Wild cats of Canada
Bobcat (Photo by Gary Kramer, courtesy of USFWS)
When it comes to big cats, many people may think of the iconic tigers of Asia or the lions of Africa. But did you know that we have three wild cat species found in Canada? All of Canada’s wild cats need large, interconnected habitats. The...
Appreciating hibernation
Richardson's ground squirrel (Photo by Charles Thomas Hash, Jr. CC-BY-NC)
January 21 marks Squirrel Appreciation Day, an occasion meant to recognize squirrels’ importance in nature. It also happens to be the middle of winter, a time when many animals, including some squirrel species, are hibernating. To me, one of...
5 bird species that stay for winter in Canada
Brown creeper (Photo by Mark Dennis, CC BY-NC 4.0)
Some bird species migrate south for winter, and some are year-round residents in Canada. Others migrate to southern Canada from northern forests or the Arctic and hang around until spring. Birdwatching is one of the easiest ways to enjoy nature,...
Diving into winter hibernation
Northern map turtle (Photo by D. Gordon and E. Robertson)
It’s official: winter has made its way across Canada, and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Humans layer up to brave the cold, and migratory birds make their way to warmer climates, but turtles have their own way of toughing out the...
Yay! The ducks are back!
Mallards — male on the left, female on the right. (Photo by Pia Vahabi/NCC staff)
Here in Toronto, winter and waterfowl don’t necessarily sound like two things that should go together. But the truth is, while some birds (and people) escape Ontario’s cold winter to warmer climes, others migrate from the Arctic to...
If you go down to the woods today...
Canada jay (Photo by NCC)
Spending my free time hiking and biking in the Rockies means my chances of a wildlife encounter are not unheard of. Usually it’s just a Canada jay looking for a hand-out, or an indecisive squirrel scurrying back and forth across the bike...
Pileated woodpeckers in the city
Pileated woodpecker (Photo by vtjohn, CC BY-NC 4.0)
If you go birdwatching, you might take your binoculars and plan on sitting for hours at the edge of a marsh or grassland, waiting for the birds to come. If you want to see pileated woodpeckers, you’ll likely go out into the forest. However,...
Canada's largest bird of prey: two bald eagles having a staring contest
After a few minutes of giving each other looks and making small calls, the bald eagle on the left flew off, leaving the carcass for the other eagle to enjoy. (Photo by Nila Sivatheesan/NCC staff)
I’ve always loved being outside and learning about the nature around me, since I was as young as I can remember. So, when I first picked up a camera at 19, I naturally gravitated toward photographing nature and wildlife. Being in nature...
Not to be outfoxed
Swift fox (Photo by Karol Dabbs)
Back in 2017, I wrote a blog detailing my ongoing quest to find a swift fox in the wild. A little over two years later, I thought I would provide an update. Since December 2017, I have continued to spend a substantial amount of time wandering the...
The wolverine went over the esker
Wolverine going up the esker as the red fox trails behind (Photo by Claire Elliott/ NCC staff)
By Wendy Ho, as told by Claire Elliott It’s not every day that you see a wolverine. These elusive predators have vast home ranges (50–400 square kilometres for males and 230–1,580 square kilometres for females). So, when I not...
