To reduce our waste, we need to not just recycle more. We need to produce less. Wildsight Elk Valley is looking to change the way you think about the materials you bring into your home. Single-use packaging threatens the health of our planet. From throwaway coffee cups to plastic bags at the checkout, from a … Continued
Coal mines in the BC Rockies send toxic selenium pollution downstream that puts fish in danger, not just in BC, but in Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River for hundreds of kilometres through Montana and Idaho — and back into BC.
Ben Collison was born and raised in the Kootenays, and is currently a masters student at Dalhousie University. As part of his masters degree, Ben opted to study private land logging and its impacts on this place where he spent his formative years. His research focuses on the Elk Valley and the impact of private … Continued
Massive steep-slope clearcuts on private land have been spreading across the Elk Valley. These private land clearcuts near Fernie and Elkford are on private land owned by Canwel, who own ⅛ of the entire Elk Valley.
The launch of Local, Fernie’s cooperative approach to food sustainability, took a leap of faith for Wildsight Elk Valley. But that leap led to some great outcomes.
If you drive enough on a provincial highway, it seems inevitable you will collide with an animal some day. It seems everyone has a story of a near-miss, or a collision, with wildlife while driving at high speeds. Animals dead on the side of the road are commonplace along our highways. But what if it … Continued
One doesn’t have to drive Kootenay roads for long to know we have an issue with wildlife collisions on our highways. Animal carcasses at the side of the road are commonplace and a telltale smear of blood on the highway is a reminder of how deadly the road can be. Too often the carcass is … Continued
Here is another citizen science project you can do from home! Bumblebee watching As the days grow warmer, you will start seeing more and more pollinators. You might be surprised with how many types of insects visit your backyard. Bumblebees have large bodies, striped patterns and dense fur. Unlike many other insects, they can thermoregulate … Continued
Here is another citizen science project you can do from home. See my first post about citizen science and bird watching if you missed it. Plant watching Spring is the perfect time to watch the flowers grow! Plant phenology is the timing of events like budding, flowering, leafing out in a plant’s life cycle. Plant … Continued
Here are some fun activities to do in your backyard while self-isolating for COVID-19. Look for plants, frogs, birds and bees! Citizen science is a way for you to learn more about plants and animals. For families, it teaches about science, the natural world and gets everyone outside! The data gives biologists and land planners … Continued
