"Explore, relax and refresh your life on the edgeof the Okanagan"
Due to diverse ecosystems the Monashee offers great variety of wildlife viewing. The transition from Okanagan grassland and Ponderosa Pine forests to Douglas Fir and Interior Rainforests as well as alpine, provides a range habitat which is home to many different kinds of birds mammals reptiles, and amphibians not to mention life in our lakes and streams.
Wildlife Viewing
The Monashee is a paradise for bird-watchers. During the summer months Swainson's Thrush can be seen as well as Western Flycatchers, Osprey and Bald Eagles can be seen. There are excellent viewing areas all along the Shuswap River and along our various lakes.
The canoe is the choice craft many local birdwatchers and photographers use to view waterfowl and song birds. Rawlings Lake is a popular nesting area for Ruddy Ducks, Black Terns and Sandhill Cranes. Many Thrushes
British Columbia is home to thousands of plant and animal species living in a rich diversity of habitats. Some of these species and their habitats are at risk and can be found in the Monashee such as:
Birdwatching
Species@Risk
Williamson's Sapsucker
Bobolink
Spotted Bat
Wolverine
Fisher
Grizzly Bear
California Bighorn Sheep
Caribou
Tiger Salamander
Painted Turtle
Western Screech Owl
Badger
Great Blue Heron
Long Billed Curlew
Barn Owl
Lewis's Woodpecker
Remember, this area is sparsely populated and the farms and villages you see along the travel routes are often bordered by wilderness, so be prepared for risk and adventure, Much of the Monashee is Grizzly Bear country and seeing a Black Bear is quite common. Large populations of whitetail deer inhabit the valley bottoms and the lower altitude logging cutbacks. The mixed forests bordering the numerous hayfields and pastures are particularly productive white-tailed deer habitat, so viewing deer from the road is quite common, so drive carefully and stop when you see deer ready to cross the road.
Mule deer can be found at higher altitudes, which can be accessed, by hundreds of kilometers of logging roads and trails.
and Dippers can be seen on the roadside creeks. Loons can be spotted on beautiful Echo Lake.
At Sugar Lake watch for Barred Owls and along Kate Creek Road, Bobolink and Mountain Bluebirds can be seen. In the sub-alpine including Monashee Provincial Park and Park Mountain, Ptarmigan can be spotted.
Hiking
