June 2012
Alpine Plants below Alpine
Posted: June 27, 2012
Beaver toothed sign, 1963. - Photo from the Hogg family collection.
I'm sure the young fellow in this photo, Ted Hogg, never thought that one day he would work as a Naturalist in Kootenay National Park let alone be studying the unusual plants found in Marble Canyon. Read more »
What's Up - Butterwort
Posted: June 26, 2012
Butterwort flowers bloom into July but the plant is still recognizable without flowers by it's unique leaves.
Photo by Larry Halverson
This pretty violet-purple flower is carnivorous! So I was very careful when taking it's picture. Actually I was in no harm but if a small insect should land or try crossing one of its leaves it would be deadly. Read more »
What's Up - Small Round-leaved Orchid
Posted: June 25, 2012 
Small Round-leaved Orchids - Photos by Larry Halverson
Small Round-leaved Orchids grow through out the park and are in full bloom right now. Hundreds if not thousands are flowering along the Mount Wardle spring stream. Read more »
How to Keep Bears out of Radium
Posted: June 22, 2012
Black bear feeding on crab apples- Photo by Larry Halverson
The purpose of Bear Aware is to prevent and reduce human-bear conflicts in our communities. Management of bear attractants is the most important step in controlling 'bear problems'. This in turn will increase human safety and decrease the number of bears destroyed each year. The following bear attractants should be managed to ensure bears don't move into your neighbourhood: Read more »
Wolf Chasing Butterfly
Posted: June 20, 2012
This incredible observation and photo was made by Alan Dibb, Kootenay's Wildlife Specialist Read more »
Interpreting Restoration at Redstreak
Posted: June 20, 2012 
Signs and pamphlet designed by Heather Wall text by Don Gayton
The Redstreak Restoration Trail was developed to provide a learning experience near the Redstreak Campground focused on the restoration of open forest grassland ecosystems in Kootenay National Park. Read more »
Long-toed Salamander
Posted: June 18, 2012
Long-toed Salamanders are rarely seen above ground during the day. But mass salamander migration across highway 93 has been witnessed at night near Kootenay Pond. 
Photo by Larry Halverson
This dark grey salamander sports an irregular green or yellowish stripe along the middle of the back. It is named for the long fourth toe on their hind legs. Read more »
What's Up - Blue Clematis
Posted: June 18, 2012
Blue Clematis one of only a few climbing or trailing vines found in the Canadian Rockies
Photos by Larry Halverson
That is the question - What’s up in that tree? Read more »
Ruminating
Posted: June 16, 2012
Bighorn sheep rumination or cud chewing occurs primarily when the animal is resting and not eating.
They’ll chew their cuds for several hours each day. - Photo by Larry Halverson

Some ungulates like Bighorn Sheep are ruminants. Meaning they have a rumen or a false stomach that allows them to gather large amounts of food quickly, especially when they are in the open and more susceptible to predators. Then later they can retire to safer areas to rechew and digest their food. Read more »
Saprophytic Orchids
Posted: June 15, 2012 
Pale Coral-root and Striped Coral-root - Photos by Larry Halverson
Both of these orchids are wide spread across BC. However finding them is a rare delight and to see both of them growing along the Cobb Lake trail on June 12th was a real treat. Read more »
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Posted: June 5, 2012
Golden-mantled ground squirrel one of the 4 species of squirrels found in Kootenay. Photo by Alan Dibb
The golden-mantled ground squirrel was surveyed as part of Kootenay National Park's biophysical inventory back in the early 1980s, and was described at that time as widespread but uncommon in the park. Read more »