Kokanee Creek Nature Centre
4902 Hwy 3A, V1L 4R9 Nelson, BC, Canada

https://vimeo.com/662068229 What do animals do in a snowy winter? Eat and drink and find shelter. The deer and elk on these trail cam videos spend time nibbling on twigs and buds. The hare keeps moving - or freezes to rely on its camouflage in the snow. The coyote, ever the opportunist, does its rounds looking for a good meal. From just outside Nelson B.C. in the last few days of December

https://vimeo.com/662018896 Here are the trail cam videos from "the bear den" (collected in early January at Kokanee Creek Prov. Park). No bear! The old cottonwood is leaning in an interesting way though. The den still sees its share of activity, however. A Ruffed Grouse treads softly, a Marten investigates the cavity (looking for Red Squirrels?), a Red Squirrel checks it out and chatters (in disapproval at Marten audacity?) and White-tailed deer bucks and does continue late season mating activity. Lots of snowy activity!

https://vimeo.com/661515160 Snow, snow and more snow! The Snowshoe Hares in their white coats are almost invisible against the snow. The deer stoically walk through the snow and over obstacles to nibble on snow-covered vegetation. Coyotes go wherever they have to track down a meal and the Red Squirrels scurry by on their way to their hidden middens - and all that food they stored in fall. Our last trail cam videos of 2021 from Kokanee Creek Provincial Park! See you in 2022 - Happy New Year!

https://vimeo.com/660978601 I went snowshoeing along Kokanee Creek recently. The water and wind had sculpted the ice and snow into a frozen landscape. And there, amid those fantastic ice sculptures, was a little dipper busily diving into the glacial creek. It may be very cold and blustery, but life carries on - an amazing little bird searching for the equally amazing insects that live in the cold, turbulent water of Kokanee Creek. I hope you can bundle up, go outside and have your own winter adventure! Kokanee Creek Prov. Park on Dec. 28

https://vimeo.com/657240448 Not reindeer! But elk (or wapiti)! Lots of elk! Some elk cows and calves spent time at the six mile tail cams lately. They were very, very curious about the trail cams! Elk, elk and more elk! Happy holidays to all!

Jerry the Moose, and all of us at BC Parks, wish all of you, Happy Holidays! And thank you to our team in northern BC, who put this together.

Today is the shortest day of the year. Winter solstice is a time of transition and beginnings. The beavers have prepared diligently for the frozen days. Their lodge is plastered, reinforced and frozen now and they are chomping on the leaves and bark that they stored underwater. The mink does not store food but is very well adapted to continue hunting on the frozen landscape. May the lengthening days that follow be beautiful, hopeful and joyous! For us all! Happy winter solstice!

Every Christmas my father would host a contest of one type or another. These contests included a slideshow (with real slides and slide projector) and the topics... ranged from wildlife to wild-children. I had taken over the family tradition and modernized the equipment a little. Lately I have been doing nature themed contests for the various naturalist clubs I belong to. I thought I'd share this one with you as it features plants and animals of BC and is designed so that everyone should be able to score a few points at least. Anything over 200 and you're a top notch naturalist. How to play is simple - have a sheet of paper with the numbers 1-24 on it. Watch the video, if you can identify the animal or plant pictured on the first round, give yourself 10 points per item. If you get the item on the second round (where I show the complete item) you get 5 points. Answers appear at the end of the video. If you have kids in the house - get them involved. It's a great way to get them hooked on nature. Sorry, no prizes offered but you do get bragging rights. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.

Sung (very loosely) to the tune of the 12 videos of Kokanee! On the first days of winter our cameras gave to us: a Black Bear out a-roamin'; a Ruffed Grouse a-scratchin'; a Whitetail buck a-bleatin'; two Whitetail does a-walkin'; a coyote out a-prowlin'; Pine Siskins peckin' and a-flyin'; a marten out a-climbin'; a flying squirrel a-pokin' in the den; two deermice a chasin' and a-scamperin'; an ermine zoomin' and a-bouncin'; a Black Rat (ooh..) a-sniffin'; a Red Squirrel a-scratchin' and a scramblin'; and a beaver trudignin' on a beaver lodge! And Happy Holidays to all! From late November to mid December at Kokanee Creek - Cheers!

