When you think of Canadian grasslands, do you think dry, droughty, with barren soils blowing in the wind? Photo credit: Drought in Saskatchewan in the Great Depression. © Library and Archives Canada / PA-139645 This photo from the “dirty thirties”; the 1930’s when severe drought combined with poor soil management practices to hit the Canadian prairies hard.  These days in droughts, the isolated watering holes, called prairie potholes, may dry up, but thanks to improved soil management, even in extreme dry periods these arid (dry) grassland don’t look that dry. And after a bit of rain, you ..read more

Approximately 10 per cent of the globe’s population have a fear of snakes. Admittedly no one would want to run into a Black Mamba or King Cobra in the wild. But there’s not much to fear here in Canada! Of the 25 different snake species we have here, only three are venomous: the Massasauga Rattlesnake, the Western Rattlesnake and the Prairie Rattlesnake, all of which are species at risk and only found in a few areas in southern Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan. More importantly, snakes are actually incredibly beneficial for your garden. They help control insects and rodents ..read more

Recent research published in the journal Environmental Research has revealed alarming findings. “Consuming just one freshwater fish from a U.S. lake or river is equivalent to drinking chemically contaminated water for an entire month.” Yikes! So, what exactly are these dangerous chemicals and how did they end up in our waterways? They’re called PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These chemicals were first developed in the 1940s and are prevalent in products like non-stick cookware and food packaging. Unfortunately, these chemicals are incredibly resilient and hard to break down. More ..read more

More Canadians than ever are spending time in nature, and more of us than ever are bringing our cameras along. In the last decade, in step with a growing awareness of the need to conserve our environment, there has been an explosion in wildlife photography. The history of nature photography in this country is long and impressive. Toward the end of the 1890s and into the next century, pioneering photographers working for the Canadian Pacific Railway focused on the land’s grandeur and vastness. Motivated by the need to create consumer demand, the railway’s photographers were directed to focus on ..read more

Here at the Canadian Wildlife Federation, we love all turtles, but the Blanding’s Turtle is special. Here’s why: Blanding’s Turtle basking on a sunny day. Photo credit: Tharusha Wijewardena1. A Striking Reptile It is a strikingly attractive turtle with its high, domed shell and bright yellow chin and throat. In Ojibway, the name of the turtle translates to the turtle with the sun under its chin, a reference to a traditional story of the turtle rescuing the sun and returning it to the sky. From carrying the sun in its mouth, the turtle was left with the permanent glow of the sun on its neck and ..read more

Looking Through a New Lens at the Fishing Industry and Marine Wildlife The issue of entanglement of our marine animals in fishing gear has been a hot topic for a few years now. Fishing gear used in non-tended, fixed-gear lobster and Snow Crab fisheries in Atlantic Canada pose a significant threat to North Atlantic Right Whales migrating through the area to feed, largely between April and October. Since a mortality crisis in 2017 where 17 North Atlantic Right Whales were found deceased — 12 of which were in the Gulf of St. Lawrence — the Government of Canada has implemented management meas ..read more

The West Vancouver Memorial Library’s Community Demonstration Garden has been certified as “Wildlife-friendly Habitat” through CWF’s Garden Habitat Certification program. At the West Vancouver Memorial Library (WVML), we know that wildlife are a critical part of our delicate ecosystem and that human activity has significantly diminished available habitat for countless species. Gardening with wildlife in mind is an essential part of restoring our ecosystem, particularly in urban environments such as ours. Swáy̓wi Temíxw, WVML’s Community Demonstration Garden, is a space for the community to lea ..read more

Many older residents of the Canadian prairies talk of seeing large numbers of Monarch Butterflies flying about in the summer. This is hard to believe, since it is quite uncommon to see Monarch Butterflies in western Canada. Current estimates in the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, show limited occurrence of this iconic butterfly. However, in the past, it seems that the spread of the prairie portion of the Monarch population was much greater than it is today. One author (Brower, 1995) suggests that until the 1880s, the prairie region of North America had been the main br ..read more

Losing a pet is always hard. Pets become part of our families and the death of one can be heart-breaking. Is it possible, though, that some pets can outlive their welcome? A pet turtle is often purchased when the turtle is a small and adorable hatchling. That cute hatchling will grow, require a larger aquarium, and can live for many, many years. A Red-eared Slider, the common pet shop turtle, can live for more than 25 years in captivity. How do I know that? Well, let me tell you a story… David Seburn with Lucky the Red-eared Slider. © Carolyn Seburn On July 3, 1996, my wife and I were driving ..read more

As Rivers to Oceans Week comes to a close tomorrow, we hope you’ve learned how water unites us all. No matter where you live in Canada and what body of water you are close to. It’s clear that we are irrevocably linked to water and we must safeguard them. Today we are asking for you to speak up for those that cannot speak for themselves. Speak up for our fresh and marine waters in Canada. Your chance is now. This spring the Parliamentary Committee on Fisheries and Oceans will be meeting to review the effectiveness of the Fisheries Act. We at the Canadian Wildlife Federation believe that the Fis ..read more