facebook

Climate change, fire and their implications for species

Will forest fire hazard signs be over into the red more often because of climate change? (Photo by Aaron H Warren CC BY-ND 2.0)

Will forest fire hazard signs be over into the red more often because of climate change? (Photo by Aaron H Warren CC BY-ND 2.0)

The role of fire in forest ecosystems Forest fires are powerful and devastating. But they are also necessary for the rejuvenation of some ecosystems. Many plants are well adapted to fire. Some trees have dense bark or shed their lower limbs to...

Continue Reading »

Five facts about grizzly bears that will surprise you

Grizzly bear (Photo by Caroline Henri)

Grizzly bear (Photo by Caroline Henri)

Perhaps no other animal symbolizes the stunning beauty of the Canadian wilderness as much as the grizzly bear. A type of brown bear, grizzly bears occur in the wilderness of western and northern Canada. The species' scientific name, Ursus...

Continue Reading »

Puttin’ the boots to junk at Shoe Lake

Conservation Volunteers at the Shoe Lake West property (Photo by Bill Armstrong)

Conservation Volunteers at the Shoe Lake West property (Photo by Bill Armstrong)

Sometimes the best way to show your appreciation for critters and their habitat is to clean up what us humans have left lying around. That about sums up the purpose of a late-August Conservation Volunteers (CV) event at a Nature Conservancy of...

Continue Reading »

How to prepare for your next hiking trip

Hiking is a great choice for enjoying an adventure that contributes to physical and mental fitness (Photo by Simon CC0)

Hiking is a great choice for enjoying an adventure that contributes to physical and mental fitness (Photo by Simon CC0)

Hiking is a great choice for enjoying an adventure that contributes to physical and mental fitness. Whether you're an expert hiker or a novice, you'll want to accomplish two things: having lots of fun and staying safe. Here are some helpful tips...

Continue Reading »

Heard it from a Scout: Discovering the winter night sky

Discover the winter night sky (Photo by Steve Owst CC0)

Discover the winter night sky (Photo by Steve Owst CC0)

One of my most relevant memories during my Scouting years happened at a winter camp in E. C. Manning Provincial Park in BC on a frigid February night. Our patrol was made up of a group of eight Scouts, between 11 and 13 years old, camping in a...

Continue Reading »

Sudbury lakes are becoming less acidic

Common loons moult their feathers, starting at the base of their bills, before autumn migration in September. (Photo by Robert Alvo)

Common loons moult their feathers, starting at the base of their bills, before autumn migration in September. (Photo by Robert Alvo)

In my July 5, 2018, blog, I summarized my findings of over 25 years of examining the effects of lake acidification on common loon breeding success in the Sudbury region of Ontario. Although Sudbury's lakes have improved after decades of sulphur...

Continue Reading »

Santa's large helpers

Caribou on Darkwoods, British Columbia (Photo by Christian Schadendorf)

Caribou on Darkwoods, British Columbia (Photo by Christian Schadendorf)

"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! "On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Dunder and Blixem!" Santa’s reindeer are kind of a big deal. They have important jobs, as they’re pretty much celebrities in the North Pole. Read on to find...

Continue Reading »

Lending a hand at Bunchberry Meadows

Volunteers bagging thistle flower heads (Photo by NCC)

Volunteers bagging thistle flower heads (Photo by NCC)

On August 30, 2018, I attended a Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) Conservation Volunteers event at NCC’s Bunchberry Meadows property in Alberta. This property was purchased as a joint project with the Edmonton & Area Land Trust, an...

Continue Reading »

Three creative ways to reach people with conservation content

Conservation Volunteers event at Bunchberry Meadows (Photo by NCC)

Conservation Volunteers event at Bunchberry Meadows (Photo by NCC)

Nature conservation could not exist without conservationists. To keep this important work going, it is necessary to get as many people involved as possible. Conservation work can be fun and exciting, but it's also work. So how can we best reach...

Continue Reading »

Heard it from a Scout: Turning over a new leaf for forest conservation

Where better to start contributing to forest conservation than within the Scouting community, where youth strive to enjoy, explore and protect nature every day? (Photo by Scouts Canada)

Where better to start contributing to forest conservation than within the Scouting community, where youth strive to enjoy, explore and protect nature every day? (Photo by Scouts Canada)

What would a tire swing be without a branch to hang from? How about a summer picnic with no shade, or summer adventuring without camping in comforting forests? Scouts and nature lovers alike understand the feeling of calm and sense of home within...

Continue Reading »

Items 141 - 150 of 461  Previous11121314151617181920Next