Does winter slow the beavers down? It is hard to tell but they certainly do keep on plastering with mud, reinforcing with sticks and finishing off with with more mud. When the morning comes, their handiwork is frozen hard making it difficult for predators to get into the lodge. Beavers need to keep on renovating - whatever the season! From Kokanee Creek in early December.

https://vimeo.com/656327977 Does winter slow the beavers down? It is hard to tell but they certainly do keep on plastering with mud, reinforcing with sticks and finishing off with with more mud. When the morning comes, their handiwork is frozen hard making it difficult for predators to get into the lodge. Beavers need to keep on renovating - whatever the season! From Kokanee Creek in early December.

It is snowy up at Six Mile as the wildlife that wander by the trail cameras in late November and early December carry on making a living. Elk, cougars, White-tailed Deer, bobcats, coyotes and Red Squirrels all make an appearance in these videos. Stay warm and enjoy!

Thanks for scooping that poop!! Especially in our beautiful parks where wildlife gets the nod!! And because poop-caked shoes are really yucky.

I ambled out in search of Glacier Lilies but I found so much more over the past two days. Including Glacier Lilies!

https://vimeo.com/539730701 Happy Earth Day!!! Spring up at Six mile is arriving! The big bear is back at the bathtub, and "stomping" - most likely signalling to the other male (with a white blaze) that he is around and is very big! The Snowshoe Hares are turning brown and the Coyotes are out turning any food opportunities their way. The White-tailed Deer are ever-alert (and showy!), the Ruffed Grouse are poking about, Mule Deer are feeding and sauntering by, the tom turkey is showing off while the turkey hens just carry on, all while the robins bath as robins love to do!!!

There are Mountain Bluebirds at Kokanee Creek! I watched them from a distance this week - I am not really able to hobble out on trails yet. But here is one of my favourite bluebird photos from this time last year. Bluebirds at Kokanee Creek are a wonderful spring event!

https://vimeo.com/534130664 A very short video showing a very large Black Bear at Six Mile - out looking for food after a long winter hibernation.

It is amazing what you can see when you sit still or amble along the trails at Kokanee Creek! Mountain Bluebirds on the grasslands, a robin bathing in the morning sun, "pussy willow" catkins, and of course an American Dipper!

https://vimeo.com/533621611 They are back! A bear and a cougar up at Six Mile this past couple of weeks. And! A Bobcat(s?), a Snowshoe Hare, Coyote, White-tailed and Mule Deer and Elk (one noisily investigating the trail camera). Enjoy the video!

https://vimeo.com/533188107 Six Mile was slowly waking to spring on these trail cam videos taken from mid March to early April. The videos show a Bobcat prowling the woods, White-tailed Deer eating and chasing each other, Coyotes hunting for the next meal, Mule Deer browsing and stotting, an Elk sauntering by, Snowshoe Hares (still snow white) nibbling and hopping and Turkeys trotting and gobbling. All captured on video by our trail cameras - enjoy!

Turtles! Basking in the sun! The first turtles (Painted Turtles) I have seen this year. Spring just keeps getting better! I know. We have no turtles at Kokanee Creek - probably because we don't have the right over-wintering muddy habitat for them. But I thought you'd like to see them!

I have been able to go out and find some spring lately! A Mourning Cloak Butterfly sunning after spending a long winter "asleep"; a Skunk Cabbage spreading the perfume that will attract those wonderful pollinators, a Muskrat looking for some fresh spring greens and, of course, an American Dipper between dips. And spring has just begun!

https://vimeo.com/531984883 I love American Dippers! I love following their bubbly song at any time of year to find the sturdy little songster in the rushing glacial water. I love the way that same little grey songbird swims underwater and then emerges to wink a white eyelid. And I love the way they dip. Enjoy this little dipper songster. Happy Spring!!!

Kokanee Creek Provincial Park especially the wildlife needs our help. You might be forgiven for thinking that, on some days, Kokanee Creek Provincial Park has become an off-leash dog park. The park is not, nor has it ever been an off-leash area at any time of year. Dogs are not allowed on the main beach at all. Many birds and animals regard dogs as predators. And enormous harm can be done to young birds and animals by dogs. And -there is a $115.00 fine for having your dog off-leash in the park. Do your part keep your pets on a leash whenever you visit Kokanee Creek Provincial Park. Our amazing wildlife - and its home - are relying on you!

https://vimeo.com/530123758 Red Squirrels are very, very common at Kokanee Creek. We were lucky to video capture this Bobcat hunting among the rocks where the squirrels often hide. Does the hunter catch the hunted? Maybe not this time but not for want of effort by the cat!

https://vimeo.com/528057599 The coyotes at Kokanee Creek have persisted in checking up on the skunks at the skunk den. Curiosity? or waiting for a culinary opportunity?

