Coldstream Creek
Coldstream is a beautiful little community found just outside of Vernon, with Coldstream creek as its centrepiece. What makes this area so special is just how much intact riparian forest is present along this creek. This vegetative strip is a perfect area where wildlife can forage, find shelter, move safely and just live. This habitat is ideal for wildlife like: Western Screech-owls, songbirds, bats, native pollinators, amphibians and much more.
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Around 85% of our local wildlife depend on riparian areas for food, water, and shelter. Sadly around 70% of riparian forests in the Okanagan valley have been lost. This means the riparian forests left hold that much more importance, including that around Coldstream creek.
Western Screech-owls
Western Screech-owls are small sized owl found in low-elevation forests, usually near water. They have little ear tuffs that make them look similar to Great horned owls, but they are much smaller than their more famous cousin. Contrary to what their name suggests, they do not screech. Instead, they will make a series of hoots that sounds like a dropped ping pong ball. They tend to nest in cavities of mature Black cottonwood trees.
Sadly they are listed as threatened in BC and Canada due to loss of their cottonwood forest habitat.
However, there are still ways for you to help out this little owl:
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Avoid rodenticides - owls and other wildlife can eat the poisoned rodent and potentially die themselves from the poison
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Leave up any dead trees (snags) on your property if safe to do so - wildlife trees provide many species with habitat and food
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Install screech owl nest boxes if you live near water
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​Manage invasive plants on your property
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Plant native vegetation that is favourable to the owls and other native wildlife.
Your Role as a Land Steward
As a landowner or farmer within this corridor, your property is part of a larger, living network. Simple, intentional choices—maintaining natural vegetation, keeping pollutants like fertilizers and pesticides away from water bodies, and keeping attractants secured—can have a big impact.
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Together, through thoughtful stewardship and small changes on the ground, landowners play a pivotal role in keeping this corridor healthy, and functioning for generations of wildlife and people alike.
Wildlife in the Corridor
Corridors are used by animals to:
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Find food, water, and shelter
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Migrate between seasonal ranges
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Mate and maintain healthy populations
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Move during emergencies like wildfires
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Adapt to climate change by shifting their range
Without safe and connected habitat, they face increased risks of road collisions, food shortages, and population isolation.
Ecosystems in the Corridor
Keeping natural areas connected and protected supports the health and function of wildlife habitats. These areas are critical not only for our survival, our economic security, health and well-being, but also for wildlife that depend upon them. Our region is one of the fastest growing in Canada, and the ability of the landscape to provide essential functions such as habitat for species, pollination, flood mitigation, and clean air and water is at risk if we don't protect local ecosystems.
