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If you build it, they will come: Black bear dens on Vancouver Island

An example of the purpose-built den pods (Photo courtesy of Helen Davis)

An example of the purpose-built den pods (Photo courtesy of Helen Davis)

For 26 years, I have been captivated by black bears and where they spend their winters. It all started with my masters of science research project in the Nimpkish Valley on Vancouver Island. I’ve been to lots and lots of dens ― usually in...

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Conserving Canada's grasslands

Pronghorn antelope, Old Man on His Back (Photo by Karol Dabbs)

Pronghorn antelope, Old Man on His Back (Photo by Karol Dabbs)

There are many reasons why grasslands are endangered in Canada and around the world. Globally, grasslands are faced with continuing habitat loss, fragmentation and desertification. These impact both biodiversity and people who rely on healthy...

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An emblem worthy of a mother’s love

Pink lady's-slipper, ON (Photo by NCC)

Pink lady's-slipper, ON (Photo by NCC)

Every Mother’s Day, I buy my mom her favourite chocolates and a bouquet of fresh flowers. This may seem like an easy-out gift for this day, but I’ve yet to come across a mother who doesn’t love flowers. Mine loves yellow...

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Himalayan blackberry and English holly and Japanese knotweed…oh my!

East bank of Centre Creek overrun by dense Himalayan blackberry (Photo by Lynn Pinnell)

East bank of Centre Creek overrun by dense Himalayan blackberry (Photo by Lynn Pinnell)

As part of my bachelor’s degree at the University of British Columbia, I had the honour of doing an independent research project with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). For the project, I mapped all occurrences of invasive species at...

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Beak to beak: The importance of Bird and Biodiversity Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries

Semipalmated plover, Johnson's Mills, NB (Photo by Mike Dembeck)

Semipalmated plover, Johnson's Mills, NB (Photo by Mike Dembeck)

Protecting land is critical to the survival of Canada’s natural world. With approximately 80,000 known plant and animal species, many of which are in decline, it is no wonder that the protection of wildlife habitat has never been more...

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Lights, camera, nature: An ode to Canadian landscapes in film

Nodwell, AB (Photo by R. Berdan)

Nodwell, AB (Photo by R. Berdan)

One of my favourite things about living in Canada is getting to experience different seasons. However, my personal favourite season may not be on everyone else's list…Oscars season! As an avid film junkie, one of the most exciting times of...

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Places worth protecting: The Canadian Rockies

A pair of mountain goats (Photo by Nigel Finney)

A pair of mountain goats (Photo by Nigel Finney)

Spectacular scenery, beautiful rivers and lakes, and abundant wildlife. As I look out my office window, in the small town of Invermere, BC, I’m struck by the sheer beauty of the landscape where I live and work. As director of conservation...

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Hidden gems in the Darkwoods

Devil's Hole Lake (Photo by John Anonby)

Devil's Hole Lake (Photo by John Anonby)

In the Nelson Range of the southern Selkirk Mountains in eastern British Columbia lies a large area of great natural variety and beauty, much of which has been set aside to protect and manage its ancient forests and habitat for rare caribou herds...

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Almost missing nature's boat

Volunteers at the Broom Bash event on James Island, BC (Photo by Ann MacDonald)

Volunteers at the Broom Bash event on James Island, BC (Photo by Ann MacDonald)

The alarm went off much too early that early winter morning. My body was heavy with sleep, covered in a sea of cozy blankets and it hurt to open my gluey eyes. I was tempted to silence the disturbance. The forecast was calling for rain and it was...

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Why Canada matters on World Wetlands Day

Wetlands in the Marion Creek Benchlands, British Columbia (Photo by Tim Ennis/NCC)

Wetlands in the Marion Creek Benchlands, British Columbia (Photo by Tim Ennis/NCC)

While other nations have picked wetland wildlife, such as Finland’s whooper swan or Pakistan’s Indus crocodile, to represent their country, Canada is the only country in the world that has selected a wetland engineer as its national...

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