Kelowna, located in British Columbia, Canada, is home to a diverse range of animal species, including:
- Bears: Bears are common in the forests and mountains surrounding Kelowna. They are omnivorous and feed on berries, nuts, insects, and occasionally small mammals. It’s important to be aware of bear safety when hiking in the area, as bears can be dangerous if surprised or threatened.
- Coyotes: Coyotes are found throughout Kelowna, especially in urban areas. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything from small mammals to fruit and garbage. Coyotes are generally not aggressive towards humans but can become habituated to people if they are fed or encouraged to approach.
- Deer: White-tailed deer are common in Kelowna, especially in suburban and rural areas. They are herbivores and feed on plants and shrubs.
- Raccoons: Raccoons are found in urban and suburban areas of Kelowna. They are omnivores and will eat almost anything, including garbage and pet food left outside. Raccoons can carry diseases, so it’s important to avoid contact with them and to secure any potential food sources.
- Skunks: Skunks are common in Kelowna and can be found in both urban and rural areas. They are omnivorous and will eat insects, plants, and small mammals. Skunks can spray a strong-smelling liquid as a defense mechanism, so it’s important to avoid getting too close.
- Bighorn sheep: Bighorn sheep are found in the mountains surrounding Kelowna. They are herbivores and feed on grasses and shrubs.
- Ospreys: Ospreys are a type of bird of prey found in the Kelowna area. They feed primarily on fish and can be seen fishing in lakes and rivers.
- Snakes: The are a variety of snakes located in the Okanagan since they love the warm weather like we do Night Snake, Rubber Boa. Racer, Western Rattlesnake, Great Basin Gopher Snake, Common Garter, Terrestrial Garter most snakes other then the Rattlesnake are harmless to humans but we want to be cautious when stepping over logs – a simple way to make sure there is no snake getting a shaded nap is to just run your stick under the log before stepping over. Making sure we warn the snake that we are about to come near before we abruptly wake them from their nap. Please be sure to do your reading about snakes and the rattle snake safety.
- Geese: Kelowna is home to several species of geese, including the Canada goose. Canada geese are a common sight in the area, particularly in parks and near bodies of water like Okanagan Lake. These geese are migratory and breed in the northern parts of Canada, returning to Kelowna and other parts of southern Canada during the fall and winter months. Canada geese are known for their distinctive honking calls and their V-shaped flying formation during migration. In Kelowna, Canada geese can often be seen grazing on grassy areas, swimming in the lake, or flying overhead.
These are just a few examples of the many animal species that can be found in Kelowna. The area is home to a diverse range of wildlife, and it’s important to be aware of the potential risks and to respect the animals and their habitats.
