Scale of herpetofauna mitigation translocation in British Columbia, Canada

Abstract In British Columbia, Canada, mitigation translocation has been used as a standard practice for over a decade to mitigate harm to herpetofauna during anthropogenic habitat alterations or loss. Yet the scale of translocation across the province has never been quantified. To address this gap, we reviewed 629 permits issued for mitigation translocation between January 2019 and December 2022, taking note of the reason for translocation (project type), the location in the province (region), and the species, life stages, and number of individuals translocated. Of the total permits issued, 277 permits reported translocating 5,134,254 herpetofauna individuals, most prominently, larval western toads ( Anaxyrus boreas ). Most translocations took place in highly urbanized areas (South Coast region) and were primarily for projects related to linear development (e.g., pipelines) and water infrastructure (e.g., culvert installation). Despite the substantial scale of herpetofauna mitigation translocation reported here, the effectiveness of this practice in British Columbia remains unknown, as monitoring is not legally required. Going forward, we recommend prioritizing avoidance, investing in habitat creation or restoration, and enforcing transparent reporting requirements if we are to mitigate harm to herpetofauna.