Tofino mudflats wildlife management area in clayoquot sound

What can you do?

Important bird area of Canada
Human Use
How to take care of the mudflats:
Don't disturb wildlife
Secure your garbage
Spare the habitat
Don't pollute

Great Blue Heron
Photo: B. Schramm

right photo: Jayelle Malleck
& Don Osborne

More than just mud!

From conifer forests of giant Sitka spruce to eelgrass meadows stretching as far as the eye can see, the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is an integral part of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The forests, streams, shorelines, marshes, meadows and mudflats of the Tofino Mudflats WMA provide an amazingly wide range of important wildlife habitats.

Conserving critical wildlife habitat in Clayoquot Sound

Important Bird Area of Canada

The Tofino Mudflats WMA is one of the ten most critical wetland areas for migratory birds on Canada’s West Coast. It was established in 1997 by the province of British Columbia to conserve critical wildlife habitat, and has been designated an “Important Bird Area of Canada.”

More sheltered than most intertidal environments, and richer in nutrients, the mudflats are a fascinating place to explore. Pipefish, ghost shrimp, and ribbon worms are just some of the small fish and invertebrates that spend their whole lives in the eelgrass and mud of Tofino Mudflats WMA. Other animals use the mudflats daily or seasonally. Grey whales and orcas pass through the area’s deep channels. Bears, cougars and wolves forage in the forest and shoreline environments.

photo: Tara Tait

Click here to see Tofino Mudflat photo contest winners like the photo to the right by Jenn Yakimishyn

Human use

Humans are also part of the Tofino Mudflats WMA, and have been for a long time. Many archaeological sites, such as shell middens, fish traps and canoe skids, are found in the area. Today, the mudflats provide for a range of recreational and commercial activities, from kayaking and bird-watching to clam digging and crab fishing. These must be carefully conducted so they don’t conflict with the protection of habitat for wildlife.

Use this website to explore the history and importance of the WMA, to learn about the different habitats in the WMA and the remarkable plants and animals within them, and learn how YOU can help the WMA.

Blood star, Henricia levuiscula
photo; Andy Murray

Blood star,
Henricia levuiscula

How to take care of the mudflats

Don’t disturb wildlife!

Shorebirds and other animals don’t like to be disturbed. Observe them with your binoculars, and leave your dog at home. If you do bring a dog, use a leash. (Hint: How do you know if you are disturbing wildlife? If an animal gives any indication of noticing you — by freezing, stopping its activity and looking around, or exhibiting any kind of alarm — then you are too close.)

Dirty grills and garbage left outdoors teach animals to look for human food. Read more
about Bear Aware

Black Bear bait - photo 'Bear Aware'

Secure your garbage!

Contain garbage and compost in wildlife-proof containers. Feeding wild animals interferes with their natural diet and behaviour. Animals searching for handouts may become aggressive or dependent.

photo left: Daniela Petosa

right: Nadia Bonenfant

Spare the habitat!

Property owners can help by minimizing disruption of the shoreline. Set buildings back from the water, maintain a screen of native vegetation, minimize exterior lighting, install adequate storm-water drainage, and maintain natural substrates along the foreshore. Hardening of the shore has led to the loss of much of our most productive coastal habitat.

Funding for the creation and maintenance of this website is provided by Habitat Conservation Trust Fund

Don’t pollute!

Pesticides, fertilizers, waste oil and detergents contaminate ground and surface water. In a whole ocean of water, small amounts may seem trivial. But they accumulate and become toxic in bottom-feeders like clams and ghost shrimp. Some fertilizers cause algal blooms that rob the water of oxygen and kill local marine life.

Like more information? Want to get involved? Please get in touch.

What can you do?		Important bird area of Canada Human Use How to take care of the mudflats: Don't disturb wildlife Secure your garbage Spare the habitat Don't pollute
Great Blue Heron Photo: B. Schramm right photo: Jayelle Malleck & Don Osborne		More than just mud! From conifer forests of giant Sitka spruce to eelgrass meadows stretching as far as the eye can see, the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is an integral part of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The forests, streams, shorelines, marshes, meadows and mudflats of the Tofino Mudflats WMA provide an amazingly wide range of important wildlife habitats. Conserving critical wildlife habitat in Clayoquot Sound Important Bird Area of Canada The Tofino Mudflats WMA is one of the ten most critical wetland areas for migratory birds on Canada’s West Coast. It was established in 1997 by the province of British Columbia to conserve critical wildlife habitat, and has been designated an “Important Bird Area of Canada.” More sheltered than most intertidal environments, and richer in nutrients, the mudflats are a fascinating place to explore. Pipefish, ghost shrimp, and ribbon worms are just some of the small fish and invertebrates that spend their whole lives in the eelgrass and mud of Tofino Mudflats WMA. Other animals use the mudflats daily or seasonally. Grey whales and orcas pass through the area’s deep channels. Bears, cougars and wolves forage in the forest and shoreline environments.
photo: Tara Tait Click here to see Tofino Mudflat photo contest winners like the photo to the right by Jenn Yakimishyn		Human use Humans are also part of the Tofino Mudflats WMA, and have been for a long time. Many archaeological sites, such as shell middens, fish traps and canoe skids, are found in the area. Today, the mudflats provide for a range of recreational and commercial activities, from kayaking and bird-watching to clam digging and crab fishing. These must be carefully conducted so they don’t conflict with the protection of habitat for wildlife. Use this website to explore the history and importance of the WMA, to learn about the different habitats in the WMA and the remarkable plants and animals within them, and learn how YOU can help the WMA.
photo; Andy Murray Blood star, Henricia levuiscula		How to take care of the mudflats Don’t disturb wildlife! Shorebirds and other animals don’t like to be disturbed. Observe them with your binoculars, and leave your dog at home. If you do bring a dog, use a leash. (Hint: How do you know if you are disturbing wildlife? If an animal gives any indication of noticing you — by freezing, stopping its activity and looking around, or exhibiting any kind of alarm — then you are too close.)
Dirty grills and garbage left outdoors teach animals to look for human food. Read more about Bear Aware		Secure your garbage! Contain garbage and compost in wildlife-proof containers. Feeding wild animals interferes with their natural diet and behaviour. Animals searching for handouts may become aggressive or dependent.
photo left: Daniela Petosa right: Nadia Bonenfant		Spare the habitat! Property owners can help by minimizing disruption of the shoreline. Set buildings back from the water, maintain a screen of native vegetation, minimize exterior lighting, install adequate storm-water drainage, and maintain natural substrates along the foreshore. Hardening of the shore has led to the loss of much of our most productive coastal habitat.
Funding for the creation and maintenance of this website is provided by Habitat Conservation Trust Fund		Don’t pollute! Pesticides, fertilizers, waste oil and detergents contaminate ground and surface water. In a whole ocean of water, small amounts may seem trivial. But they accumulate and become toxic in bottom-feeders like clams and ghost shrimp. Some fertilizers cause algal blooms that rob the water of oxygen and kill local marine life. Like more information? Want to get involved? Please get in touch.