The Hunters Return

Short-eared owls, known for their golden eyes and low, elegant flight, are a part of Revelstoke’s plentiful wildlife. These ground-nesting birds rely on open grasslands and abundant rodents to survive. However, the Revelstoke Dam’s annual flooding of the flats has long disrupted this delicate balance, wiping out the habitats of their prey and making it difficult for owls to hunt and thrive. This year brought a welcome change. The flats weren’t flooded, allowing mice and other rodents to re-establish their populations. With prey now plentiful, the owls have returned to hunt on these grounds—a hopeful reminder of how small adjustments can have a big impact on wildlife recovery. It’s a privilege to catch a glimpse of what the area could have been like before the dam.