Members of the public are invited to attend an information session next Wednesday regarding using fences to protect species at risk in the Osoyoos West Bench.

Provincial Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations staff will be available to answer questions and provide more detail about plans to erect fencing in the area around three species at risk in an effort to conserve and manage the Okanagan region’s species at risk and biodiversity.

The Osoyoos West Bench is a parcel of Crown land approximately 470 hectares in size. It is bordered by the Town of Osoyoos and South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area. This area is unique in the South Okanagan for its variety of landscape features and plant communities, providing habitat for several at-risk species.

The species targeted for protection are Great Basin spadefoot tadpoles and two at-risk plant species – Grand Coulee owl-clover and annual paintbrush.

Proposed fences will be wooden post with two rails to ensure that fencing blends in with the natural landscape and does not pose a barrier to wildlife movement. Fence areas are small (less than 1.5 hectares combined) and will not block frequently used trails or roads currently used for livestock movement and by recreationalists.

The informal drop-in information session is planned for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. November 9 at the Sonora Community Centre in Osoyoos.