Yalakom River facts for kids

The Yalakom River is a river in British Columbia, Canada. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger river. The Yalakom River joins the Bridge River, which then flows into the even larger Fraser River. The Fraser River is one of the most important rivers in British Columbia. The Yalakom River meets the Bridge River near a small community called Moha. This area has a history of ranching, farming, and mining. The Yalakom River is about 50 kilometers (30 miles) long. The valley around the river has a dry climate, and you'll mostly see Lodgepole Pine trees there.

What's in a Name?

The name "Yalakom" comes from the Statimc language. This is the language of the Indigenous people who have lived in this area for a very long time. In their language, "Yalakom" means "ewe of the mountain sheep." An ewe is a female sheep. There's also a big mountain called Yalakom Mountain in the Camelsfoot Range, which is on the east side of the river.

On the west side of the Yalakom River, you'll find the Shulaps Range. This mountain range is also named after mountain sheep. "Shulaps" means "ram of the mountain sheep" in the Statimc language. A ram is a male sheep. The area near Yalakom Mountain used to be a special place to protect wildlife. Even today, it's a great spot to see many different animals.

Moha Community and Local Resources

The community of Moha is a small place where people farm and raise animals. It's located right where the Yalakom River and the Bridge River meet. This spot is also at the start of the "Big Canyon" of the Bridge River.

There are places in the valley, like Poison Mountain and Red Mountain, where people have found copper. However, these copper spots haven't been developed much. There is also a gold mine on Big Dog Mountain, which is in the Shulaps Range. This gold mine has been reopened and is now active.

Wildlife of the Yalakom River Valley

The Yalakom River valley is a special place for many animals. It's part of a larger area in British Columbia that helps manage and protect wildlife. This means the government keeps track of the animals here to make sure they stay healthy and safe.

Fur-Bearing Animals

Many different animals with fur live in the Yalakom River valley. These include:

• Canines: Like the Wolf, Coyote, Red Fox, and a type of fox called a Cross Fox.
• Felines: Such as the powerful Cougar, the elusive Lynx, and the smaller Bobcat.
• Weasel Family: This group includes the tough Wolverine, the quick Fisher, the Coastal Marten, and the tiny Ermine.
• Rodents: You might see Beavers building dams, or Red Squirrels and Flying Squirrels in the trees.
• Procyonidae: This family includes the clever Raccoon.
• Bears: Both large Grizzly Bears and American Black Bears (which can come in different colors!) live here.

Game Animals

The Yalakom River valley is also home to several large game animals:

• Deer Family (Cervidae): This includes the majestic Moose and the common Mule Deer.
• Bovids (Bovidae): You can find the agile Mountain Goat and the impressive California Bighorn Sheep.
• All the fur-bearing animals listed above are also considered inhabitants of the Yalakom area.

Upland Game Birds

You can also find various birds that live on the ground or in trees in the Yalakom River valley:

• Grouse: This includes the Blue Grouse (also known as the Dusty Grouse in the interior), the Spruce Grouse, and the Ruffed Grouse.
• Ptarmigan: The Rock Ptarmigan is another bird found here, known for changing its feather color with the seasons.

Rare Animals and Birds

Sometimes, very rare animals are found in the Yalakom River valley. Here are a couple of examples:

• American Pygmy Shrew: This is one of the smallest mammals in the world! A tiny shrew was found near Rataskit Creek, not far from the Yalakom River. Wildlife experts identified it as an American Pygmy Shrew.
• Boreal Owl: This owl lives in northern forests. One Boreal Owl was found on Big Dog Mountain, which is in the Yalakom River area. Wildlife biologists confirmed it was a Boreal Owl.