Long term Wildlife Monitoring for In Situ Developments

Devon established a long-term wildlife monitoring program in 2002 to assess the impacts of in-situ oil sands development on winter-active species across multiple project lifecycles. It has supported four environmental impact assessments and now operates at a scale that exceeds regulatory requirements. The program uses 15 survey methods for a variety of wildlife species across Devon’s Jackfish lease and surrounding areas, including control sites in Dillon Wildland and Saskatchewan. Key objectives include tracking habitat use, species responses to infrastructure, amphibian mortality, songbird abundance, and the effectiveness of mitigation measures.

The program is recognized as one of the most comprehensive wildlife monitoring efforts in the in-situ oil sands region. It continues to generate valuable insights into species resilience, habitat recovery, and mitigation strategy effectiveness. Data collected are being used to validate impact predictions and inform future project planning and conservation efforts. Devon is preparing peer-reviewed publications to share findings, including studies on habitat recovery along linear disturbances.