Wildlife in the Columbia Basin

Introduction

Wildlife in the Columbia Basin can include anything that walks, crawls, swims or flies - that is, all wild animals. In certain contexts "wildlife" also includes plants. For example, the BC Wildlife Act applies to plants, as do many of the government programs that follow from the legislation. Also, the COSEWIC species at risk listing process covers plants. Here we present general information on selected wildlife groups: ungulates (hoofed animals such as deer and elk), large carnivores (bear, cougar), mustelids (the weasel family: badgers, otters and their kin), small mammals (bats, rabbits, insectivores, mice and relatives), songbirds, and waterbirds. Information on rare and endangered plants and animals - including some in other groups, such as amphibians and reptiles and invertebrates - is given in the Endangered Species section. Many small mammals and some larger ones like racoon, lynx and bobcat have not been discussed in this website, which is not intended to cover all species, but only to provide a brief survey of some groups. A complete checklist of mammals found in British Columbia can be found at http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca, the website of the Royal British Columbia Museum.