Whistler Wildlife By Devon O'Malley

With such a profusion of diverse terrain and ecological zones, it is no wonder that many animal species reside in Whistler's vast landscape. From bears, beavers and birds to otters, squirrels and pikas; Whistler is home to an array of critters and crawlers. Summer is mainly the season where these animals can be spotted; this article reveals some of the wildlife inhabitants you may see in Whistler and will give you a little more information about their natural habitat.

Black Bears

The most famed resident of the Whistler woods is the Black Bear. Bears are abundant in the region, approximately eight black bear families are living in Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain alone. Black Bears are omnivores who diet usually consists of plants, meat and insects. Only 10-15% of their diet consists of animal matter, most of their food comes from herbs, nuts and berries. Whistler's natural ecology allows for an abundance of food for black bears and efforts are in progress to increase provisions by sowing bear friendly foliage on ski runs. Black bears also prefer to nest in forested and shrubby areas during the summer and for hibernation in the winter, the Whistler environment is also thus an ideal area for them to settle.

Marmots

Another famous Whistler wildlife inhabitant is the Marmot. Known to live in mountainous areas high up in the alpine, marmots looks a lot like a like giant squirrels. Ironically, the marmot is widely referred to as "Whistler's" because of their characteristic loud warning whistling. These critters are extremely social and also use whistles to communicate with one another. Whistler is also an ideal ecological zone for a marmot diet as they feed primarily on grass, berries, lichens, mosses, roots and flowers. The marmots hibernate in the winter, so the best time to spot them is in the spring and summer time!

Pikas

Pikas, close relative of rabbits, are small chinchilla-like animals that reside primarily in cold climates such as Whistler's. Pikas favour rocky mountain sides as there are many small crevices for them to take shelter in. Since these animals are herbivores, Whistler provides then with a large variety of plant matter to feed on. Unlike the marmots and black bears, Pikas do no hibernate; they rely on bits and pieces of collected hay for warm bedding and nourishment. The best time to spot a Pika is in the fall as they are most active just before the winter season, this may be because they are collecting to store for the winter.

Devon O' Malley is a staff writer for Allura Direct, a vacation rentals website offering powerful search and instant booking features for owners and guests alike. Discover Black Bears, Marmots, Pikas and more Whistler wildlife this summer and book your Whistler vacation rentals today!

Bird Feeders - Correct Placement For Cardinals By Peter Hurley

To encourage Northern Cardinals, sometimes named Red Birds, to feed and remain around your home, setting up a small sized fly through feeder near any good source of cover will work perfectly. It is the protective cover of good dense vegetation that is key to holding cardinals. At my home, I have allowed a large bramble to grow out of control specifically for the birds and it now covers about 400 square feet in the middle of the yard. Fortunately, my wife loves the birds too and approves of the big bramble. In the wintertime it is common to have 6 to 12 pairs of mated cardinals enjoying the protective cover of the bramble. From their protected haven, a small pole mounted fly through feeder is just twenty feet away. Although there are several other feeders located within easy reach of the bramble, the fly through is used in turn all day long by each of the cardinals.

If you do not have or do not wish to have a big messy bramble in your yard, set up a good cardinal feeder close to any kind of vegetative cover. It can be as simple as a large bush or close to a grove of trees. Any type of cover will attract and hold cardinals. The more there is, the dense it is, the messier it is, the better. As in my own case, there is nothing more picturesque than the bramble covered in fresh snow dotted with the beauty of our ever loved Red Birds. Seek good cover for your bird feeder and the cardinals will follow soon.

Peter Hurley has been an active nature lover and wildlife enthusiast his entire life and is the owner of The Hurley-Byrd Bird Feeder Co. His vast experience with wildlife has led him to produce some of the finest bird, deer and wildlife feeders in the world.

Visit http://www.hurleybyrd.com/FlyThroughFeeders.html for more information regarding the Northern Cardinal and how to feed this beautiful bird. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to visit Hurley-Byrd's site and write Mr. Hurley directly. You are also welcome to view some beautiful photos of birds, deer and other creatures from around the country.