The Wondrous Wildlife of Lac Du Bois

posted in: Canada, Travel 2

Join me on the most wondrous hike through the beautiful arid landscape of Lac Du Bois, BC. Our hike will be filled with wildlife and the first signs of spring.

The photographs below were all taken by me, this past weekend on March 29, 2014 at Lac Du Bois, BC.
Mountain Blue Bird at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014
Mountain Bluebird at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014

I just returned from hiking in one of my most favourite spots on earth: Lac Du Bois, BC. The arid, mountainous area never ceases to amaze me. I encounter so many delightful creatures and plants every time I visit. This is the second time I’ve encountered a small flock of mountain bluebirds (we spotted at least 6 travelling together). The birds are the most shockingly brilliant, celestial colour of blue—almost too beautiful to believe they are real.

Big Horn Mountain Sheep at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014
Big Horn Mountain Sheep at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014

Almost immediately we stumbled upon a large herd of big horn mountain sheep. Even though we were quite a ways from them and quiet, they were cautious and trotted quickly up the mountain to rest on a cliff to watch us from a safe distance.

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Big Horn Sheep. Mix Hart 2014
Big Horn Sheep. Mix Hart 2014
Big Horn Sheep. Mix Hart 2014
Thompson River Valley, Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014
Thompson River Valley, Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014

A view of the Thompson River from the hills of Lac Du Bois, BC. As I hiked I kept saying, you are too beautiful Lac Du Bois. The land is heaven on earth. I never want to leave it.

Meadow Lark at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014
Meadow Lark at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014

The morning hike was filled with the magical song of the meadow lark. I kept hearing a single meadow lark’s song and struggled up the mountain to try to locate it. I found the shy creature on top of a sage bush singing its heart out. It flew away as soon as I attempted to get photos of it. For some reason, I fell in love with this particular bird. Its song was so perfect on a spring morning and the bird a little elusive. It sang from high above the valley, commanding the attention of all creatures with in ear shot. Though, as I traveled, I realized the area was full of many meadow larks all singing their lovely morning song for the world.

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Meadow Lark, Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014

We walked right into a huge herd of deer. They were so beautiful set amongst the cliff’s edge. They too were shy, much different from the deer that live on my mountain at home in the Okanagan.

Large Herd of Deer at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014
Large Herd of Deer at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014
Deer at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014
Deer at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014

I came upon the first flower buds on the mountain. These tiny exquisite yellow flowers are actually no bigger than a lemon seed.

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First buds of spring at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart, March 2014

One of the greatest thrills was finding an entire flock of swans resting during their migration north to their nesting grounds in the arctic. Although I was far away in the swampy edge of the pond (with telephoto lens), they sensed me and continued to swim towards the centre of the pond to avoid me. I respect that they fear humans—it means their life is truly a wild one.

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Migrating Swans at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart March, 2014
Swans at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014
Swans at Lac Du Bois, BC. Mix Hart 2014

I hope you enjoyed joining me on our early spring hike at Lac Du Bois, British Columbia. If you’re ever in the region and feel the desire to connect with the real word, take a walk at Lac Du Bois.

2 Responses

  1. Penny Wallace
    | Reply

    Excellent photos and commentary.

  2. Mix Hart
    | Reply

    Thank you Penny. You must go for a hike there the next time you visit your sis Sandra!

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