Blogs

Kootenayscolex barbarensis

Researchers at the Royal Ontario Museum and the University of Toronto have described an exceptionally well-preserved new fossil species of bristle worm called Kootenayscolex barbarensis. Discovered from the 508-million-year-old Marble Canyon fossil site in the Burgess Shale in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, the new species helps rewrite our understanding of the origin of the head in annelids, a highly diverse group of animals which includes today’s leeches and earthworms. Read more »

 
Black bear using one the new wildlife underpasses in Kootenay National Park - Photo by Parks Canada.

 
Triangle covers and plastic pink Flamingos are used by BC Hydro 
to prevent Ospreys 
from nesting on dangerous power poles - by Larry Halverson Read more »

 
April10, 2015 - Osprey on nesting platform, Dorothy Lake, Invermere,BC - by Larry Halverson

Osprey nesting in this region return from their wintering areas around mid-April when the valley lakes are free of ice. Some early arrival dates include April 3 at Columbia Lake and April 4 at Invermere, BC. Read more »

The theme for the 19th annual Wings Over the Rockies Festival is "Fossils and Feathers", inspired by the recent exceptional find of a fossil bed of significant importance in the Kootenay National Park.This year includes a full week of more than 90 field trips, presentation and workshops. Details at http://www.wingsovertherockies.org/  Read more »

Easter Daisy (Townsendia hookeri) in bloom April 2, 2015 by Larry Halverson 

EASTER-DAISY is just on time this year. In fact it is the earliest bloom date we have recorded for the Columbia Valley.The daisy like flower looks like it has no stem as it grows very low to the ground, seldom more than 4 cm high. Read more »

 
Yawunki kootenayi, artistic reconstruction model by Lars Field (Phlesh Bubble)

508 million-year-old predatory 'lobster' has been discovered in Canada that held a "key position" in the food network at the time. Yawunik kootenayi had two pairs of eyes and prominent grasping appendages resembling those seen on modern beetles or shrimps. Read more »

This spring Lake Louise gets a fresh coat of turquoise paint, first since 1915.

 
Mitchell Range after sunset. Photo by Larry Halverson

The Mitchell Range in the Kootenay Valley forms the eastern boundary of Kootenay National Park. It is made up of 8 mountains and stretches from the Simpson River to the Cross River. Read more »