taking care of nature

BLOG: NATURE NOTES

Grabbing a meal with bats: Gleaners vs. Aerial Hawkers

All species of bats in the Okanagan and Similkameen are insectivores, so they only eat insects. No fruit or blood eating bats here. However, that does not mean that they catch insects in the same way. There are aerial hawkers, which scoop the insects straight out of the air, and gleaners, which pick the insects off the ground or other surfaces. Bat species can specialize in one of these techniques or they could use both depending on the situation. The Fringed bat that is foun

World Bear Day!

This time of year bears are going to start emerging from their dens if they haven't yet already, and they are going to be looking for food. Bears are omnivores, so they will be looking for anything that it high enough in calories. Unfortunately this is when bear-human interaction can take place. Due to food shortages from drought and wildfires these last couple of years, bears are visiting urban areas more frequently since they can find an easy meal there. However, there are

World Water Day

Happy World Water Day! Water is one of if not the most important resource and we need to keep it clean. However, through development and urbanization, water quality is being affected. One of the reasons is an increase in run-off. With so many more hard surfaces in cities, more run-off is created and carries all the pollutants from the city directly into the water. Pollutants from lawn fertilizers, car engine oil, pesticides, pet feces, and soap from car washes is all flowing

World Frog Day 2026

Frogs are not just cute little guys, they also have a lot of cool features that help them survive. While it might not look like it since you can't see their ears, frogs can have a good sense of hearing. The tympanum is an ear hole usually located on the back of the frogs head. This hole is usually covered by a layer of skin called the tympanic membrane which can act as a drum. When sound hits the membrane, it will cause a vibration on the membrane that will lead into the ear

World Sparrow Day 2026

Today we want to celebrate all the sparrows that bless our backyards and natural areas. There are some species that are part of the New World Sparrow family that you might not know are considered sparrows because it's not in their name. They also don't all give the typical "Little Brown Bird" trope of most sparrows. Here are two examples of New World Sparrows: Dark-eyed junco: These birds will stick around the Okanagan and Similkameen all year long. Their gray, white, and rus

WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP?

Stewardship is the act of taking care of fish and wildlife habitat by people like you

WHAT WE DO

OSS works directly with local residents in order to support and assist them in caring for important natural areas. Over the past ten years, since our inception in October 2013, OSS has undertaken an array of initiatives including outreach and neighbourhood initiatives, one-on-one contact with land managers, community and government partnerships and collaborations, and has made significant contributions to wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement throughout the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys.

Meet our Team

WHERE WE WORK
OSS works in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys, primarily on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan and Secwepemc people, throughout the Regional Districts of Okanagan Similkameen, Central Okanagan and North Okanagan. This region is an exceptional place, known for its spectacular landscapes, iconic wildlife, amazing outdoor recreation opportunities, world-class wines and diverse agricultural products. The region is also home to some of the greatest concentrations of species diversity and species at risk in Canada and is one of Canada's most endangered natural systems.

Map showing locations of over 125 wildlife habitat stewards