Friends of Kootenay Blog
Access stories and photos about the natural and human history of Kootenay National Park and Columbia Valley Includes highlights about the Friends of Kootenay National Park activities and programs.
Blogs
Missing Your False Teeth?
Posted: September 17, 2013
Pack rats are on the move this time of year as the young disperse, looking for winter residents.
Photo by Larry Halverson
The bushy-tailed wood rat, more commonly know as a pack rat, derived its name from its compelling desire to collect all sorts of small articles, especially shiny objects. There have been instances where pack rats have taken money, diamond rings and even false teeth. The items stolen are often replaced with useless things such as twigs or pebbles. Occasional they will trade valuable objects. According to one tale "a pack rat left some gold nuggets on the table in a prospector’s cabin in exchange for some trivial trinkets." Read more »
New Plant Species for Kootenay National Park
Posted: August 29, 2013 
Chicory is also called Blue Sailors - by Larry Halverson
On August 20, 2013 a single Chicory plant was found growing at the Kootenay View Point. This exotic plant was introduced from Europe and is now naturalized in North America. It grows in the drier parts of BC in fields, roadsides and waste places. Over the years Chicory has been spreading northward in the Rocky Mountain Trench. They are normally found at lower elevations averaging around 600 meters. So this new sighting at the view point may also be a new elevation record at 1365 meters. Read more »
Carpenter Ants
Posted: June 21, 2013
Carpenter Ants have occupied an old Pileated Woodpecker hole and by the looks of the sawdust pile
they have been busy excavating new nest galleries. by Larry Halverson
Carpenter Ants are excavators and not wood feeders like termites. They usually build their nests in dead or decaying trees and logs. Read more »
Shedding
Posted: June 21, 2013
Bighorn Sheep ewe making her way down the Redwall cliffs by Larry Halverson Read more »
Helping Wildlife Cross the Road
Posted: June 20, 2013 
Building wildlife crossing structures near on Hwy 93 near Dolly Varden picnic site by Larry Halverson Read more »
Making Something Bad Look Good
Posted: June 17, 2013
Leafy Spurge"looking good" near Invermere is one of the largest out breaks in BC by Larry Halverson
The greenish-yellow flower may look pretty but it is one bad noxious weed. It degrades grazing capacity, and devastates wildlife habitat by reducing diversity. It is also poisonous to most livestock except sheep. Read more »
What's Up - Wind Flower
Posted: June 8, 2013
Flower colour can vary from creamy white to reddish pink by Larry Halverson Read more »
Alien Looking Pink Balls
Posted: June 5, 2013
Cynipid wasps create these “alien looking” spiked ball on wild rose leaves - by Larry Halverson Read more »
M 645
Posted: June 4, 2013
Ram #M645 with the radio collar he wore for 10 months in 2008 - Photo by Alan Didd
“In spring 2013 wildlife researchers marked the passing of a special member of the Radium Bighorn Sheep Herd. Ram #M645 gave us knowledge that will be used for years to come to protect his herd and others like it in Kootenay National Park.” Read the full story Kootenay National Park Bighorn Sheep Ram #M645 Read more »
