Raccoons get a bad rap for eating garbage and digging through our gardens, but we like to call that being an opportunistic forager! These little omnivores will eat almost anything that is edible from bird eggs, to clams, to our food scraps. Raccoons are great swimmers and their habit of catching frogs, fish, and crayfish has led to the myth that the raccoons wash their food before eating. Raccoons are usually quite shy but once they have been fed, they can become brave around

North American Porcupine quills have microscopic barbs that make them difficult to pull out, but penetrate skin easily! Porcupines are covered almost entirely in quills, which are a type of large, spikey modified hair. These quills act as an extremely effective defense against would-be predators. The tiny scale-like barbs on the tips of their quills are being studied as a model for new types of innovative medical equipment! The North American Porcupine has little relation to

Moose can dive up to 20 feet underwater?! Moose love aquatic vegetation, and foraging is the main reason for their diving behavior. Moose spend so much time underwater that they have developed specialized nostrils with internal valves that allow them to stay underwater for long periods of time while foraging. Moose can stay completely submerged for up to a minute, enough time to grab ample vegetation!

Otters are such cute creatures but don't let that fool you, they can be ferocious when they wan to be. Here in the Okanagan and Similkameen, we are lucky to share the land and waters with our very own River otters. These guys are know for their playful and fun behaviour. They can be seen sliding or burrowing in the mud or snow, chasing each others tails, or generally playing in the water. Their slender flexible bodies allow them to preform rolls, tumbles and dives like a gymn

Out of all the species in the Okanagan, one of the most endangered ones is the American Badger. These guys are so special though and have so many cool features. Everything about the American badger is built for the dirt and digging. Here are some features that make them digging experts: Eyes - Like some mammal, like cats and dogs, badgers have a thin "third" eyelid called a nictitating membrane that helps prevent dirt from irritating their eyes. This membrane is translucent s

Did you know that porcupines will try to run away from danger before using their quills? Like most animals, it takes less energy to run than using other protective measure like venom or fighting. Porcupines will try to seek a safe haven under rocks or up a tree as their first instinct to danger. Porcupines spend a considerable amount of time in trees, eating and staying safe from certain predators. If this running strategy doesn't work though, then it's time for the quills. P