Edwards Pond is in Great Shape

SILT-tagged bobcat makes an appearance!

This ear-tagged and radio-collared male bobcat appeared this week at a Heritage Hills residence south of Penticton. It is not the first time one of SILT’s research cats has spent time in this yard, which is in the heart of great bobcat habitat!  SILT is facilitating a Phd study by Trent University looking at how bobcat and lynx interact and use their respective habitats. SILT is interested in where these cats move through the landscape as that information could help guide future habitat management and acquisition.

This cat’s collar was set to drop off last summer so the GPS movement data it contains could be recovered but for some reason the collar has failed to come off. SILT volunteers will continue to try to live capture the cat to remove the collar. If you see it, or any other ear-tagged bobcat or lynx, please call Ross Everatt at 250-499-9840. You can also help by supporting SILT’s work -follow the links on this page to make a tax-deductible donation!

Ginty’s Pond: Wetlandkeepers Course – Report

by Kasey Moran…

Event Overview

Wetlandkeepers Courses are delivered by BCWF and cover a standard set of skills related to wetland classification, plant identification, and soil analyses. For more information, see their website:

https://bcwf.bc.ca/wetlandkeepers-courses/

In addition to the standard Wetlandkeepers Course content, this event involved an in-depth community-based conversation about Ginty’s Pond. Many Cawston (and area) residents recounted memories of the pond when it would have been classified as a shallow open-water wetland, rather than the cattail marsh that exists today. Some community members expressed a concern for the pond’s current appearance, and expressed a desire to restore it to its former state to facilitate recreational uses like ice skating and boating. SILT’s executive director, Al Peatt, expressed his understanding that a 7:3 ratio of open water to emergent vegetation would optimize habitat value for wildlife.

Read the Full Report Here

Meadowlark Nature Festival

Tour 37 – Southern Interior Land Trust – Cold Creek Property Tour – Saturday, May 18, 2019 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Tickets: Adult $30.00/ticket Children $5.00/ticket

Join Southern Interior Land Trust (SILT) President Ross Everatt, wildlife biologist Al Peatt, outdoors enthusiast and writer Judie Steeves, and cottonwood expert Kasey Moran for a walk and talk tour of SILT’s 20-hectare Cold Creek property near Keremeos. Over 200 plant and animal species occur here and the views of the river and surrounding mountains are spectacular. The property fronts the Similkameen River and extends from an intact cottonwood stand through dry shrub-steppe to steep cliffs, and includes a spring-fed year-round stream! The property has habitat for bighorn sheep, mountain goat, deer, bobcat, beaver, rattlesnake, woodpecker, butterflies and peregrine falcon. We’ll explore the diversity of ecosystems and wild life, learn about the private life of cottonwoods and why they are important to people too, and how conserving gems of habitat such as Cold Creek will help all living things for generations to come. Bring binoculars if desired. NOTE: Cold Creek is a gem of near-natural Similkameen wildlife habitat. There is cactus, poison ivy, unfenced riverfront, and the possibility of encountering rattlesnake at this property. This tour is brought to you in partnership with Southern Interior Land Trust.

Meeting Place: Either of two locations. Meet at 8:45 am at the Walmart Penticton parking lot near the auto repair area, and then rendezvous with remaining participants at 9:30 am at the Esso station parking lot in Keremeos located at the intersection of Hwy 3 and Hwy 3a.

Transportation will be via carpool.

For more information and to purchase tickets for this event click on this link to the Meadowlark Festival