The New B.C. Roadside Naturalist: A Guide to Nature along B.C. Highways

(Paperback, Second Edition)

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Discover a whole new dimension to taking a car trip with this fascinating guide to the roadside ecology of the major highways in British Columbia. Each of the 13 chapters covers one highway in the province. Beginning with an overview of the highway (the area it covers, the general characteristics of that area, and the changes in climate and vegetation), each chapter then provides a detailed description of the land-forms, vegetation, and animal life in each section of that highway, along with tips for how to identify different species. Sidebars inform on various species, such as the huge, endangered sturgeon and the Great Basin spadefoot toad, which spends most of the year underground. Full-color photographs and black-and-white drawings illustrate the plants and animals that make their homes along the roadsides of British Columbia, and maps show the route of each highway discussed. In addition, the book offers suggestions for where to stop and look for crayfish, enjoy a swim in summer, or have a picnic lunch. An appendix provides a brief field guide of tree silhouettes and hints for identifying trees and shrubs.

Author Bio

Richard Cannings is a consulting biologist, assessing endangered species and organizing bird population surveys among other projects. He's the author of An Enchantment of Birds, The Rockies: A Natural History, and, with Sydney Cannings, British Columbia: A Natural History. He lives in Penticton, B.C. Sydney Cannings is a zoologist working on endangered species for Environment Canada in Whitehorse, Yukon. He has also worked as an endangered species specialist for the British Columbia government and as the curator of the Spencer Entomological Museum at the University of British Columbia.He lives in Whitehorse, Canada.