Warden’s Report for Trout Creek ER #7 Nov 8, 2014

Laurie Rockwell, the Ecological reserve Warden for Trout Creek ER #7 submitted this report to BC Parks.

–my last tour for the year was a treat for November: 8c, minimal wind, periodic blue skies and no snow.

–I saw or heard 6 species of expected resident forest birds. No migrating geese or cranes flew overhead.

–all flowering plants were in seed and about a half a dozen of these already had new green leaves. I pulled out one Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) and found no rosettes of Diffuse Knapweed (Centurea diffusa).

–I saw fresh deer scat and hoof prints, the first time since late spring. The Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys taploides incensus Goldman) is already digging burrows in preparation for underground winter living. I wonder if the temperature of the soil clues them into when to start burrowing as I see no evidence of digging after late spring?

–there were no signs of vandalism

–planned fence repairs for this year will happen next year.

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  Thomomys talpoides Northern Pocket Gopher: photo in public domain-Wikipedia