Treasure hunting: The quest for queen snakes
Queen snake found on the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula in 2017. When these snakes are observed, not only do we look for signs of snake fungal disease, we also examine them for signs of injury and measure them so we can better understand the number of young versus adults in the population. (Photo by NCC)
Paddling across the lake, fellow staff from the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and I couldn’t contain our excitement. It was the first day of our annual queen snake surveys, and we were all curious about what we might find. I often...
Keeping fish at bay
Copper redhorse (Photo by NCC)
I will admit that it sure is satisfying interacting with something wild and alive outdoors. I don’t think I would have made it this far as a human if I were born in Australia or the Southern U.S., since I have been pricked, stung and bitten...
My breathtaking adventure at Big Trout Bay
Looking down over Big Trout Bay, Lake Superior, ON (Photo by NCC)
As part of the communications team for the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) Ontario Region, I get to see a lot of great photos of our properties. One, a beautiful photo of Big Trout Bay taken by John Anderson, had me dreaming of...
Something's Fishy: Life in the slow lane
Western silvery minnow (Photo by Karen Scott, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
In my day-to-day life working in Canada’s largest city, I often find myself rushing from one thing to the next. People are always advising me to stop to smell the roses. I don’t like the smell of roses, so this unwavering, kind-hearted...
Gaff Point, Nova Scotia - a feast for the senses
New pathway, Gaff Point, NS (Photo by NCC)
Gaff Point is a lush peninsula dangling into the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Nova Scotia. If you look due south from the bottom tip of the point, and if you could actually see far enough, the land on the horizon would be South America. Gaff...
Heard it from a Scout: Tips for safe sailing
Sarah out on the sailboat (Photo courtesy Scouts Canada)
Coast to coast, there are endless opportunities for sailing in Canada. From hauling the lines to watching the sails fill and being pulled across the water by the sheer force of the wind, sailing is an exhilarating experience and offers a unique...
There are bears on Prince Edward Island
Marine tardigrade, known affectionately as a 'water bear'. (Photo by Emma Perry)
What’s that, you say? There are bears on PEI? Yes! Well, sort of. Tiny, microscopic water bears! I live in Prince Edward Island, the smallest Canadian province, with the highest population density. We have a long history of humans living on...
How the Great White North can change the world: Canada's role in global biodiversity conservation
Powder Islands, Lake Superior, ON (Photo by Alan Auld)
I still remember a time when thinking about conservation made me feel disappointed in Canada. During my undergraduate years at the University of Waterloo in the early 1990s, I learned about the pioneering work of Norman Myers and read subsequent...
An ode to narwhal (Part One)
Narwhal (Illustration by David Scheirer)
a pod of magic /breaks through the floe /what a peculiar way / (Inspired by Moby Dick) The whale series returns with Ishmael’s nostril whale, a.k.a. the narwhal. Whether you pronounce its name nar-wall or nar-whale, this creature’s...
This man's first sign of spring
Blue-winged olive (Photo by Paul Weamer)
For many, spring can often be hard to pinpoint. A botanist may list countless flowering plants, a birdwatcher may look to the skies in search of spring in the form of returning melodies, while Homo consumeris will notice the piles of winter...
