Habitat Restoration for Vineyards
Birds in the Vineyard
Please CLICK HERE for a pdf version of our powerpoint on Birds in the Vineyard
Native Species for a Drought Tolerant Cover Crop
Please CLICK HERE to acces a pdf version of our module on Native Species that are suitable for a drought resistant ground cover.
IPA Benefits of Native Vegetation
Please CLICK HERE for a pdf version or our segment on Habitat Restoration on Agricultural land
Habitat Restoration for Agricultural Land
Please CLICK HERE to view a pdf version of this workshop
Wildlife Legislation
Please CLICK HERE for a PDF version.
It’s Not Easy Being Green
The Okanagan is home to a number of desert-adapted amphibians who spend most of the year living in grassland and sage-steppe habitats but move to ponds, small lakes and wetlands for breeding. As agriculture and housing developments expand wetland habitat have been shrinking.
You can help amphibians at risk such as the Tiger Salamander and Great Basin Spadefoot:
- Maintain ponds and seasonally flooded areas on your property.
- Retain natural vegetation around ponds.
- Use pesticides and nutrients responsibly. Amphibians are very sensitive to pesticides and common pond chemicals. Safely store agricultural chemicals so that contaminants do not leach into waterways.
- Don’t release fish or any non-native amphibians into natural areas. The American Bullfrog is now an invasive pest.
- Place rocks or escape “ladders” in artificial ponds and water troughs so that native species don’t get trapped.
Download our PDF for more information.
Snake Smart
The Western Rattlesnake and Gopher snake are species at risk in the Okanagan. Many are killed unintentionally on roads and some are killed as a result of fear. “Snake Smart” workshops are designed to familiarize agricultural managers and crews with common species of snakes as well as the habits of the venomous rattlesnake. Participants are shown how to safely relocate rattlesnakes and deal with rattlesnake encounters.
Snake identification cards and posters are available to vineyard and orchard managers in English, French, Spanish and Punjabi. This program is funded by BC Agricultural Council through the Agriculture Environment Partnership Initiative.
Snake Identification (English)