Mammals

The Ronald Lake Wood Bison Herd: Observations From Their Home

21 July 2022

BY GARRETT RAWLEIGH & LEE HECKER

When people think of bison, they often picture the vast herds of plains bison that once roamed the Great Plains of North America. These massive herds, and the story of their demise, are well known. But how many people are familiar with their larger northern cousin?

Contributors To Conflict And Coexistence With Urban Coyotes

31 January 2022

Recorded Presentation
Speaker: COLLEEN CASSADY ST. CLAIR
Host: Nature Alberta

Deadly Highway: Road and Rail Fatalities are Decimating Jasper Park’s Wildlife

28 January 2022

BY DICK DEKKER

Protected from hunting year-round, Jasper’s elk have lost their fear of humans, and tend to concentrate along highways and in the townsite. There are two main reasons for this: they are attracted by grassy clearings, and there are fewer wolves here than in the backcountry. However, the elk’s anti-predator strategy of staying near human habituation increases the risk of colliding with vehicles and trains.

Black-footed Ferret Kits. Ryan Moehring.

The Case of the Missing Prairie Bandit

2 November 2021

BY ARYA HORON

One hundred years ago, the prairie bandit was abundant across North America grasslands. By 1979, scientists believed it was extinct. This led to the question: where did the prairie bandit go?

Grizzly Bear by Rick Price

Bear Tracks

2 November 2021

BY COLLEEN CASSADY ST. CLAIR

How can we protect grizzly bears from trains in the mountain parks?

Swift Fox by Gordon Court

The Swift Fox: A Canadian Conservation Success Story

22 April 2021

BY LU CARBYN, NIKKI PASKAR, KRISTY BLY, AND RICHARD SCHNEIDER

The swift fox reintroduction program successfully brought the fastest member of the wild dog family’s population from Extirpated to Endangered, and finally to Threatened. Although it began with an illegal publicity stunt by a game farm, structured efforts soon followed. Habitat conservation continues to be a key issue for swift fox populations.

Beaver - T. LePrieur

Where Beavers Go, Surprises Follow

21 April 2021

BY GLYNNIS HOOD

It’s an usually warm day in January and my snowshoes are only partially necessary on the frozen ponds that aid my route through the Ministik Game Bird Sanctuary. As I rest against a beaver lodge to have my tea, I realize that after all these years, there is still so much more to learn about these rodents, which can engineer entire landscapes unlike any other mammal, other than humans.

Two coyotes at home in one of Calgary's natural areas. TONY LE PRIEUR

Keep Those Wily Urban Coyotes Wild!

22 January 2021

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.