Protecting vital wildlife could also reduce health risks for nature-loving humans Mice, voles and other rodents are small, but as carriers of disease, they can pack a mighty punch. The chronic infections they carry may not only threaten their existence as a food source for larger wildlife but also pose a health risk to humans.…
Animal tracks can tell what the animal was doing, but identifying the tracks can be tricky We often see animal tracks but do we really know the story they’re trying to tell us? There are lots of clues to watch out for. Let’s look at a few of them. Animal tracks are easy to detect…
Despite increases in predators and hunting success
It would seem inevitable that an increase in predators would lead to a decline in the prey they eat – and the chances of success for hunters. But a new study shows that hasn’t happened with elk in Alberta over the past 26 years, despite an increase in the number of wolves, grizzly bears and…
Here are a few of my favourite words from nature
I love to read about nature, but every now and then, words jump out at me that make me stop in my tracks as sometimes I don’t know what they mean! Here are a few of my favourites that I’ve found over the years. Thigmotaxis: Many animals rely on their neighbours to keep them warm…
Meadow Vole poop is an essential source of nutrients for grasses and other plants where they forage
It’s easy to admire big animals, but without tiny critters nothing can survive. From the soil insects, micro-organisms and small mammals that become food for predators up through the food chain, everything relies on something smaller to survive. One of the most overlooked mammals is the Meadow Vole. It’s a small mouse-like animal that lives…
It isn't so much to escape the cold but to find enough food to survive
I get both excited and saddened at this time of year. In the spring, I await the return of the birds and then all summer long I enjoy their song, but in the fall I know they will soon be migrating south. The young have fledged and the adult birds have put on enough weight…
Helping insects survive is more valuable than practically anything else we do to help nature
I recently wrote about haying and the delicate balance between harvesting a crop and protecting nesting birds. Today, I would like to offer some advice to help us protect the beauty and functionality of our properties while simultaneously protecting wildlife. Why should we care? Wildlife is more than just an attractive feature of the landscape;…
The Jay lives and breeds from coast to coast to coast
My friend and colleague Dr. David Bird, formerly of McGill University, has been driving a movement to have a national bird declared for Canada. Although many thought it was a done deal already and we had affirmed the Canada Jay as our national bird, Canada has not yet done so. Starting in 2016, the community…
Four tips on making wildlife encounters of every description safe and enjoyable for all parties
It seems one can’t swing a cat without hitting a coyote, a jackrabbit, a Canada goose, or a bear – and not just in the far-flung wilderness. Wildlife encounters are now common in cities, with urban populations of coyotes, skunks and Canada geese increasing throughout North America. Here are four tips on making wildlife encounters…
The only time we need to stand up is when nature is negatively impacted by someone’s actions
I sometimes wonder how people with disparate desires share a common resource while respecting other people’s differing ideals and goals. I’m a dedicated birdwatcher, as I think you might have figured out by now. Years ago, I went to Rondeau Provincial Park in Ontario to look for a very rare bird – a sage thrasher…