vi. flora & fauna

FAUNA

creatures of southern point

MAMMALS

• AMERICAN BADGER. They are considered common predators and are to be either chased out or killed. To do this, it generally takes a pair of canids, sometimes a third if it is especially large. The American badger has most of the general characteristics common to badgers; with stocky and low-slung bodies with short, powerful legs, they are identifiable by their huge foreclaws and distinctive head markings. Measuring generally between 23.6 to 29.5 inches in length, males of the species are slightly larger than females (15.5 pounds for females and up to almost 19.8 pounds for males). Except for the head, the American badger is covered with a grizzled, brown, black and white coat of coarse hair or fur, giving almost a mixed brown-tan appearance. The coat aids in camouflage in grassland habitat. Its triangular face shows a distinctive black and white pattern, with brown or blackish "badges" marking the cheeks and a white stripe extending from the nose to the base of the head.
• BIGHORN MOUNTAIN SHEEP. They are considered rare prey, as they rarely descend from the Kerek Mountains. In the case that they are targeted as prey, it takes 3-4 individuals to do the job. The Bighorn Mountain Sheep's muscular bodied animal is covered with a brown coat, the belly, rump, back of legs, muzzle and eye patch are white. The most distinct feature of the mature male Bighorn is a set of massive horns which spiral backwards from the top of the head. The hooves are hard on the outside and soft on the inside making it an excellent climber and jumper of cliffs with avalanche chutes and talus slopes which they use to escape from predators.
• BLACK BEAR. They are considered uncommon predators and are to be chased out, a task that generally requires 4-5 canids. Females with cubs are to be left alone as they will defend their cubs at all costs. Typical coloration of Black Bears in the west is black to cinnamon with a white blaze on the chest and in the east, black. On Gribble Island and the neighbouring mainland of British Columbia individuals are nearly white. The snout is tan or grizzled with a straight or slightly convex profile. Average weight is 200-600 pounds. Black Bears inhabit heavily forested areas, dense bush and wooded mountains throughout most of British Columbia.
• BOBCAT. They are considered uncommon predators and are to be either chased out or killed. To do so, it generally takes 2-3 canids. The color of the bobcat is tawny (greyer in the winter) with indistinct black spotting. The tail is short and stubby with 2 or 3 black bars with a black tip above and pale or white below. The face has broken black lines which radiate onto the broad cheek ruff. Average weight is 15-35 pounds with the male being larger than the female. The bobcat primarily occurs in scrubby country and broken forests, but adapts to swamps, farmlands and arid lands if they are rocky or brushy.
• CALIFORNIA SEA LION. They are considered common and irrelevant creatures and aren't generally interacted with, unless the pack is desperate for food, in which case it takes 2-3 canids to take down. Typical colouring of California Sea Lions ranges from tan to chocolate brown and may appear black when wet. The head has a pointed muzzle and the profile resembles that of a dog. The hair is short; the flippers are long and leathery with nails. An adult male is larger weighing about 800 pounds with a sagittal crest or bump on the top of the head; the female who is considerably smaller, averages 250 pounds. They are located only along the coast.
• CANADIAN BEAVER. They are considered common and irrelevant creatures and aren't generally interacted with, unless the pack is desperate for food, in which case it takes 1-2 canids to take down. This very large, dark brown rodent has a black, scaly tail which is horizontally flattened and paddle shaped and used as a rudder while swimming, as a sturdy support on land and for balance when the beaver carries heavy tree branches or building materials in its front paws. The back feet are large, webbed and black; the eyes and ears small; incisors are very large and chestnut coloured. Average weight is 45-60 pounds but they have been recorded at up to 110 pounds.
• CARIBOU. They are considered common prey and take a group of 5 to take down healthy individuals, but old/sick/injured caribou only require 4. Typical coloration of the Caribou is brown, shaggy fur with a whitish neck and mane. The muzzle is large and blunt with short and broad ears and a short tail. Large, crescent shaped hooves which have sharp edges ensure good footing. The antlers of adult male Caribou are massive compared to those of the female and are erect and spreading with flattened brow tines that point forward and downward over the forehead. The Caribou inhabits the arctic tundra, alpine tundra and northern boreal forests.
