Policy

Burrowing Owl Vineyards is situated within the very hot, dry bunchgrass biogeoclimatic zone of the South Okanagan, one of the four most endangered ecosystems in all of Canada. The South Okanagan supports at least 23 species of invertebrates found nowhere else in the world and 75 species found nowhere else in Canada. These invertebrates (mostly insects, spiders and their kin) are an essential part of the food chain for the many birds, amphibians and other animals that either inhabit or come to forage in this region. Among the endangered or threatened bird species in the Burrowing Owl Vineyards area are the vesper sparrow, sage thrasher, prairie falcon and grasshopper sparrow. Rare and vulnerable amphibians are the tiger salamander and great basin spadefoot toad.

The Burrowing Owl Vineyards and Winery pay tribute to the little native burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), which is currently being reintroduced into the Okanagan Valley. The Valley's grasslands and sagebrush plains were once a breeding area for these birds.

"Contrary to what their name suggests, these owls don't burrow" says proprietor Jim Wyse. "They let animals like badgers and gophers do that for them. Then, when the holes are abandoned, the owls move in and set up residence. The reason the owls are no longer found in abundance in this area is that the badgers and gopher populations have been depleted."
       

Every effort has been made by the Vineyard operators to ensure the sustained viability of the natural terrain and the plants and animals that live there. That includes:

  • Using environmentally safe fertilizers, with minimal use of chemicals, all of which are biodegradable;
  • Planting grass between each row of grape vines, which encourages the growth of preferred invertebrates and supports a natural mechanism of pest control;
  • Mulching all organic waste generated during vine maintenance and leaving it on the ground to compost among the vines;
  • Helping to relocate the bull snakes and endangered western rattlesnakes that are occasionally found on the site, without harming the animals;
  • Sensitizing vineyard workers and visitors to the area’s unique ecological features.