Join us for a spring clean-up at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park Provincial Park! Friends of Kootenay Lake is facilitating a #beachcleanup on March 26th and 27th... from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM to remove garbage and polystyrene (Styrofoam) from the shoreline. In order to ensure that we are following provincial guidelines for outdoor gatherings we have limited each clean-up day to 8 volunteer spots. Click the link below to Register!

Kokanee Creek Nature Centre trail camera update. Great News! Timberland Consultants in Nelson B.C. have offered to replace the stolen trail cameras. We do indeed belong to a wonderful community. Thank you!!

https://vimeo.com/480811344 Denning Up! This very large Black Bear boar (male) barely fits into his snug den - a very snug fit indeed! Bears often go in and out of the den to forage before settling down for the winter. The call to den is there but there is also still food out there to eat. Soon he will stay put and sleep away the winter. Happy dreams bear! Keep your audio on - you can hear him squeezing out...

Way back on June 25, the dippers were feeding their young fledglings. There had been four nestlings and at least three of them made it out of the nest and onto the creek. There are several dippers chasing each other now at Kokanee, feeding and singing on the channel. I imagine one of them is this little "diplet" shown here being fed by its parent. If you head out to Kokanee Creek you are bound to see at least one dipper on the channel and creek. - enjoy watching the dippers! This is another photo retrieved from a damaged hard drive - thanks to Secure-By-Design!

No doubt about it - I am thrilled to see a bird, like the Least Sandpiper that I don't normally see. But even more awe-inspiring - this little migrant (the smallest of the sandpipers) flies from the arctic to the very Southern United States and Central America! It is about the size of a Song Sparrow and pokes in the muck for invertebrates to fuel this ultra-marathon. Birds are not just beautiful, the details of their lives are totally amazing! I am still retrieving photos from a damaged hard drive and was very happy to have documented this happy sunny summer memory from Kokanee Creek (Redfish Beach) on August 12.

https://vimeo.com/477816535 I wandered down to check one of the trail cameras on the banks of Kokanee Creek when I noticed that the adjacent trees were gone! The camera captured the culprits at work. The local otters also make a cameo appearance!

It has been about a month since I saw the last Osprey. They have headed down south to better fishing grounds. It is always a special day for me when, in early April, these amazing birds come back home to nest. I took this photo last summer and am thrilled I was able to retrieve it from a damaged hard drive. Enjoy this out-of-season Osprey shot!

https://vimeo.com/475269950 A medley of the wildlife walking by the trail cameras at Kokanee Creek after the sun goes down. A Black Bear sow and her cub amble slowly by, Otters investigate the camera, a Marten checks out the skunk den, young skunks play outside the den, a Ruffed Grouse makes a cameo appearance, a Bobcat shows interest in the skunk den, a Snowshoe Hare (mostly white by now) takes a leap, the beavers haul wood and mud and the coyotes trot the trails looking for another meal. Enjoy!

The dippers are carrying on as usual out at Kokanee Creek: chasing each other, singing, looking for more salmon eggs and swimming under water. This dipper photo is a bit more colourful than others - in keeping with the season! I hope you all get out to enjoy our beautiful home today.

They Will Survive- Kokanee Lifecycle song What better way to explore the lifecycle of the Kokanee Salmon than though song? From egg to carcass, this song reinforces the Kokanee’s life stages and the promise of salmon for the future. Made at Kokanee Creek for the fish and the people that love them. ... Thanks to theFrizzlives for the original inspiration! https://vimeo.com/465062523

Kokanee Connections! A wonderful tribute to the Kokanee Salmon, to Kokanee Creek and all the caring people here. Enjoy and share! Come with us to discover the fish, the people, the ecosystems, and the fun at Kokanee Creek Park! ... https://vimeo.com/465050978 See more

A Black Bear sow and her cub made regular visits to the Kokanee Creek spawning channel this summer. The cub eventually learned to catch her (?) own fish but this trail cam video shows some of her early efforts at catching those elusive Kokanee Salmon. She is bearly fishing but got much better as the season went on. It was a good thing that Mom was there to keep her fed!