• CHIPMUNK. They are considered very common prey and take 1 to kill. The color of this animal varies from muted yellowish-grey above with tan dark stripes to brownish-grey with black side stripes. The striped continue to the base of the tail; the sides are generally an orange-brown; the belly greyish-white. The tail is long and light brown above, yellowish below with long, black-tipped hairs. It prefers sagebrush deserts, pastures, piney woods, rocky cliffs, and open coniferous forests. Its call is distinctive and is recognized by a series of high-pitched chipping notes.
• COUGAR. They are considered rare predators and are to be left alone as they are extremely dangerous, unless it is needed to chase them out or kill them. This task usually takes 4-5 canids. The cougar is a large animal with fur that is short and reddish-brown to grey-brown with white on the underside; the tail is black-tipped. The head is fairly small with small, rounded ears and large feet. The average adult male weighs 125 pounds and the female 100 pounds. The cougar is the largest wild cat native to BC. The cougar is a strong, solitary, strongly territorial hunting species that requires an undisturbed game-rich wilderness. They feed on large animals to mice; the cougar is capable of killing a 600 pound moose or elk.
• DEER. They are considered common prey and require 2-3 wolves to hunt and kill, although the sick/old/young can be taken down with one canid. Their coat is a tan or reddish-brown in the summer and greyish-brown in the winter, the belly, throat, nose band, eye ring and insides of the ears are white. There are black spots on the sides of the chin. The antlers have individual tines that grow upward from each of the main beams. Although the deer is a good swimmer and runner (reaching speeds of 35 mph) it falls prey to a number of animals including the cougar, domestic dog, wolf, coyote, lynx, bobcat and bear.
• ELK. They are considered common prey and need 4-5 canids to bring down. The Elk is the second largest member of the deer family with slender legs, a thick neck and is coloured brown or tan with darker underparts. The antlers, only grown by males, are large with many tines. They occur in high, open mountain pastures in summer and lower, wooded slopes or dense woods in the winter.
• GRIZZLY BEAR. They are considered uncommon predators and are to be either chased off or killed, a task requiring 4-5 canids. Mothers with cubs are to be left alone. Grizzly Bears reach weights of 300-1500 pounds. The coat color ranges from shades of blond, brown, black or a combination of these; the long outer guard hairs are often tipped with white or silver giving it a grizzled appearance hence the name. In spite of their mass size this bear runs at speeds of up to 35 mph. They prefer semi-open country usually in mountainous areas. Normally a solitary animal, the grizzly congregates alongside streams and rivers during the salmon spawn.
• LYNX. They are considered uncommon predators and are to be either chased off or killed, a task requiring 2-3 canids. The colouring of a lynx is buff or tawny with mixed blackish hairs and the underparts are cinnamon-brownish. The tail is short and tipped with black; ears have long black tufts and cheeks have long pale ruffs which form a pointed beard at the throat. The feet are very large and well furred. Average weight is from 10 to 40 pounds. The lynx prefers the deep forest. In BC they occupy most habitats but are generally absent from the coastal region.
• MARMOT. They are considered uncommon prey and take 1 canid to kill, sometimes a second. The marmot is a large animal this is silver-grey above with a brownish rump and whitish belly. Distinct black and white marks are on the head and shoulders. The tail of the marmot is large, reddish-brown and bushy. Average weight is 8-20 pounds. This species of marmot lives throughout all of British Columbia in talus slopes in the mountains. When in danger this animal gives off a shrill, piercing "Eeeeeee" alarm hence the nickname "whistler". Many carnivores prey on marmots; bears may dig up marmot that are still hibernating in the early spring.
• MARTEN. They are considered common prey and take 1 canid to kill. The marten, or pine marten, is a weasel like animal that is dark brown to blond in color with a paler head and underparts. The tail is long and bushy; the ears pointed and small. Average weight is 1-4 pounds. The marten occurs throughout most of Canada particularly in coniferous forests. The marten feeds on squirrels, rabbits, birds, mice, eggs, berries, seeds and honey.
