6/20/2016 4 Comments The Polar BearsHunters of the Polar Bear commonly used dog teams to distract the bears, allowing the hunter to spear the bear or shoot it with arrows at much closer range. Almost all parts of any captured animals that they killed had a use. The fur was used in to make trousers and, to make galoshes-like outer footwear called tobok. The meat is edible, despite the fact that there is some risk of trichinosis which is a parasitic disease caused by roundworms. The fat from the Polar Bears, was used in food and also as a fuel for lighting homes. Sinews which is a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone; a tendon or ligament, were used as thread for sewing clothes. The gallbladder and sometimes even the heart were dried and powdered for medicinal purposes. The larger canine teeth were valued highly as talismans which is an object, that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck. The only part that was not used was the liver, as it has a high concentration of vitamin A, which is highly poisonous. In Russia, polar bear furs were already being commercially traded in the 14th century, though it was low value compared to the Arctic fox or even ‘reindeer fur’. There are estimates that suggest from the beginning of the 18th century, roughly 400 to 500 animals were harvested annually, with the highest numbers up to 1,300 to 1,500 animals in the early 20th century. There were concerns over the future survival of the Polar Bear which led to the development of national regulations on polar bear hunting that began in the mid-1950s. The Soviet Union had banned all hunting in 1956 and Canada began imposing hunting quotas which allows a predetermined number of hunters to participate in killing them in 1968. Norway then passed a series of increasingly strict regulations starting in 1965 to 1973, and has since then completely banned hunting. The United States began regulating hunting of these animals in 1971 and then adopted the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972. In 1973, the International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears was signed by all five nations whose territory is inhabited by these creatures: Canada, Denmark, Norway, the Soviet Union, and the United States.
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Background info about the antsEverybody knows that humans have took over the earth BUT is that actually true? Could there secretly be another animal that took over the earth without us knowing? Well there is, the one animal that surpasses humans are the ANTS.Ants have survived for the past 110-130 million years,that’s in the mid Cretaceous Era(Dinosaur age).They were able to survive the K-T extinction that cleared out 70% of the species on earth and over the next 60 million year after the K-T extinction they slowly adapted to the new wildlife and diversified their diet,which made them achieve ecological dominance.Currently there are supposedly over 1,000,000,000,000,000 (1 quadrillion) ants living on earth and over 12000 different species of ants. Out of all those ants one interesting ant that you might have seen everywhere is a big black ant. That ant is called the Carpenter ant. They come out at spring and hibernate throughout the winter.They are cold blooded and will fluctuated to the temperature to match it.During the cold days of Canada,their bodies are incapable of maintaining such a high temperature to work,therefore they will hibernate. If they are near a heat source their colony will still work,if you see it's cold outside and there are ants indoors that means you have a indoor ant infestation.They will usually come out at night to find a source of moisture.They are one of the largest ant species and can vary in size.A adult ant can be around 6-12mm,winged swarmer can grow up to 18mm and the queen can grow to the size of 20mm in length. The queen can live for over 10 years,workers usually live a short life since they die after mating with the queen(around a few weeks to months),meanwhile sterile female workers can live up to over seven years.Usually they won't bite but if disturbed they will bite.These ants don't have stingers but have powerful jaws that can tear through human flesh. The bites is inflicted with a spray of formic acid (HCOOH) which causes a burning sensation.The Carpenter ant colony is split into a queen and her workers. The queen mainly produces more eggs, while the workers work to defend,repair and build the den and colony, they will also find food for both queen and colony. The queen will mostly produce wingless ants but she can also produce winged ants that will emerge and swarm in spring and summer.The ants mate with the queen during a nuptial flight.A nuptial flight is a very important stage in reproduction and the succession of the carpenter ants, the queen and the ants will mate in flight and the queen will try to find a suitable area to land and start her own colony,and then shed her wings.The male ants also die after mating with the queen. This process is also done by honey bees and termites. These carpenter ants will try to find homes in moist and dead wood over dry wood. |
To prevent carpenter ants from destroying homes or gardens,try to fix any water leaks or water problems as these ants prefer moist wood.Do not keep any dead and moist wood near your house as they need the moisture to keep the eggs alive.The carpenter ants cut through the wood so you can see sawdust and see huge colonies of ants scavenging around.
