Mammals
Keep Those Wily Urban Coyotes Wild!
BY COLLEEN CASSADY ST. CLAIR
I began studying urban coyotes a little over a decade ago because Alberta’s cities, like virtually every city in North America, have seen a steady increase in reports of urban coyotes over time.
Read MoreHow do bears hibernate?
How do bears survive the winter? Find out more!
Read MoreWhy do skunks stink?
Learn about why our furry friends smell so bad!!
Read MoreBat House Monitoring at Ellis Bird Farm
BY SHAYE HILL, MYRNA PEARMAN, CLAUDIA LIPSKI, AND NATALIA LIFSHITZ
Bats are fascinating creatures, playing a critical role in supporting biodiversity.
Read MoreUnderground Life
BY GAIL MICHENER
Richardson’s ground squirrels are regularly seen above ground during daylight hours for seven to eight months of the year, but rarely from late October through late February, generating the perception that they hibernate for a four-month period encompassing winter. Winter does not last that long, so what accounts for such extraordinarily long hibernation seasons?
Read MoreRabbits and Hares
BY MYRNA PEARMAN
It has been my good fortune to have spent, over the past few years, some quality time in the company of each of Alberta’s three native “bunny” species. All three species — which include two hares and one rabbit — have adapted well to human habitation, taking up residence in farmyards, towns, and cities across the province.
Read MoreRecovery of Ord’s Kangaroo Rats on the Suffield National Wildlife Area
BY PAT FARGEY
Kangaroo rats get their name from their large back legs and feet that they use to hop in a fashion reminiscent of Australian kangaroos. They are sometimes confused with the smaller western jumping mouse, which is also a hind foot jumper.
Read MoreA Story of Mammals in Alberta’s Beaver Hills Biosphere Reserve
BY FRANCES STEWART
I was walking through an aspen forest in the UNESCO Beaver Hills Biosphere Reserve (BHB), 50 km east of Edmonton and south of Elk Island National Park. The first rays of sunlight were peeking through the trees and shining off the fresh snow on this crisp January morning. It was silent, still. I could see my breath shimmering in front of me like the beautiful hoar frost on the surrounding branches. A perfect morning for live-trapping fisher.
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