• MINK. They are considered common prey and take 1 canid to kill. The sleek-bodied mink has a lustrous, chocolate brown to black fur with white spotting on the chin and throat. The mink's tail is long and bushy. Average weight is 1-4 pounds, the size of a small housecat, the male being heavier than the female. The mink occurs throughout all of Canada along rivers, creeks, ponds, lakes and marshes.
• MOUNTAIN GOAT. They are considered uncommon prey and take 2-3 canids to kill. The Mountain Goat, a blunt, squarish-looking animal has a narrow head with slender, black, shiny horns rising in a backward curve to a length of 10-12 inches. The coat is white and on the chin is a double beard of long hair. Weighing an average of 150-300 pounds and reaching heights of 35-45 inches, the mountain goat is sure-footed and agile due to its hooves with cushioned skid-proof pads for grip. The mountain goat lives in rocky mountainous areas above the timberline throughout parts of North America.
• MOOSE. They are considered rare prey and are extremely dangerous to hunt, taking 5-6 canids to take down. This horse-sized animal is the largest member of the deer family with long, dark brown hair, high, humped shoulders and long legs. A pendant of hair-covered skin sometimes reaching 2 feet hangs under the throat. The moose occurs in spruce forests, swamps, aspen and willow thickets; it is built to live in rough country and is well adapted to a cold climate.
• DEER. They are considered common prey and require 2-3 wolves to hunt and kill, although the sick/old/young can be taken down with one canid. Their coat is a tan or reddish-brown in the summer and greyish-brown in the winter, the belly, throat, nose band, eye ring and insides of the ears are white. There are black spots on the sides of the chin. The antlers have individual tines that grow upward from each of the main beams. Although the deer is a good swimmer and runner (reaching speeds of 35 mph) it falls prey to a number of animals including the cougar, domestic dog, wolf, coyote, lynx, bobcat and bear.
• PORCUPINE. They are considered common and irrelevant and are easily killed by rolling them over onto their backs, but are generally tough to eat due to their quills. The porcupine is a robust rodent that usually weighs around 22 pounds. Its blunt-nosed face has small eyes, and small, round ears. The legs are powerful with long curved claws making it slow-footed and strong. The front half of the porcupine's body is covered in long guard hairs which are a yellowish colour in the west and black or brown in the east. The rump and tail are covered in over 30,000 quills which are 1-2.5 inches in length and set with tiny, scalelike barbs. The porcupine occupies most of Canada and all of BC in coniferous forests in the subalpine zone.
• RACCOON. They are considered common prey and take 1 canid to kill. The raccoon is a reddish-brown above and black or greyish below. The most prominent characteristics are the bushy tail with 4-6 black or brown rings and the black mask outlined in white. The ears are small and the feet and forepaws are dexterous. This animal is native to the southern part of the Canadian provinces and most of the US. It is most common along stream edges, open forests and coastal marshes.
• RED SQUIRREL. They are considered common prey and take 1 canid to kill. The red squirrel is rust-red to greyish-red above being brightest on the sides, white or greyish-white below and the tail is similar to the back color but is outlined with a broad, black band edged in white. The coat is duller in the summer and a black line separated the back and underbelly colours. The average red squirrel weighs 7-12 ounces. The red squirrel is abundant in any kind of forest, coniferous, pine, mixed or hardwood forests. The squirrel is a chatterbox with a variety of calls to announce its home range or the presence of intruders.
• SEA OTTER. They are considered uncommon and irrelevant and are rarely killed as prey as they aren't known to come to shore often. The sea otter is a weasel-like creature that has a long, thick tail with dense, dark brown to blond fur, the fur on the head is paler. The head and neck lighten with age, turning almost white. Average weight is 70-100 pounds. They swim belly up with their front paws in the air, using the webbed hind feet for propulsion. They dive for one to two minutes but can stay down for up to five minutes.
• STRIPED SKUNK. They are considered uncommon and irrelevant and are not usually pursued as prey due to the scent they spray in defense from predators. The size of this noxious odoured creature is similar to that of a housecat. The strped skunk has a small, black head with a white stripe between the eyes and two broad white stripes which meet at the shoulders of its black back. The tail is black with a white tip or fringe. The striped skunk prefers the desert, woodlands, grassy plains.
