Screech Owl Forest
Screech Owl Forest spans 25.05 hectares across two private forested sites located in the Highlands/Prospect Lake area. Among the trees, volcanic bedrock creates a topography of undulating rocky slopes, knolls, and gullies. The older second-growth forests are interspersed with moisture-receiving depressions, shaded mossy rocks, and open rocky outcrops with herbaceous vegetation. These unique ecosystems are classified as highly sensitive and imperiled according to the BC Conservation Data Center. These sites provide important habitat links and travel corridors for several wildlife species in the Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt (a corridor of regionally protected wilderness and parkland stretching from Saanich Inlet to the Sooke Basin).
The namesake of these sites, the Western screech-owl, is a nationally threatened and provincially blue-listed (Special Concern) species. Regionally, these owls have become nearly extirpated—in the CRD, screech owl numbers have declined by 90% since 1980, primarily due to habitat loss from mismanagement and development. This sensitive species relies heavily on the healthy habitat of contiguous areas of older coastal Douglas-fir riparian forests with sufficient nest cavity access. Through the monitoring for the presence of screech owls by HAT, we have identified five remaining occurrences of this species in the areas surrounding Screech Owl Forest sites. With your support, we can restore these habitats to help Western screech-owls, among the many other creatures that rely on this rich forested habitat for survival.
Screech Owl Forest is located on private properties and held under Section 219 conservation covenants, ensuring that all habitat restoration work will be protected in perpetuity.
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Mature coastal Douglas-fir forest, wetlands, riparian areas, and rocky outcrops.
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Western screech-owl (Megascops kennicottii kennicottii): These owls are listed as a threatened species under the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and are blue-listed (species of Special Concern) in BC. Western screech-owls have been heard in this area, prompting HAT to install nest boxes on these sites to encourage their potential use of habitat. Western screech-owls are also said to be an indicator of healthy riparian areas. You can read more about HAT’s Western screech owl program here.
Sharp-tailed snake (Contia tenuis): These snakes are listed as a Schedule 1 “Endangered” species under the Federal Species at Risk Act and are a red-listed (Endangered) species in BC. Their unique habitat needs include south-facing rocky outcrops with considerable debris to provide cover. Some rocky outcrops at these sites have been identified as potential sharp-tailed snake habitat, and restoration work will include efforts to encourage their presence. You can learn more about HAT’s Sharp-tailed snake program here.
Large mammals: Wildlife webcam data have shown that bears, cougars, deer, elk, and pine marten (Martes americana) call these properties home.
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Invasive species, particularly Scotch broom, pose an ongoing threat to these forests. Restoration efforts will continue to focus on the management of encroaching invasive plants, specifically to support healthy forest and rocky outcrop habitat for the range of at-risk wildlife species in the area.
What You’re Supporting:
You are investing in restoration efforts across 25.05 hectares of forests and riparian areas. This area provides some of the last remaining potential nesting habitat for the Western screech-owl in the region. Your investment pays for:
Targeted invasive species removal
Ecological monitoring, data collection, and mapping
Tools and equipment
Travel to and from the site
Coordination, logistics, and operational capacity
Other Supporters of Screech Owl Forest