Ants can be used as food,ant farms and have some speculation of curing diseases,and as of right now we don't use ants as much.We see ants in stories and fables representing a strong community and how we should cooperate as well as the ants do and.They also represent the busy lives,they are hard workers and always work. We use ants as good examples but not when they come into your yard.
Though they infest wood and destroy old houses they have positive impacts as well. They act as decomposer,they will make homes in dead and rotting wood which will speed up the decomposing rate,so then fungi and bacteria can grow in galleries breaking down lignin and cellulose.They also aerate the soil,by tilling the soil so pebbles and other particles are on top. They can also eat leftovers,honeydew produced by trees,plants and other insects;pet food,meats,and other sweets. THESE ANTS DO NOT EAT WOOD.
Overall we know so little about ants yet they are everywhere.We see ants in our backyard and we set sight to kill them all.We all have this negative thought about ants,and how they are more disruptive than useful. The only times the carpenter ants will bite is when disturbed.They have adapted and evolved into this cool species it is today and nobody even knows.Even though they are not big in size,their numbers make up for it. They have a big impact on the environment and is a prey to many animals. There is a whole world full of ants and they are truly fascinating.
Overall we know so little about ants yet they are everywhere.We see ants in our backyard and we set sight to kill them all.We all have this negative thought about ants,and how they are more disruptive than useful. The only times the carpenter ants will bite is when disturbed.They have adapted and evolved into this cool species it is today and nobody even knows.Even though they are not big in size,their numbers make up for it. They have a big impact on the environment and is a prey to many animals. There is a whole world full of ants and they are truly fascinating.
Flying ants and termites can be easily mistaken so here are a few tips on what is what!!!!!
5/29/2016 2 Comments
Managing Whooping Cranes
The whooping crane has had it tough in the past. With so many problems surrounding it, it’s no wonder the bird species needs all the help it can get to recover. But with all the involved stakeholders in the issue contributing, there might just be hope for these amazing animals. Through the efforts of the Canadian and American governments, non-government and conservation organizations, and individuals the crane is making a comeback. The most effective strategies for management of the crane are as follows; habitat conservation and restoration, species protection, captive breeding programs, and reintroduction programs.
The government of Canada helped in a sort of indirect way when Wood Buffalo National Park was created. The land was reserved in an attempt to protect the buffalo species that roamed in the area, but was extremely beneficial for all the wildlife species that were present in the area, especially the whooping crane. The national park just happens to contain the last breeding grounds for the crane. This essential wetland habitat is now protected from degradation and development giving the crane a safe place to mate and raise their young. In addition to protecting the habitat of the crane both federal and provincial governments have designated it a protected species under various acts, such as the species at risk act.
Several non-governmental organizations and conservation groups have stepped up to the plate when it comes to saving the whooping crane. Organizations like the Calgary Zoo, Operation Migration, Journey North, International Cranes Foundation, and many others are putting forth constructive efforts for the crane populations. Campaigns that raise awareness and gain support for the whooping crane is essential for habitat protection. The more people know how they impact the environment and how they can improve, the better the cranes habitat will be protected. Not only are these organizations getting people involved in preservation, but also restoration. Breeding programs and reintroduction programs have had significant results in restoring the crane population. Of course this method does involve some difficulties that needed to be worked on. For example, a bird raised in captivity will not be able to survive when reintroduced into the wild, simply because it is tame and lacks the basic survival skills it would have learned from a parent. An innovative solution to this problem was to raise the birds with as little human contact as possible, and the use of puppets that resemble a mature crane to teach the young ones. However this solution wasn’t quite able to teach the birds everything. The birds raised in captivity never learned to migrate, and when reintroduced into the wild, stayed where they were put all year round. Other programs have now stepped in and are using a creative method to get the cranes to migrate. Planes are used to lead the birds on their natural migration patterns. With all these efforts, crane populations are beginning to recover, and currently two flocks exist in the world (one being in the wood buffalo national park and the other was introduced by humans in Florida).
