Central Interior Ecoprovince - Sierra Club BC
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Central Interior

Central Interior

The Central Interior ecoprovince is home to the Tsilhqot’in, Dakelhne, Wet’suwet’en, Secwepemc, Nuxalk and Haisla First Nations. This ecoprovince is right in the middle of B.C. and benefits from some rainfall because of the moist air coming off the Pacific Ocean. It has snowy, cold winters but the summers are warm and dry. The Central Interior is home to very different animals and plants compared to the coast.

Much of this ecoprovince is grassland, rolling plateaus and parklands. This includes the Chilcotin and Cariboo plateaus, as well as the Nechako valley. There are many small lakes and wetlands. Trembling aspen, Douglas fir and lodgepole pine forests cover much of the land.

The major cities are Williams Lake and Smithers.

Species of the Central Interior

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American Kestrel

American Kestrel

The American kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America and weighs only 3 or 4 ounces.

American White Pelican

American White Pelican

American white pelicans are some of the largest birds in North America. They hunt together, driving small schools of fish into each other’s bill pouches.

Arctic tern

Arctic tern

Arctic terns are unique birds with gifts of persistence and resourcefulness. These birds must fly great distances, and in doing so they have a diet with a variety of sea life.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald eagles are found all over B.C. and the U.S. The largest populations in North America live in B.C. and Alaska.

Balsamroot

Balsamroot

Balsamroot is a relative of the sunflower. Its leaves are coarse and arrow-shaped, and a single plant can have many yellow flowers.

Beaver

Beaver

The beaver possesses many gifts! They are adept at swimming, building, and tree chomping.

Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn Sheep

The bighorn sheep are important primary consumers in the food chain. They are vegetarians, eating grasses, bushes and leaves.

Black Bear

Black Bear

Black bears and Pacific salmon play an important part in maintaining our forest ecosystems.

Black Cottonwood

Black Cottonwood

Black cottonwood gets its name from their fluffy white seeds, which look like cotton. These seeds can be seen floating through the air in late spring.

Black Huckleberry

Black Huckleberry

Black Huckleberry is an important food in many First Nations communities. These berries can be eaten fresh, cooked, or dried into cakes.

Bonaparte's Gull

Bonaparte's Gull

These gulls nest in large numbers and produce two to three eggs at a time. These gulls are gifted with agility.

Boreal Chickadee

Boreal Chickadee

Boreal chickadees are an important indicator species of boreal ecosystems!

Did You Know?

B.C. is the most biodiverse province in Canada but doesn't have a provincial law to protect endangered species or their habitats. Let’s change that.

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