Respecting their habitats.

The helicat industry operates in some of the most significant wildlife habitats in the world. As an extensive user of Crown land in British Columbia, the sector plays an important role in the stewardship of the province’s wildlife resources. Helicat operators recognize they are expected to maintain these resources by guests, the public, First Nations, as well as staff members who are privileged to live and work in these special places.

The vision.

The vision for wildlife next practices is to ensure that the activities of helicat operations occur in a manner that allows wildlife species to continue to occupy their preferred habitats and to fulfill their life requisites.

Coexisting on the land base.

Winter is typically a difficult season for wildlife. Forage is limited and of reduced quality, movement is more difficult, and cold weather saps an animal’s energy. Chronic disturbance due to human activity has the potential to cause stress if it is viewed as a threat by the species. Animals can respond by moving out of the area, sometimes into suboptimal habitat. Their behaviour can also be disrupted, perhaps leading to lower food intake or social disruption.

As a result, it is important that helicat operators maintain a high awareness of the distribution and abundance of wildlife within their operating areas. In particular, they should be aware of species that are known or suspected to be affected by human-related activities and those that are considered at risk for any reason. Maintaining this situational awareness allows operators to avoid unnecessary wildlife encounters and to respond appropriately when encounters occur.

The industry generates a low level of use on the land base and, when properly managed, operations can successfully coexist with wildlife and their habitats.  However, this requires effort to ensure that risks are minimized.