WHAT IS A WILDLIFE SURVEY?

The conclusion is only part of the story.

By Bea Byline | Life of a Sardine™

A wildlife survey is an investigation used to determine if particular wildlife species, evidence of those species, or suitable habitat is present on or near a property. During development review, the survey can provide information about conditions that may need further investigation before land is disturbed.

Not all wildlife surveys are conducted in the same way. The method depends on the species being evaluated and the characteristics of the property. An investigator may look for the animals themselves or for evidence associated with a species, such as burrows or habitat.

The methods section deserves careful attention. Read when the survey was conducted and who performed it. Identify the species covered by the survey. Pay attention to how much of the property was examined. If an area could not be fully surveyed, make note of it. Maps and field observations can add context to the conclusions.

The wording of the report is important. “Not observed” is not necessarily the same as “not present.” A report may state that a species was not observed while identifying suitable habitat elsewhere in the report. It may recommend additional investigation. Read those statements in context before deciding what the survey established.

Recommendations deserve a closer look. A consultant may recommend another survey or additional investigation. A recommendation does not necessarily create a legal requirement. Look for later records showing what happened after the recommendation was made.

Finding a protected species or evidence of wildlife does not by itself establish the outcome of a development proposal. The survey documents what the investigator found during the investigation. Later records may show how those findings were addressed during the review process.

Do not stop at the conclusion. Read enough of the survey to understand what was examined and what the investigator reported. Then follow the record forward.

What does the survey document?

Then ask what happened next.

Document. Fact. Unanswered question. Next record.

Nothing to see? Hold my pencil.

BEA BYLINE

Life of a Sardine™