Now you may be asking, ‘what can I do to help the whooping crane?’. Of course the simplest answer to this would be to help preserve their habitat by adjusting things in your everyday life. You can make small changes like; using less water, recycling, refraining from putting chemicals and other pollutants into the water systems, and generally reducing the amount of waste you produce. In doing this you can help keep the wetland ecosystem contaminant free and healthy. Other ways you can help is by raising awareness. Educate friends and family on the issue, the more people know, the better the chance the cranes have. If you want to have a more direct influence there are many ways to do so. Support NGOs and conservation organizations by donating and/or volunteering. Any organization trying to improve the environment will benefit the birds. Every little effort helps the whooping cranes.
The government of Canada helped in a sort of indirect way when Wood Buffalo National Park was created. The land was reserved in an attempt to protect the buffalo species that roamed in the area, but was extremely beneficial for all the wildlife species that were present in the area, especially the whooping crane. The national park just happens to contain the last breeding grounds for the crane. This essential wetland habitat is now protected from degradation and development giving the crane a safe place to mate and raise their young. In addition to protecting the habitat of the crane both federal and provincial governments have designated it a protected species under various acts, such as the species at risk act.
Several non-governmental organizations and conservation groups have stepped up to the plate when it comes to saving the whooping crane. Organizations like the Calgary Zoo, Operation Migration, Journey North, International Cranes Foundation, and many others are putting forth constructive efforts for the crane populations. Campaigns that raise awareness and gain support for the whooping crane is essential for habitat protection. The more people know how they impact the environment and how they can improve, the better the cranes habitat will be protected. Not only are these organizations getting people involved in preservation, but also restoration. Breeding programs and reintroduction programs have had significant results in restoring the crane population. Of course this method does involve some difficulties that needed to be worked on. For example, a bird raised in captivity will not be able to survive when reintroduced into the wild, simply because it is tame and lacks the basic survival skills it would have learned from a parent. An innovative solution to this problem was to raise the birds with as little human contact as possible, and the use of puppets that resemble a mature crane to teach the young ones. However this solution wasn’t quite able to teach the birds everything. The birds raised in captivity never learned to migrate, and when reintroduced into the wild, stayed where they were put all year round. Other programs have now stepped in and are using a creative method to get the cranes to migrate. Planes are used to lead the birds on their natural migration patterns. With all these efforts, crane populations are beginning to recover, and currently two flocks exist in the world (one being in the wood buffalo national park and the other was introduced by humans in Florida).
Now you may be asking, ‘what can I do to help the whooping crane?’. Of course the simplest answer to this would be to help preserve their habitat by adjusting things in your everyday life. You can make small changes like; using less water, recycling, refraining from putting chemicals and other pollutants into the water systems, and generally reducing the amount of waste you produce. In doing this you can help keep the wetland ecosystem contaminant free and healthy. Other ways you can help is by raising awareness. Educate friends and family on the issue, the more people know, the better the chance the cranes have. If you want to have a more direct influence there are many ways to do so. Support NGOs and conservation organizations by donating and/or volunteering. Any organization trying to improve the environment will benefit the birds. Every little effort helps the whooping cranes.
Image Sources:
Whooping Cranes following an Ultralight Aircraft. Whooping Crane, Britanica. Britanica. Web. 29 May 2016.
Researcher with Whooping Cranes. Whooping Crane, Britanica.
Sloat, Mike. WhoopOpener.
Whooping Cranes following an Ultralight Aircraft. Whooping Crane, Britanica. Britanica. Web. 29 May 2016.
Researcher with Whooping Cranes. Whooping Crane, Britanica.
Sloat, Mike. WhoopOpener.
5/22/2016 0 Comments
Managing Our Sockeye Salmon
How are we Managing Salmon?
