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

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

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

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

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

During the winter, its common to see more than mallards in the lakes. Many other waterfowl species can be seen, the problem is that a lot of them have black/white or brown/white colourations. Here are some similar species that can be found and how to ID them: Common Goldeneye: As the name suggests, look for the bright golden eye. The males of this species will also have a white pact between its eye and its beak. The females will have no patches on its face, and instead will h

When people think of roses, it's normal to imagine a dozen of red roses you give to loved ones, but did you know there are a couple different kinds of wild roses in the Okanagan and Similkameen? One of the common species you'll see is called the Nootka rose. These roses will have big pink flowers that will bloom in late spring or early summer. They will also produce rose hips in the fall that will last into the winter. This is super important for many species of ungulates and

Did you know that beavers aren't the only mammal that will build lodges in the water? Muskrats will also build lodges in marshes, but they will use different material than beaver. Instead of using sticks and branches, they will use cattails and bullrushes for a majority of their lodge. But location and resources is everything when building a house. If the marsh they live in doesn't have the necessary material, they will just dig burrows in the side of banks instead of making

Cattails are an iconic part of many wetlands, and like anything, they are good in moderation. Cattails provide great habitat for many species, like red-wing blackbirds, Chorus frogs and Yellow-headed blackbirds. However, in certain ponds, cattails have taken over to the point that they are causing problems. They are prolific spreaders, reproducing via seeds and self-cloning. Because of this they can limit the diversity in the area and the amount of open water. The reason that