Way to go Friends of Kootenay Lake! On Sept 9 & 10, clean gravel was dumped into Kootenay Lake at Six Mile. Why? To provide spawning habitat for shore-spawning Kokanee Salmon. Well, the Kokanee Salmon shore-spawners have returned and are now on the new gravel - about 100 - 110 fish as of September 28. In recent years, the shore-spawners have nested in gravel that is often left high and dry in spring as water levels are lowered in the lake. The fry often do not make it to the lake. The new gravel has been placed below the old gravel nesting sites - these new sites should be under water next spring. The video shows the dumping of the gravel and then some videos of the Kokanee shore-spawners on the new gravel. Thank you Friends of Kootenay Lake!

The Kokanee Salmon numbers are well below 100 now and declining quickly. Several animals, including this Great Blue Heron feasted on the fish while they were here. Great Blue!

A very hot bear took a dip in the tub and a drink from the hose on a very hot day up here at six mile. Then he wandered off with the hose. Maybe hoping to take the water with him? Enjoy - this is one of my favourite bear videos!

The Kokanee Salmon numbers are down to just over a 1000 now. There are still fish coming into the channel but they are dying off in substantial numbers now. Come and see the Redfish while they are still alive and in the spawning channel.

Seeing a magpie at Kokanee Creek has always been special for me. They are not common here but they do nest nearby in Harrop/Proctor. I have seen magpies more often this year and I suspect they nested here but I did not see a nest. Our trail cameras "saw" magpies a few times on the beaver lodge though. Enjoy watching these beautiful and interesting members of the Corvid (jays, ravens, crows, nutcrackers, magpies and others) family!

Can Black Bears climb? Very well indeed! A Black Bear Sow and her cub climb this large cedar regularly. Why do bears climb trees? For safety, for shelter and maybe occasionally (in the case of the cub) - for fun?

The beavers of Kokanee Creek were busy repairing their lodge last week. The otters run and play there, Great Blue Herons hunt from the lodge and Ravens poke around for any fish left behind on the beaver home. A very busy place maintained by a very busy beaver!

Groups - let us know when you are coming! Hi all! We are welcoming anyone who wants to come and see the Kokanee Salmon this summer. We are giving tours on the channel to visitors. If you are bringing a school or other large group - please let us know. COVID-19 protocols on the boardwalk means keeping a physical distance between schools and visitors. If we know when a group is coming, we can plan on directing the flow of groups and other visitors to make viewing safe and satisfying for all visitors. We can also arrange for a naturalist to take visitors and groups out on the channel if you let us know when you are coming.

Watch a school of Redfish and another Kokanee riding the bubbles in the channel. There were 2204 fish in the channel on the 31st. The numbers are dropping now. Come and see the Redfish riding the current!

Every youngster explores and plays - even bear cubs. This cub found some play time out on one of the Kokanee Creek trails recently. Enjoy the video!

The spawning Kokanee Salmon are still coming home to Kokanee Creek. There were over 2,500 in the spawning channel yesterday. I hope you spend some time with these beautiful redfish! In the meantime enjoy the video!

Northern River Otters are curious beasts. The Kokanee Creek Otters in these trail camera videos are curioius about the trail camera and in the second video about a European Black Slug (aka licorice slug) on their latrine log. Enjoy the video!

The River Otters are busy on the spawning channel hunting for Kokanee Salmon. The trail camera near the "otter latrine" captured these images. The otters look like they are dancing while using the latrine don't they!

There were 4 Otters and 512 fish at Kokanee this morning! Enjoy this video of a mother Otter and her three cubs (kits?).

How many Redfish? There were 153 brilliant red Kokanee Salmon in the Kokanee Creek spawning channel on Tuesday. How many will there be today? (The photo is from last year)

We have been trying to video the otters of Kokanee Creek with our trail cameras. Sometimes the otters find the camera first and, being the curious beasts they are - they fiddle around with the cameras. This time we caught an image of the culprit! We might luck out yet and get other otter videos - if they cooperate!

Welcome Home Kokanee! There are at least 10 Redfish in Kokanee Creek!

The otters are back! The Kokanee Salmon are staging at the mouth of Kokanee Creek, the Osprey are feeding and other wildlife is taking advantage of this fishy bounty. The video shows the otter mom carrying a fish tail - her three kits following her up the beaver lodge. One kit stays behind calling - before joining the rest of the family.