There are a great many stakeholders involved in the management and usage of sockeye salmon. These include but are in no way limited to recreational anglers, First Nations' groups, government organizations, non-governmental organizations, the fishing industry and the consumers it supplies. Have you eaten salmon recently? If you have, guess what? You're a stakeholder (Dracula had better watch out...). First Nations' traditional diet in British Columbia consisted largely of salmon, and this traditional diet is often protected and guaranteed by Treaties that the governments of Canada are required to uphold. Recreational anglers enjoy the sport, competition and peace of salmon fishing, and can often be spotted measuring their catches (and then adding dubious amounts to those lengths before telling the story). The fishing industry wants ever larger quotas to supply the increasing demand for salmon, and that demand is created by hungry consumers. Non-governmental organizations often work towards ensuring ecological health, so that future generations may be able to enjoy Canada's bountiful natural resources. The governments have the unenviable task of considering all of these needs and managing the fishery accordingly. Some of the strategies they use are:
Fish Hatcheries
Fish hatcheries are used as management tool to increase populations when habitat loss or degradation discourages reproduction. Salmon are grown from eggs extracted from adult salmon (which are killed in the process). These young salmon are then allowed to grow in large tanks and are fed an artificial diet consisting of pellets. This does not prepare them for life in a natural, wild stream into which they are released. These facilities focus on a band-aid solution that does not address underlying habitat concerns such as habitat loss, pollution and watershed obstructions. Hatchery fish can also out-compete what wild fish remain, and they have little genetic diversity because eggs are often sourced from the same parent fish. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans operates 23 salmon hatcheries in BC which produce hundreds of millions of salmon annually.
Spawning Channels
Spawning channels are long, winding gravel beds adjacent to natural spawning grounds which are controlled to provide ideal conditions for salmon spawning. These conditions include water levels, stream flow and water temperature. Survival rates are up to 100% higher than in adjacent natural streams. This method is more ideal than a hatchery, because the spawning process is natural, and the bears they attract provide safe tourism opportunities.
Fish Ladders
Fish ladders are structures built near or on dams which allow migrating fish such as salmon to pass these large obstructions. Many, such as the one pictured here, include a series of terraced pools which salmon can jump between, making their way to the top of the dam. Some fish ladders are also paired with catching stations, where fish are caught and then loaded into trucks for long distance transport around reservoirs or multiple dams.
Dam Removal
The removal of dams all together provides the most significant ecological benefit because a waterway is no longer obstructed at all, allowing completely free movement up the water body. This however limits the ability for water levels to be managed in case of flooding or drought, and may remove a hydroelectric generation plant from operation. As well, dam deconstruction is very expensive and requires a significant amount of time to undertake.
There are a great many stakeholders involved in the management and usage of sockeye salmon. These include but are in no way limited to recreational anglers, First Nations' groups, government organizations, non-governmental organizations, the fishing industry and the consumers it supplies. Have you eaten salmon recently? If you have, guess what? You're a stakeholder (Dracula had better watch out...). First Nations' traditional diet in British Columbia consisted largely of salmon, and this traditional diet is often protected and guaranteed by Treaties that the governments of Canada are required to uphold. Recreational anglers enjoy the sport, competition and peace of salmon fishing, and can often be spotted measuring their catches (and then adding dubious amounts to those lengths before telling the story). The fishing industry wants ever larger quotas to supply the increasing demand for salmon, and that demand is created by hungry consumers. Non-governmental organizations often work towards ensuring ecological health, so that future generations may be able to enjoy Canada's bountiful natural resources. The governments have the unenviable task of considering all of these needs and managing the fishery accordingly. Some of the strategies they use are:
Fish Hatcheries
Fish hatcheries are used as management tool to increase populations when habitat loss or degradation discourages reproduction. Salmon are grown from eggs extracted from adult salmon (which are killed in the process). These young salmon are then allowed to grow in large tanks and are fed an artificial diet consisting of pellets. This does not prepare them for life in a natural, wild stream into which they are released. These facilities focus on a band-aid solution that does not address underlying habitat concerns such as habitat loss, pollution and watershed obstructions. Hatchery fish can also out-compete what wild fish remain, and they have little genetic diversity because eggs are often sourced from the same parent fish. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans operates 23 salmon hatcheries in BC which produce hundreds of millions of salmon annually.