• WOLVERINE. They are considered a common predator and are to be chased off or killed, which generally requires 2-3 canids. A bulky, bear-like animal, the wolverine is dark brown with broad, yellowish bands from shoulders to hips, meeting at the base of the tail. The male is generally larger than the female and average weight is 18-42 pounds. Preferring forests and tundra, the wolverine is distributed throughout BC except in heavily populated areas. The wolverine eats anything it can find or kill; being poor hunters they tend to follow wolves and bears, feeding off the leftovers from kills.

BIRDS

• AMERICAN KESTREL. They are considered common and irrelevant. This bird is the smallest and most common of the falcons. The back and tail are rusty coloured; the adult male has slate blue wings, the female's are rusty and she has bands on her tail. Both sexes have two black stripes on the face. The call is a sharp "killy-killy-killy".
• BALD EAGLE. They are considered common predators. They prey upon the pups and should always be looked out for when pups are around. The Bald Eagle is a large eagle that is a blackish colour with a white head and tail and a heavy yellow bill. The call is a squeaky cackling with thin squeals. The bald eagle breeds from Alaska east across Canada and south to California. Winters are spent along coasts and large rivers in much of the US. Bald eagles inhabit the lakes, rivers, marshes and seacoasts in BC. They are often seen scavenging on the pack's larger kills and are usually chased off.
• BLACK CAPPED-CHICKADEE. They are considered very common and irrelevant. This small bird can be identified by its black cap and bib and white cheeks. The back is grey with white underparts; the wings are edged with white. Their characteristic call is a buzzy "chick-a-dee-dee-dee". The black-capped chickadee ranges throughout all of Canada. They inhabit deciduous and mixed forests and open woodlands, often wintering in suburban areas.
• CANADA GOOSE. They are considered very common prey and take 1 canid to kill. The Canada Goose is the most familiar and common of geese in Canada. The size decreases northward with the smallest living in the high Arctic coastal tundra. A brownish body with a black head, long black neck and white chin strap characterize the colouring of this goose. A rich, musical honking is the call of the larger species and a high pitched cackling is that of the smaller. This goose lives throughout the majority of North America in lakes, bays, rivers and marshes. They are very protective of their young and are generally left alone due to this.
• COMMON MERGANSER. They are considered common prey and take 1 canid to kill. The male of this species has flashing white sides, a green-black head, a white breast and a long, thin, red bill and feet. The female's body and sides are grey with a reddish-brown crested head and a white throat. The call is that of low, rasping croaks. The breeding grounds range across Canada from eastern Alaska to Newfoundland on wooded rivers and ponds; they winter in the south as far as Mexico mainly on lakes and rivers and occasionally on salt water.
• GOLDEN EAGLE. They are considered uncommon predators. They prey upon the pups and should always be looked out for when pups are around. Ocassionally they are large enough to prey on small foxes and take 1-2 canids to kill. Golden Eagles are large, brown eagles that have a pale golden wash on the back of the head and neck; the tail is faintly banded. In young birds, the tail is white at the base and black at the tip. Although usually silent, the call of the golden eagle is a high-pitched "kee-kee-kee" or a high scream or squeal.
• GREAT BLUE HERON. They are considered common prey and take 1 canid to kill. This bird is grey-blue with black stripes over the eyes and black streaks on its white foreneck; the bill is yellow. Ornate plumage on the head, neck and back decorate the breeding adult. Heights average 39-52 inches. A harsh squawk characterizes its call. The Great Blue Heron resides along lakes, ponds, rivers and marshes.
• GREAT HORNED OWL. They are considered common predators, although they usually do not bother the pack unless there are pups present. They take 1 canid to kill. The great horned owl is a large owl that is chiefly nocturnal. Its colour varies from nearly white (in the Arctic) to dark brown and grey. It is mottled and streaked below, setting off its white throat. The ear tufts are prominent and widely spaced; the eyes are yellow. The call is a series of low, sonorous, far-carrying hoots. Great horned owls are resident throughout all of North America in forests, woodlands, thickets, chapparal, streamsides, open country, deserts, canyons, and cliffs.
