It’s almost June and across the country our trees and shrubs have the fresh green of new leaves. Some have blossoms coming and going, from serviceberries to crab apples as well as many spring natives like columbines, Wild Geranium and foamflowers. These flowers are a feast for the eyes – and for our pollinators, too! Many of us feel the call of the nursery where we can walk amongst greenhouses and stands full of plants, dreaming of the new year and how we’d like to enhance our garden. In addition to having gardens that are practical and beautiful, we can also make them beneficial, ecologically ..read more

Climate change is a serious and, unfortunately, always present concern for our planet. Its impacts are far reaching and may also affect the ‘seasonal routine’ of many organisms, including the relationship between plants and pollinators. Professor Heather Kharouba’s lab at the University of Ottawa is studying how these changes are affecting the “phenological synchrony” — different ‘seasonal routines’ that occur at the same time — between flowering plants and their visitors. Recent Study Shows Trends Are Changing Propertius Duskywing (Erynnis propertius) @Rich Hoyer | iNaturalist.ca In one of th ..read more

The newest winter counts for the winter population of eastern Monarch Butterflies have been released (March 21, 2023). “In December 2022, Monarchs occupied 2.21 hectares, compared to 2.84 hectares at the same time in 2021, or a 22 percent decrease.” This number is obviously not good news for the Monarch population. However, it did not dip as low as some predicted (read blog “Will This Year See a Drop? Waiting for the Annual Monarch Butterfly Count”). Estimates were given that the winter population might go as low as one hectare or less. I am happy to say it didn’t dip that low. Also, wester ..read more

It is a common — and completely understandable — misconception that the best habitats for biodiversity are undisturbed habitats. The grasslands conjure an image of thick mature forests, tall waving grasses and brimming wetlands, forever stable in their “climax” state, supporting the most plants and animals possible. While there are wildernesses that stay stable for very long periods of time (think coastal rainforests), most experience natural disturbances and disruption, which helps keep their biology healthy. Grasslands are very much one of those ecosystems where some periodic distress a ..read more

Canadian animals have adapted various ways to ensure the survival of their young in the harsh environments in which they live. From fiercely protective moose cows to nurturing polar bear sows, each species has its unique parenting methods that enable their offspring to thrive in the wild. Here are six Canadian animals that use unique ways to protect, raise and communicate with their young. Moose Moose (Aleces alces) cow and calf @ Getty Images The moose is one of the largest land mammals found in North America and is known as an iconic symbol of Canada’s wilderness. Female moose, or cows, give ..read more

Canada is home to eight native freshwater turtle species, all of which are at some level of risk. Today, we’re going to highlight the five species (or subspecies) that are MOST at-risk. These species could vanish from our country if we aren’t careful and don’t do everything we can to save them. Let’s learn about these beautiful turtles and why they’re most at risk here in Canada! Most At-Risk Western Painted Turtle – Pacific Coast population Western Painted Turtle @ Vivian | iNaturalist.ca SARA Status- Endangered Threats: Habitat loss, road mortality, nest predation, poaching, introduction of ..read more

British Columbia’s Dixie Deans has been certified as “Wildlife-friendly Habitat” through CWF’s Garden Habitat Certification program. I started gardening in the 1970s in Winnipeg, Manitoba with a small veggie garden. The size of my veggie gardens became larger and larger. When friends came to see me planting my last veggie garden, I can still remember the shocked looks on their faces, and saying to me “Dixie, what are you doing?”  It was the size that shocked them, but I replied ‘well, the space was here!’ I was a part-time farmer! I loved all of it — working in the earth and planting seed ..read more

Bumblebees are some of our first pollinators to emerge from hibernation in the spring. Researchers from the University of Ottawa have found that, with climate change, spring is arriving earlier in some areas of North America. Not only does this make it hard for bumblebees to keep up with this shift, some are missing out on blooms they usually rely on in early spring and others are impacted by the unpredictable weather patterns, like cold snaps. As it stands, about 28 per cent of North America’s bumblebees are at risk of becoming Extinct. They need all the help they can get. That’s where you co ..read more

A new threat has taken hold of Canada’s bee population that is showing no signs of slowing down. Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) works by deforming the bees’ wings and restricting those that forage for food. First detected in 1982 from an isolated sample taken from honeybees in Japan, it is primarily carried by Varroa Destructor, a mite that will consume larvae and attack adult bees, which will then continue to spread the virus via direct contact or droplets. Since the virus was discovered, the main target for the mites has historically been honeybees, but pathogen spillover is introducing it to oth ..read more

Retinol. Microneedling. Red light therapy. A nip here. A tuck there. We go above and beyond to keep ourselves looking young. But for turtles, they come by the elixir of youth naturally. Turtles age at a snail’s…errrr…turtle’s pace. A biologist at Northeastern Illinois University of Chicago is leading a team of researchers around the globe to compare the speed at which 77 different species of reptiles and amphibians around the globe age. It turns out that while some amphibians and reptiles aged slower than other creatures like mammals and birds, others aged quicker. The group of reptiles that s ..read more