservation Trust Fund grant to take an inventory of the species. During the council meeting held Tuesday, Oct. 15, Anthony and Stewardship Pemberton board member Veronica Woodruff explained that the group has documented 13 sharp-tailed snake specimens from seven locations in the hillside region since the initial discovery.
Of concern to Stewardship Pemberton is a third-party environmental assessment that was prepared for the planned Sunstone Ridge development. The report, compiled by Abbotsford-based Dayesi Services Ltd., indicates that no sharp-tailed snakes have been observed on the subdivision site, nor does the land provide suitable habitat for the reptiles. The assessment does, however, indicate that a snake habitat mitigation plan would be implemented due to the potential for sharp-tailed snakes living on the property.
A condition of a development permit for the land is for Sunstone to work with the village and Stewardship Pemberton to mitigate impacts to the snake. Woodruff recently met with Sunstone officials and offered Stewardship Pemberton's assistance, free of charge, to help develop a plan and is awaiting a response.
Woodruff said the inventory of the sharp-tailed snake has not included Sunstone lands as Stewardship Pemberton wants to respect private property rights. However, Woodruff said one incidental sighting of the snake was made on the land in 2011.
After meeting with Woodruff last week, Sunstone Group vice-president Nyal Wilcox said the developers are interested to continue discussions with Stewardship Pemberton, which had alerted them to its findings after the assessment had been completed.
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