• KINGFISHER. They are considered common prey, but like all small birds, require patience to capture, a task that takes 1 wolf. This pigeon sized bird, the belted kingfisher is blue-grey above and white below with a bushy crest and dagger-like bill. The male has a blue-grey breast band; the female is similar but also has a chestnut belly band. The call is a loud, penetrating rattle. They inhabit rivers, lakes and saltwater estuaries.
• LOON. They are considered uncommon prey and take 1 canid to kill. This common loon has a large, heavy body with a thick and pointed black bill. The call of the loon, which occurs usually at night and during migration, is a loud, wailing laugh or a mournful yodel and has been described as "one of the most striking wilderness sounds, a strange, sad, mournful, unearthly cry, half laughing, half wailing".
• MALLARD. They are considered common prey and take 1 canid to kill. The male mallard duck has a greyish body, chestnut coloured breast and a green head with white neck rings. The inner feathers of the wings are a metallic purplish-blue, bordered in the front and back with white. The female mallard is a mottled brown with a white tail and the feathers of the inner wing are also purplish-blue. The bill is a mottled orange and brown. They inhabit marshes, ponds and marshy lakes.
• NORTHERN GOSHAWK. They are considered uncommon predators and take 1-2 canids to kill. This robust bird has a long narrow tail, short rounded wings and a bold white eyebrow. The adult is blue-grey above with a black crown with pale underparts finely barred with grey. Young birds are brown above and streaked below. Usually silent, the Goshawk lets out a loud "kak-kak-kak-kak" when disturbed. The Northern Goshawk breeds in coniferous forests throughout Canada, wintering in farmlands, woodland edges and open country, south of its breeding grounds. The Goshawk is fearless in defence of it's nest and will boldly attack anyone who ventures too close.
• NORTHERN HARRIER. They are uncommon predators and take 1-2 canids to kill. The Northern Harrier is a long-winged, long-tailed hawk that is usually seen gliding unsteadily over marshes with its wings held in a shallow V. The rump is white and the wing tips black; the male has a pale grey back, head and breast and the female and young are brown above and streaked below. It is a usually silent bird but at the nest it utters a "kee-kee-kee-kee" or a sharp whistle. It prefers marshes and open grasslands.
• NORTHERN PINTAIL. They are considered common prey and take 1 canid to kill. The larger male Northern Pintail duck has a brown head, white neck and underparts, a greyish back and sides and long, black, pointed central tail feathers. The wings are a metallic brown and green with white rear borders. They prefer marshes, prairie ponds and tundra and may sometimes winter in salt marshes.
• OSPREY. They are considered uncommon predators and take 1-2 canids to kill. The Osprey is a large, long-winged bird that is dark brown above and white below with a white head and a prominent dark eye stripe. The male Osprey is usually all white below whereas the female has a necklace of dark streaking. The wing has a distinctive bend at the "wrist" and from a distance can resemble a gull. A loud, musical chirping characterizes the voice of the Osprey. They inhabit lakes, rivers and seacoasts.
• PEREGRINE FALCON. They are considered uncommon predators and take 1-2 canids to kill. A large, robust falcon, The Peregrine Falcon is slate-grey above and pale below, with fine black bars and spots. The head is hooded with black and has a wide black "moustache". Young birds are brown or brownish-slate above and heavily streaked below. Usually a silent bird, a rasping "kack-kack-kack-kack" can be heard while nesting. They prefer open country, especially along rivers and lakes.
• RED-TAILED HAWK. They are considered uncommon predators and take 1-2 canids to kill. The Red-Tailed Hawk is a large, stocky hawk that has a light and dark phase. The breast is whitish and the tail is rust coloured. Younger birds are duller and more streaked and lack the rust-coloured tail of the adult. The call is a high-pitched, descending scream with a hoarse "keeer". They inhabit deciduous forests and open country of various kinds including tundra, plains and farmlands.
• RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. They are considered very common prey and take 1 canid to kill, although they don't offer much to eat. The male Red-Winged Blackbird is a glossy black with red shoulder patches which are tipped with a buffy-yellow. The female is dark brown above, heavily streaked below and sometimes has a red tinge on the wing coverts or a pinkish wash on the chin and throat. A rich, musical "o-ka-leeee!" characterizes the voice of this bird. They inhabit marshes, swamps, pastures and wet and dry meadows.
