Earlier this month a trail camera at TLC’s 2,200-acre Fort Shepherd Conservancy Area recorded a bobcat (Lynx rufus) just before she rubbed all over the camera and left some fur behind for us to find. I’m thrilled we were able to get the incredible image above: in addition to being an elusive and solitary animal, the bobcat is my favourite wild creature. As nocturnal hunters, they are seldom seen by nature-enthusiasts. Incredibly, I was fortunate enough to witness a bobcat in the wild one winter.
While cross country skiing in Manning Park with my family, a sudden burst of colour erupted from beside the trail. The rarely-seen bobcat shot out across the snow. A spectacular display of agility and speed, the encounter provided a heart stopping moment of wonder.
At twice the size of an average housecat, the species can claim prey from small mammals to deer. While their kittens are vulnerable to predators, adults are most threatened by humans. Thankfully, we can also aid in their conservation. Favouring rocky outcrops and wooded areas, TLC’s Fort Shepherd Conservancy Area is an ideal site for the bobcat to thrive.
From the interior brushlands found at Fort Shepherd to the northern pine forests at Nimpo Lake, the coastal Douglas-fir coastline in Cowichan to our ancient swamp wetlands in the Clearwater River Valley, TLC safeguards more than 15,000 acres of critical ecosystems and habitats for thousands of species including the bobcat.
Our protected properties and conservation covenants throughout the province, the accumulation of 25 years of conservation, remain protected through the considerate care of volunteers, staff, partners, and supporters like you. If you have read our Fall 2022 LANDmark or my recent note to TLC members and donors, you know about our commitment to working in partnership to efficiently protect, monitor, and restore B.C.’s most precious habitats and ecosystems. By joining together, we create a strong, more resilient team and encourage a more diverse outlook on the impacts and importance of conservation.
If you are still planning on making a charitable gift this year, please consider supporting TLC. You can make your year-end gift by donating online at conservancy.bc.ca or calling 1-877-485-2422 today. Donations are eligible for 2022 tax receipts.
Throughout the province our conservation areas protect precious habitat for a range of species including my beloved bobcat. Your gift in support of our work will help ensure that B.C.’s biological diversity remains protected. Thank you for your support.
With gratitude,
Cathy Armstrong
Executive Director
