Posts Tagged: conservation

Siblings – Exploring kin recognition in coyotes (Canis latrans)

December 6, 2024

The social relationship coyotes have with humans is unique and interesting, but so are the interactions that coyotes have with each other, especially when it comes to coyote families and kin recognition.

Grinning Grizzly: identifying features of Alberta bears

September 4, 2024

Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and black bears (Ursus americanus) are two species of bears found commonly around the north and west areas of Canada. They can sometimes be hard to tell apart.

Red Velvet – The Wapiti or North American Elk

July 2, 2024

“Wapiti” and “elk” are two of the names bestowed upon Cervus canadensis, the second largest species in the…

Undetermined or Under Researched? The Franklin’s Ground Squirrel

May 21, 2024

Researched, written, and illustrated by Bria Griffin, Junior Science Communicator Scurrying to and fro amidst the parkland ecosystems…

Big Cat on Campus (Puma concolor)

May 1, 2024

The stealthy killer. The elusive predator. The cat that can deliver a killing blow before even being seen….

Weathering The Storm – Mule Deer (Odocoileus hermionus)

April 1, 2024

Mule deer take on winter by budgeting their energy — a meticulous balance of daily expenditure which allows them the best chance at survival over a long winter with very limited food.

Hare in the Air – Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus)

March 1, 2024

The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), characterized by its large “snowshoe like” hind feet is a master of disguise.

On Top – Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis)

February 1, 2024

Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) are specially adapted to walk on top of snow with their big, splaying, fur-covered feet that function as snowshoes. The advantage of these specialized feet in catching their preferred prey, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), is debatable due to the snowshoe hare’s own similar adaptation for floating on the snow.

The White Walker – Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)

January 1, 2024

Mountain goats are “white walkers” even when winter isn’t coming. They keep their white coats all year round. At Fiera Biological we study a population of mountain goats in west central Alberta and for part of that study, we are using remote cameras to better understand how predators (and their typical “not mountain goats” prey) use the habitat surrounding the cliff habitat that the goats are using.

Demystifying LiDAR

November 14, 2022

If you have utilized any type of digital mapping tool, you may have heard the technical term ‘LiDAR’,…