• RING-NECKED PHEASANT. They are considered common prey and take 1 canid to kill. The Ring-Necked Pheasant is larger than a chicken. The tail is long and pointed, that of the female's being shorter than the male's. The male has a red eye patch, a brilliant green head and a white neck ring; the body of both sexes is a soft brown pattern with an iridescent russet. The call of the Ring-Necked Pheasant is a loud crowing followed by a resonant beating of the wings; when the pheasant is alarmed it flies off with a loud cackle. The Ring-Necked Pheasant prefers farmlands, pastures and grassy woodland edges.
• RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. They are considered uncommon and irrelevant. The male has bright rufous upperparts and flanks and an orange-red throat. The female is green above with a rufous tinge on the rump and flanks. An abrupt high pitched call and various thin squealing notes characterize the voice of this species of hummingbird. Their natural habitat is in mountain meadows and forest edges.
• SNOW GOOSE. They are considered uncommon prey and take 1 canid to kill. It is pure white with black wing tips, it's bill is pink with black "lips" and the legs are pink. It's upperparts are a bluish-grey and the underparts are brownish. The snow goose breeds in the Arctic regions of North America on the tundra and winters on the Pacific Coast from southern BC to Baja California in salt marshes and marshy coastal bays; less commonly in freshwater marshes and adjacent grainfields.
• TRUMPETER SWAN. They are considered uncommon prey and take 1-2 canids to kill due to their size and aggressive nature. The Trumpeter Swan is one of North America's largest birds at 60-72 inches in height. The colour of the adult is white with black a bill; younger birds are a dusky grey-brown the bill being pink with a black base and tip. The voice of the Trumpeter Swan is a bugling, lower pitch. Their preferred habitat is near marshes, lakes and rivers with dense vegetation.
• TURKEY VULTURE. They are considered common and irrelevant, although they are usually chased off of the pack's larger kills. The Turkey Vulture is an eagle-sized bird that is usually seen soaring over the countryside, its wings held upward in a wide, shallow V; the flight feathers are a silver grey with a black lining. This brownish-black bird has a long tail and its head is small, bare and red. It hisses or grunts when feeding or at it's nest but is usually silent. The Turkey Vulture breeds from southern BC, central Saskatchewan and the Great Lakes southward, wintering in southeast to southwestern America. They prefer mainly deciduous forests and woodlands and are often seen in nearby farmlands.
• WESTERN SCREECH OWL. They are considered common and irrelevant. The western screech-owl is a small owl that is generally an overall grey. The underparts are marked with blackish streaks and thinner bars. It has yellow eyes, a dark bill and ear tufts when the head is raised. The voice is a series of hollow whistles on one pitch, separated at first then running into a "bouncing ball" series of low whistles. The inhabit woodlands, orchards and yards with many trees.
• WHITE PELICAN. They are considered uncommon and irrelevant. The White Pelican is a huge bird reaches heights of 55-70 inches. It is white with a long, flat, bright orange bill and black tipped wings. During the breeding season a short, yellowish crest appears on the back of the head and a horny plate appears on the upper mandible. Breeding white pelicans are found from Mackenzie, BC south to northern California. Wintering grounds are from central California, the Gulf Coast, and Florida south to Panama. They prefer shallow lakes to coastal lagoons.
• WHITE PELICAN. They are considered uncommon and irrelevant. The White Pelican is a huge bird reaches heights of 55-70 inches. It is white with a long, flat, bright orange bill and black tipped wings. During the breeding season a short, yellowish crest appears on the back of the head and a horny plate appears on the upper mandible. Breeding white pelicans are found from Mackenzie, BC south to northern California. Wintering grounds are from central California, the Gulf Coast, and Florida south to Panama. They prefer shallow lakes to coastal lagoons.
