Nature Chilliwack

05/31/2026

05/28/2026

Good news on the use of probiotics to help bats fight off white nose syndrome

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

What!! Yellow-bellied marmots on the Tsawwassen jetty?

Here is the latest NATURE NOTES in the Delta Optimist. (listen online on the Delta Optimist website). By: Nicki Brockamp/Delta Naturalists Society

Editor’s note: Nature Notes is a monthly column produced by the Delta Naturalists and their community partners. For info on monthly meetings, nature walks and more, see www.deltanaturalists.org and www.facebook.com/DeltaNats.

Yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) are thriving in South Delta, particularly along the Tsawwassen ferry jetty, the dikes near the Tsawwassen First Nation boardwalk and the Deltaport jetty.

These chunky, whistling rodents, with their distinctive yellow undersides, grizzled brown fur and white face patch, have established colonies along the rocky edges of the dikes.

Sightings confirm that they’ve been here for at least six years, likely transported inadvertently by trucks or trains, adapting well to the coastal lowlands despite their typical semi-arid inland and higher altitude habitats.

Their burrows are constructed beneath the rocks along the dikes where they are well protected from predators and kept cool on hot days.

Being social animals their colonies can contain up to 20 individuals, some weighing up to five kg.

They feed on plant material, insects and bird eggs.

In their traditional territories, they can hibernate up to eight months, living off fat reserves, but in the Lower Mainland, their hibernation period appears to be much shorter with sightings in all months except for December.

On warm days you’ll find them sunbathing on the rocks, grooming each other or playfighting, then sometimes emitting sharp alarm chirps when danger in the form of eagles or coyotes is sensed.

There has been some evidence that people are feeding them along the ferry jetty which is not ideal since human food may not be suited to their digestive system and makes them more tolerant of and dependent on humans.

We should keep wild animals wild.

With populations found all over the Lower Mainland, it seems they’re here to stay. So, on behalf of the Delta community, here is an official warm welcome to our marmots - we strive to be good neighbours to you.

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

An illustration of the fringed edge of an owl's feather by Jocelyn Anderson. Look closely and you will see it.

If you look closely at this Barred Owl's wing feathers, you will see that one side of the feather is fringed. This fringe helps with the owl's silent flight by reducing aerodynamic noise.

05/24/2026

There’s something special about people who notice the little things in nature.
The ones who refill bird feeders before making their morning coffee.
Who stop mowing the lawn because they spotted a hidden rabbit nest.
Who quietly care for the creatures most people walk past without seeing.

In a world that moves fast, kindness like this feels rare — but it matters deeply.

Protecting nature isn’t always about grand gestures. Sometimes it’s simply choosing gentleness in ordinary moments. Leaving a patch of wildflowers for bees. Putting out water during hot days. Slowing down long enough to notice life all around us.

The people who care for the smallest lives often carry the biggest hearts. ❤️🌎

May we all become a little softer, a little slower, and a little more mindful of the beautiful world we share.