iN NUMBERS: Species invading the Okanagan and Kamloops

Usually when we talk about doing right by Mother Nature we talk about preservation, but in the case of these problematic pests in the Thompson and Okanagan regions it’s best to butcher them.

Here are some figures to impress the next person who mentions invasive species to you:

• 34: B.C. Lakes have the invasive peach blossom jellyfish, including Osoyoos Lake.
• 7: Centimetres is the wingspan of the northern giant hornet, and people have been asked to watch out for them flapping those nasty wings all around the Okanagan.
• 0: Quagga or zebra mussels have been found in the Okanagan, but environmental groups keep an eye out since they can hitch a ride on boats that are transported to B.C. from elsewhere.
• 3,000: Decorative mossballs for aquariums that were infected with zebra mussels were seized in B.C. in 2021, including some in Kamloops.
• 25: Years is the lifespan of Scotch broom, an invasive plant in Kootenays, North Okanagan and Shuswap which is highly flammable. So, that’s one more thing to worry about this fire season. Sorry.
• 2: Litre buckets with part water, apple juice, vinegar and sugar are good traps for the apple clearwing moth that has a small population around the Okanagan.
• 50,000: Eggs per year can be laid by a single pet goldfish in a year, which made them an invasive species in Kelowna when folks set their pet fish free in Munson Pond.
• 9: Invasive plants in Okanagan-Similkameen are toxic for livestock.
• 1890: Was the year someone wanted to introduce all the birds mentioned in Shakspeare’s plays to North America which is how we ended up with European starlings in Thompson-Okanagan.