• WOOD DUCK. They are considered common prey and take 1 canid to kill. A beautiful, crested, multicolored duck, the Wood Duck male is patterned in iridescent greens, purples and blues with a distinctive white chin patch and face stripes. The female Wood Duck is greyish with a broad, white eye ring. The bill is mainly red and the tail long. The females call is louder than that of the male. In the west the Wood Duck breeds from BC south to California and winters near the Pacific coast no farther north than Washington. It inhabits wooded rivers, ponds and swamps and visits freshwater marshes in the late summer and fall.

FISH & AQUATIC MAMMALS

• ARCTIC GRAYLING. They are considered very common prey. This species has an average length of 12-15 inches and weighs in at 1-3 pounds. A strikingly coloured fish, the back is purple to blue-black or blue-grey with sides of a pinkish iridescence having a number of V-shaped or diamond shaped spots. The head is olive-green with a mauve iridescence. During spawning the colors darken and the male becomes more brilliant than the female.
• BROOK TROUT. They are considered common prey. The average length is 10-12 inches but Brook Trout can be caught measuring up to 21 inches and weighing 4-6 pounds. Typical coloring is olive-green to dark brown on the back with silvery sides and pale spotting. All colors intensify at spawning time. It occurs in clear, cool, well-oxygenated streams and lakes. This species spawns in late summer or autumn in gravel beds in the shallows of headwaters of streams.
• BROWN TROUT. They are considered very common prey. The average length of the brown trout is 16 inches and generally they weigh only a few pounds. In streams the coloring is a light brown with silvery sides and pronounced black spots on the back whereas in large lakes or in the sea the overall coloration is silvery. Brown trout spawn in late autumn to early winter in shallow, gravelly waters.
• CHUM SALMON. They are considered uncommon prey. A mature adult chum salmon is usually about 25 inches in length and 10 pounds in weight. A steel-blue and the back and upper sides with fine black speckles turning into a silver-white on the belly characterize the chum. The spawning chum migrate from the Pacific Ocean to the rivers in early January. Hatching usually occurs from late December to late February. They remain in the gravelly waters until late April to early May when they migrate to the sea.
• CHINOOK SALMON. They are considered uncommon prey. The Chinook Salmon species is the largest Pacific salmon usually about 33-36 inches in length and weighing about 30 pounds. The coloring of the chinook salmon is an iridescent green to blue-green with gold flecking or sheen, silvery sides and a white belly. Breeding fish are an overall olive-brown to purple color, males darker than females. Marine adults occur in the Pacific Ocean and rarely in the Arctic, Bering and Okhotsk seas and the Sea of Japan. Young and spawning tyee can be found in most of the rivers flowing into these water bodies. The chinook salmon migrates as much as 600-1200 miles upriver between July and November.
• DALL'S PORPOISE. They are considered rare and irrelevant, and it is hard to catch site of them. This porpoise has a stocky, black body with large white sections on the flanks and belly. The head is small and beakless. They are 6 to 8 feet long, weighing up to 400 pounds.
• GREY WHALE. They are considered rare and irrelevant and can only be seen in the spring, when they migrate to their summer feeding grounds in Alaska. The grey whale is mottled grey with numerous white, yellow or orange patches of barnacles and parasites around the blowhole, on top of the head, and on the fore part of the back. Males are 35-50 feet, 28-38 tons; females 42-50 feet, 34-38 tons. This is the scruffiest of the great whales.
• HUMPBACK WHALE. They are considered rare and irrelevant and can only be seen in summer, congregating in their feeding grounds. The humpback whale is black with white patches on the flippers, bottom surface of the tail flukes and body; it is identified by this unique back and white pattern. Males average 47 feet; females, 49 feet. Weight ranges from 25-45 tons. The head is flattened and the flippers are the biggest of any species.
• ORCA WHALE. They are considered very rare and irrelevant. The orca is the largest dolphin; a shiny, black creature with white patches above and behind each eye, on the chin and throat extending along the belly. The body is robust and powerful with a blunt, round head and slight beak. The male averages 27 feet and weighs up to 11 tons; the female 23 feet, 8 tons.
• PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN. They are considered uncommon and irrelevant. A dark grey or black back broken by white or light grey stripe along the flank characterizes the colouring of the Pacific White-sided Dolphin. The beak, front edge of dorsal fin, flippers and flukes are dark; the belly white. This fast, powerful swimmer loves to bow ride and surf; they often leap and somersault.
