The desert creatures are comin’ through: Osoyoos Desert Centre

OSOYOOS – The desert creatures are slithering, flapping, hopping, and grazing through the Osoyoos Desert Centre in a new exhibit, ‘How Do We Get From Here to There? Travelling the Green Highway’.

This exhibit tells a tale of habitat connectivity in the Okanagan, highlighting the difficulties that animals face as they migrate, and try to find water and shelter. It focuses on the interconnections between people, animals, and the environment, and it outlines ways that individuals and communities are making changes to protect habitat and wildlife corridors. 

The Osoyoos Desert Centre is the latest stop for this travelling exhibit, which is a community outreach initiative coordinated by the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program. 

“This exhibit is part of a broader project that the OCCP is undertaking to raise awareness about habitat connectivity in the Okanagan,” says Tanis Gieselman, OCCP’s Projects Coordinator. ”We are helping local governments work together to protect a valley-wide network of wildlife corridors, and helping communities take action towards supporting biodiversity.” 

The outreach exhibit is supported by the Environment Canada EcoAction Program, TELUS, the Okanagan Basin Water Board, and the Vancouver Foundation.

The Desert Centre interpretive displays about desert wildlife, ecology, and conservation of endangered habitats in the South Okanagan provide a unique backdrop for exploring how important connectivity is to conserving biodiversity. During your visit you will also have the opportunity to enjoy 67 acres of some of the last remaining antelope brush habitat in Canada from a beautiful 1.5 km boardwalk, view their habitat restoration initiatives, and explore the native plant demonstration garden.

This summer, thousands of visitors from all over the world are expected to see the exhibition, and learn about habitat connectivity. 

The Osoyoos Desert Centre, located 3 kilomentres north of Osoyoos off Highway 97, is open May 16 to Sept 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.