taking care of nature

BLOG: NATURE NOTES

Invasive Species Awareness Week Day 3: Mussels

We can't go through Invasive Species week without talking about one of the biggest threats in terms of invasives, Zebra, Quagga and other invasive mussels. These mussels are know for attaching themselves to every hard surface they can. Because of this they can damage infrastructure like irrigation pipes and municipal water systems which could cost millions to fix. These mussels also alter the food web, by outcompeting native species like salmon and Rocky Mountain Ridged musse

Invasive Species Awareness Week Day 2: Bio-control and Purple Loosestrife

Not all invasives can be dealt with in the same way, it is really dependent on the species and how it grows. The most common ways to control invasives are mechanically, chemically, or through bio-controls. Mechanical is through brute force, usually by digging or pulling, and chemically is through the use of pesticides and herbicides. Bio-control are when you introduce a species, usually an insect, that would naturally predate on this plant where it originated from. This requi

Invasive Species Awareness Week Day 1: Prioritization and Rush Skeletonweed

This week is about recognizing the different invasives that are found in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys and how they can be managed. Firstly, not all introduced plants are considered invasive, they only claim that invasive status when they start taking over and disturbing the biodiversity in the area. And like most things, there is a spectrum of how bad they are and their priority level. Some are prioritized if they are not yet prolific in an area. So if they start sho

Happy Family Day!

Today is all about being close to family. One family in nature that is definitely celebrating this holiday is Canada Geese. Canada geese have a family that is quite close and protective. Firstly, male and female geese will often mate for life, with only few records of "divorce". These parents are also quite protective of their young. Males will hang around the nest if they sense a threat and they will watch the nest if the female needs to leaves the eggs for a while. And whe

Happy Valentines Day!

Today, love is in the air and in places you might not expect, like a termite colony. Termites have quite a complex colony dynamic, but in most cases, the ones who sit at the top are a king and a queen pair. These primary heads are a monogamous pair of termites that mate for life, which can be for more than 10 years if conditions are right. When certain termites reach sexual maturity, a male and female will create a tandem pair and will leave together on a mating flight to sta

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.

Provide information, assistance and advice about local species and spaces including tailored habitat assessments prepared by our local biologists.	Provide assistance and support to landowners as stewards in conservation, restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitats on their properties while maintaining other land use practices such as agriculture and eco-tourism. Develop best management practices and management plans for coexisting with wildlife on your property.
Develop and lead habitat enhancement projects, such as native plant enhancement, exclusion fencing along shorelines, and invasive plant management. We have planted almost 33,000 Indigenous trees and shrubs!	We are partnered with over 150 stewards of over 10,000 acres of critical wildlife habitat

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