• RAINBOW TROUT. They are considered uncommon prey. The body is somewhat compressed with a rounded snout and a large mouth. The spawning male experiences minor changes to its head, mouth and color. Stream residents and spawners are darker with more intense coloring and lake residents are lighter, brighter and more silvery. They range from steel-blue, blue-green, yellow-green to almost brown. This species spawns from March to August in smaller streams.
  

REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS

• ALLIGATOR LIZARD. They are considered common prey. The Northwestern Alligator Lizard is a short-legged, long-bodied lizard, with a triangular head and grow up to 20cm. Adults usually are brown in colour with a pale belly. Alligator Lizards are very secretive; their first defence is to flee and hide. If caught, a lizard may release a smelly mix of feces and musk, bite, or even autotomize its tail.
• COMMON GARTER SNAKE. They are considered common prey but are not very appetizing. Common garter snakes are thin snakes. None grows over about 4 ft long, and most stay smaller. Most have longitudinal stripes in many different colors. Common garter snakes come in a wide range of colors. In summer, it is most active in the morning and late afternoon; in cooler seasons or climates, it restricts its activity to the warm afternoons.
• EUROPEAN WALL LIZARD. They are considered very common prey. Wall Lizards have a relatively flattened body with long limbs and long toes. The backs of Wall Lizards are green or brown with black blotches. Their bellies are often a very light creamy brown with light spots that get denser at the throat. The sides of males have bright blue spots running down them that resemble a thick line. They are very active and are easily seen in the open basking or hunting for food. They are very quick at climbing and running and even jump from object to object when being chased. If a lizard is captured by its tail, it autotomizes the tail and runs away.
• GREAT BASIN GOPHER SNAKE. They are considered common prey but are not very appetizing. The Great Basin gopher snake has dorsal spots that are dark brown or black, and they are connected to each other by very narrow lines that run along each side of the anterior part of the body. They are not dangerous unless provoked, in which case they will imitate a rattlesnake.
• NORTHERN PACIFIC RATTLESNAKE. They are considered uncommon predators and take 1-2 canids to kill. The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake is a stout snake, distinguished from all other snakes by 3 features; a rattle on the end of its tail, a very distinct neck, and a broad, triangular head. They're generally is a quiet, non-aggressive snake. Their first response to potential danger is to stay quiet and camouflaged. Their second response is escape. If cornered, however, rattlesnakes will rattle their tails vigorously while forming an aggressive coil with the head raised and the neck in an ‘s’ shaped curve. Striking is a last resort, usually employed if cornered by a persistent predator.
• PACIFIC GREEN TURTLE. They are considered rare and irrelevant. The Pacific Green Turtle is a gentle giant of the sea. Green Turtles can reach a maximum carapace (upper shell) length of 1.5 m, and weight of 295 kg. Green Turtles rarely leave the water and clearly are built for their aquatic lifestyle. The front legs are modified into flippers, and the rear legs are paddle shaped. The carapace is brown to olive green, while the small plastron (shell covering the belly) is pale cream to yellow.
• RED-EARED SLIDER. They are considered common and irrelevant. In addition to its red “ear”, the face and neck are marked with yellow stripes. The smooth, dark carapace (upper shell) of the Red-eared Slider commonly is decorated with darker lines and swirls, and patches of white, yellow or red.
• WESTERN PAINTED TURTLE. They are considered common and irrelevant. The Western Painted Turtle is named after the bright yellow stripes on its head, neck, tail and legs, and the glowing red on its plastron (shell covering the belly) and under-edge of its carapace (shell covering the back).
• WESTERN SKINK. They are considered common prey. Skinks have a long, narrow pointed head, long body, and short legs. They grow to a maximum of 20 cm in total length. Most noticeable, however, is the bright blue tail, which normally is longer than the body. If feeling threatened, a Western Skink usually wiggles its way under a nearby rock or shrub using its snake-like body movement. They never venture far from shelter.

PHARAOH LEAP.

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flora coming soon