WildSafeBC RDOS

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WildSafeBC RDOS

Managed and delivered by the British Columbia Conservation Foundation.

11/24/2025

And that’s a wrap on the 2025 WildSafeBC RDOS season!

Thank you so much to every person who stopped by my booth this year, to all of my wonderful new WildSafe Rangers, and to everyone in the RDOS who continues to support this program. It has been an honour to help keep wildlife wild and communities safe! 🐻

To report sightings of bears, cougars, coyotes in urban areas, injured wildlife or wildlife in conflict please call the Conservation Officer Service 24/7 at 1-877-952-7277. You can also use their online form at https://forms.gov.bc.ca/environment/rapp/

11/22/2025

Tomorrow, 9:30 am–3 pm, I will be at the Cherry Lane Autumn Farmers' Market! 🍂☕️🛍️

Stop by for some wildlife tips and tricks, and explore all the amazing goodies from the other local vendors. Don’t miss out!

*Photo from Colliers Canada*

11/20/2025

Skunk Facts! 🦨

Skunks are small but mighty (and smelly) critters that do an excellent job at managing insect and rodent populations in BC.

🦨 There are two types of skunks in BC: striped skunks (most common) and spotted skunks (smaller and can climb trees)
🦨 Skunks can spray their stinky musk up to 6 m away!
🦨 They are mostly nocturnal, foraging at night for insects, grubs, and berries.
🦨 Females usually have 2–10 kits (babies) in the spring, and they stay with their mother for about 1 year.

11/18/2025

Cougar Facts! 🐆

Cougars, also called mountain lions or pumas, are powerful and secretive cats that roam all throughout British Columbia. These big cats play an important role in controlling deer and small mammal populations.

🐾 Cougars can sprint over 70 km/h in short bursts.
🐾 Their tracks often lack claw marks, because cougars have retractable claws, like house cats.
🐾 Cougars typically have anywhere from 1 to 6 kittens but 3 is the average, these kittens remain with their mothers until they are 11 to 18 months old.
🐾 They are the largest wild felines in the province followed by lynx and bobcat.

11/14/2025

Moose Facts! 🫎

Moose are the largest land mammals in North America and can be found throughout much of British Columbia. These gentle giants are mostly solitary, but they play an important role in shaping forest ecosystems.

🫎 Adult male moose (bulls) weigh 400-600kg and adult females (cows) weigh 300-500kg.
🫎 Only males grow antlers, which can span up to 1.8 m and are shed each year.
🫎 They are excellent swimmers and can dive underwater to reach aquatic plants.
🫎 Female moose usually have 1 or 2 calves, which can reach a weight of 100kg in six months!

🚗 Stay alert when driving at dawn or dusk, for moose and all wildlife.

11/11/2025

In Flanders' fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders' fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high,
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders' Fields.

John McCrae
Flanders 1915

11/08/2025

Wildlife Tracks in the Snow!❄️🐾

Any fresh snow means it’s the perfect time to spot signs of wildlife without ever seeing the animals themselves! Many species stay active through the winter, leaving behind footprints, s**t, or even tail drag marks as clues.

In the Okanagan, you might notice these animals out and about:
🦌 Deer, with heart-shaped tracks in pairs
🦊 Coyotes, with oval paw prints & claw marks (very similar to dogs!)
🐿️ Squirrels, which usually have 4 prints shaped like tiny handprints
🐦 Birds, with 3-point tracks hopping between shrubs

Next time you’re out for a walk after a snowfall, look down!

11/05/2025

WildSafeBC is very excited to be attending this year's Yuletide Market at the Penticton Trade & Convention Center! Visit the WildSafe booth on Friday November 7th from 3-7pm🎄🐾🐻

If you are looking to get a head start on your holiday shopping and would love to learn about our local wildlife, come on by!

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween Everyone! 👻🍫🎃

Stay safe while trick-or-treating tonight and remember, dusk is an active time for wildlife, so keep an eye out as you travel through neighbourhoods!

And for those with pumpkins, please dispose of them properly. Leaving pumpkins out to rot might seem harmless, but to a bear, it’s an irresistible snack (especially when they are in Hyperphagia).

Thank you for doing your part to keep our communities safe and wildlife-friendly🐻

(Photo from Squamish Chief)

10/29/2025

Skunks in the Shrubs 🦨

Skunks might not be in your yard, but they play a very important role in keeping insect and rodent populations under control (which everyone loves)!

This time of year, skunks are busy preparing for winter, which means looking for warm spots to shelter like under decks, sheds, or crawlspaces.

✅ You can prevent unwanted guests by sealing off access points and keeping garbage and compost secure.
✅ If you see a skunk, give it space and let it waddle away. They only spray when they feel threatened 🦨💨

10/25/2025

Bears & Garbage: Another Reminder!🗑️🐻

You’ve probably seen plenty of reminders about this already, but it’s worth repeating! Bears are now in hyperphagia, the stage before hibernation when they eat almost nonstop to build up fat for winter. That means they’re hungry, hungry, hungry!

It’s more important than ever to manage your garbage and store it in a bear-proof location.

Remember: bears, especially yearlings, don’t know the difference between natural and unnatural food sources.

Thank you for doing your part to keep bears (and all wildlife) wild and safe this fall! 🍂

10/22/2025

🚗 Watch for Wildlife on the Roads! 🦌🛣️🍂

Shorter days mean more driving at dawn and dusk, also the most active times for deer, elk, and lots of other wildlife! Collisions increase significantly in fall as animals move more for mating and migration.

It is important to always be aware of your surroundings, especially when driving and here how you can help prevent a collision:
🌅 Slow down and stay alert, especially in wooded or rural areas.
👀 Scan roadsides for movement or reflective eyes, if you see one animal, others are likely nearby.
📵 As always, stay off your phone while driving!

📞 If you hit or spot injured wildlife, contact the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277

Address

101 Martin Street
Penticton, BC
V2A5J9

Telephone

+12504904110

Website

http://www.rdos.bc.ca/

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