WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP?

Stewardship is the act of taking care of fish and wildlife habitat by people like you

WHAT WE DO

OSS works directly with local residents in order to support and assist them in caring for important natural areas. Over the past ten years, since our inception in October 2013, OSS has undertaken an array of initiatives including outreach and neighbourhood initiatives, one-on-one contact with land managers, community and government partnerships and collaborations, and has made significant contributions to wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement throughout the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys.

Meet our Team

BLOG: NATURE NOTES

Mysis Shrimp in Okanagan Lake

Did you know that we have shrimp in the our lakes in the Okanagan? Sadly these are not the tasty shrimp you can order at a restaurant. In fact they are not even true shrimp. These are Mysis shrimp, an introduced species that has caused problems to many of our aquatic species, especially Kokanee salmon. It was first brought to the lakes as a mean to help feed the salmon, but things did not go according to plan and instead the shrimp started competing with the salmon for zoopla

World Otter Day!

Otters are such cute creatures but don't let that fool you, they can be ferocious when they wan to be. Here in the Okanagan and Similkameen, we are lucky to share the land and waters with our very own River otters. These guys are know for their playful and fun behaviour. They can be seen sliding or burrowing in the mud or snow, chasing each others tails, or generally playing in the water. Their slender flexible bodies allow them to preform rolls, tumbles and dives like a gymn

World Turtle Day

Turtles are an amazing species that are beloved by so many, so let's celebrate them today. Here in the Okanagan and Similkameen, we only have one native species to celebrate, our Western Painted turtle! In BC there are 2 populations of this turtle: the Pacific Coast Population that is found in the lower mainland and Vancouver Island, and the Intermountain-Rocky Mountain population which is found here in the Interior of BC. Sadly both populations are at risk, with the Coastal

World Bee Day!

Happy World Bee Day! Many people love bees and want to help bees. More recently this help has come in the form of bee hotels/houses. These are meant to provide habitat for many solitary native bees. And it's great that people want to help these little guys out, but just Bee careful using bee houses. It can take more work than one might think to keep the bees happy and healthy. If not cleaned properly, fungus and bacteria can accumulate and make these places a vector for disea

Endangered Species Day - Celebrating our Local Digging Expert

Out of all the species in the Okanagan, one of the most endangered ones is the American Badger. These guys are so special though and have so many cool features. Everything about the American badger is built for the dirt and digging. Here are some features that make them digging experts: Eyes - Like some mammal, like cats and dogs, badgers have a thin "third" eyelid called a nictitating membrane that helps prevent dirt from irritating their eyes. This membrane is translucent s

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WHERE WE WORK
OSS works in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys, primarily on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan and Secwepemc people, throughout the Regional Districts of Okanagan Similkameen, Central Okanagan and North Okanagan. This region is an exceptional place, known for its spectacular landscapes, iconic wildlife, amazing outdoor recreation opportunities, world-class wines and diverse agricultural products. The region is also home to some of the greatest concentrations of species diversity and species at risk in Canada and is one of Canada's most endangered natural systems.

Map showing locations of over 125 wildlife habitat stewards

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