WILDLIFE VIEWING
The awe-inspiring Sockeye Salmon
Adams River Salmon Run
Truly one of the largest salmon runs in North America, the Adams River Salmon Run is a perfect day trip opportunity to witness a unique version of nature's love story - the instinctive cycle of birth, death and renewal of species - is illustrated in spectacular fashion on the gravel reaches of the Adams River in the Thompson region.
Every four years the dominant race of Adams' sockeye salmon spawn and die in a mass ritual that has awed and mystified human onlookers since the glaciers of the ice age carved out the geography of British Columbia. In crimson spawning colours, the males and females pair and play out the ritual that culminates their lives. Chinook, Coho and Pink salmon also spawn in the Adams River, but it is the sockeye that challenge the imagination in their teeming millions.
Grebes performing their mating dance.
Birds
Birds are particularly magnificent to observe, draw or photograph, and Kamloops has an incredible selection with diverse background scenery to make your viewing perfect. Would you like to see the Western and Mountain Bluebirds? Take a half or full day and drive down country roads. White-tailed Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and White Pelicans fly through Kamloops country on their migrations. Trumpeter Swans as well as Golden and Bald Eagles visit in the winter. Long-gilled Curlews nest in the spring and early summer. Beautiful Loons, the Great Blue Heron and common ducks are often found on surrounding water bodies. The North and South Thompson Rivers also support the largest interior wintering population of Tundra and Trumpeter Swans.
Eagles Nesting
Mammals
Because Kamloops is home to several types of biomes, including forested areas, wetland, lush grasslands, and semi-arid desert, we are also home to many large and small wild animals. Mule and white-tailed deer are commonly seen in the surrounding hills, predominately in the early morning hours. Cougars, bobcats, red foxes and black bears (occasionally a brown bear may be spotted) are much shyer, but are still common on wilderness trails and open grasslands. Viewing is best in the spring and fall seasons when there is a bounty of fresh natural foods and it is time to nurture the young. Big-horn mountain sheep are very common along the major highways that intersect Kamloops.
But don't get carried away with the large creatures as there are little treasures underfoot! Western Rattlesnakes are common on the hot, dry south-facing slopes, while Garter, Rubber Boa, Gopher, and the Yellow-bellied Racer can all be found in most other landscape regions.
Rodents can readily be discovered, including voles, shrews, flying squirrels, and eleven types of bats. Beaver families and their unique houses are also commonly discovered along the more heavily vegetated banks of the Thompson River. Painted turtles are often found sunning themselves on logs and sun-exposed back roads which run along smaller water bodies.
Suggestions
Tranquille Wildlife Management Area
North and South Thompson River banks
Lac Du Bois Provincial Park
East Shuswap Road
Wells Gray Provincial Park
Information
Visitor Centre - 1-800-662-1994