In the spring of 2014, a badger family consisting of one sow and four cubs was sighted (daily for over a month) living adjacent to the main access road to Teck Resources Line Creek metallurgical coal mine. Sightings of badger families in British Columbia (BC) would be expected to be relatively rare due to small population size, especially regarding breeding adults; In 2004, <200 adult breeding badgers were thought to exist in BC, resulting in badgers being placed on the Provincial "Red List" as an endangered species (Adams & Kinley, 2004). Moreover, this badger family was living at an elevation of approximately 2000m a.s.l., approaching the upper altitude where they would be expected to occur.
NB - I am making this observation at part of a Royal Roads Masters level course (EECO 585) and have been instructed to also find local professional consults to review my observation. As part of this assignment, I am also tasked with contacting these consults directly. I have already done this, and the following individuals are the contacts I have chosen:
Rob Klein (Preferred Consult). M.Sc. Environmental Engineering, Supervisor - Water Quality, Teck Resources.
Courtney Baker. Branch Coordinator, Wildsight Elk Valley.
Jenny Hutchinson. M.Sc. Environmental Science, Senior Environmental Scientist, Teck Resources Line Creek Operations.
References
Adams, I.T. & Kinley, T.A. (2004). Species Information, Badger: Taxidea taxus jeffersonii. Accounts and Measures for Managing Identified Wildlife – Accounts V. 2004.
Badger