Species at risk need our help
Harbour seal (Photo by Ryan Murphy)
As an animal lover, I pride myself on my knowledge of all creatures furry, feathery and scaly. But when the federal government announced that it was adding nine more animals for protection under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), I was surprised to...
Ten of nature's strangest mating strategies
Angler fish (Photo by David Shale)
During my final year of university, I took a course called Evolution and Reproduction, which explored various animal mating strategies. It was one of my most fascinating classes; the material was mind blowing, the professor was a hoot and the...
A plea for conservation
Iceberg off of Maddox Cove, NL (Photo by Ronald Stone/Stone Island Photography)
Sir David Attenborough is a name that has become synonymous with conservation. Reuniting with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Natural History Unit, Attenborough and the BBC have come together once again to follow up their widely...
Reptiles and amphibians of the Happy Valley Forest
Red eft (the immature form of the spotted newt) are the commonest reptile in the Happy Valley Forest and crowd the forest trails during egg-laying time. (Photo by Dr. Henry Barnett)
The reptile species in the Happy Valley Forest number 19. The area provides one of the last redoubts for the threatened Jefferson’s salamander. Red efts are common, red-backed and spotted salamanders will be regularly seen in the but the...
World Wildlife Day Round 3: Vote for your favourite reptile or amphibian species
World Wildlife Day: vote for Blanding's turtle (photo by Ryan M. Bolton), gray treefrog (photo by Ryan M. Bolton) or four-toed salamander (photo by Brian Gratwicke)
These may not be your typical fuzzy and cuddly wildlife creatures, but they are no less important in their contribution to nature’s biodiversity. But just how do we differentiate reptiles from amphibians? Here are a few quick facts for the...
Why turtles don't make the best roommates: A caution against keeping turtles as pets
Hatchling map turtle (Photo by NCC)
At the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), we often receive inquiries from well-meaning Canadians wanting advice about how to help the animals and plants they encounter in their daily lives. Case in point: we recently received an inquiry on the...