Spawning Channels
Spawning channels are long, winding gravel beds adjacent to natural spawning grounds which are controlled to provide ideal conditions for salmon spawning. These conditions include water levels, stream flow and water temperature. Survival rates are up to 100% higher than in adjacent natural streams. This method is more ideal than a hatchery, because the spawning process is natural, and the bears they attract provide safe tourism opportunities.
Fish Ladders
Fish ladders are structures built near or on dams which allow migrating fish such as salmon to pass these large obstructions. Many, such as the one pictured here, include a series of terraced pools which salmon can jump between, making their way to the top of the dam. Some fish ladders are also paired with catching stations, where fish are caught and then loaded into trucks for long distance transport around reservoirs or multiple dams.
Dam Removal
The removal of dams all together provides the most significant ecological benefit because a waterway is no longer obstructed at all, allowing completely free movement up the water body. This however limits the ability for water levels to be managed in case of flooding or drought, and may remove a hydroelectric generation plant from operation. As well, dam deconstruction is very expensive and requires a significant amount of time to undertake.
Quotas and Catch Management
In Canada, fisheries are regulated and managed in order to ensure both ecological health and sustainable economic development. First Nations’ hunting practises must also be considered. As part of this management, quotas or catch limits are often placed on salmon in certain regions, restricting anglers from catching a certain species or size of fish during certain times of year. In British Columbia, this is done to ensure more salmon are able to spawn than are caught.
Salmonid Enhancement Program
This management strategy is the Federal Government’s guidelines for operating salmon hatcheries, engaging with communities and the public and restoring salmon habitat. It has existed since 1977. Some habitat restoration projects include bank rehabilitation, wetland reconstruction, the addition of native plants to watersheds and improving stream flows during spawning season through dam management.
What can You Do?
DamNation - A Film about Dams and Salmon - See it on Netflix
Quotas and Catch Management
In Canada, fisheries are regulated and managed in order to ensure both ecological health and sustainable economic development. First Nations’ hunting practises must also be considered. As part of this management, quotas or catch limits are often placed on salmon in certain regions, restricting anglers from catching a certain species or size of fish during certain times of year. In British Columbia, this is done to ensure more salmon are able to spawn than are caught.
Salmonid Enhancement Program
This management strategy is the Federal Government’s guidelines for operating salmon hatcheries, engaging with communities and the public and restoring salmon habitat. It has existed since 1977. Some habitat restoration projects include bank rehabilitation, wetland reconstruction, the addition of native plants to watersheds and improving stream flows during spawning season through dam management.
What can You Do?
- Purchase wild salmon to encourage restoration of fisheries as opposed to developing fish farms which are far more unsustainable.
- Encourage the restoration of salmon habitat by communicating with your local government, as well as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
- Stay in season and within quotas when angling, including respecting fishery closures.
- Stay up to date on issues facing salmon fisheries today, and learn as much as you can about the species.
DamNation - A Film about Dams and Salmon - See it on Netflix
Images:Fredenberg, Wade. “The Thompson Falls Fishway in Montana.” Desmog Canada. Desmog Canada. Digital Image. Web. 22 May 2016.
“Mica Dam Revelstoke.” Kasta Net. Castanet. Digital Image. Web. 22 May 2016.
“Pinkut Creek Spawning Channel.” Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Digital Image. Web. 22 May 2016.
“Mica Dam Revelstoke.” Kasta Net. Castanet. Digital Image. Web. 22 May 2016.
“Pinkut Creek Spawning Channel.” Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Digital Image. Web. 22 May 2016.
5/16/2016 1 Comment
Snowy Owls
The Snowy Owl is a large predatory bird and one of the largest owls in the world. It is between 50 and 70 cm tall with a wing span between 125 and 150 cm. they weigh on average between 1.6 and 3kg making them on average the heaviest owl species. Snowy Owls are one of the most distinct owl species with the males being pure white in colour and the females having scattered black spots. The young when born are almost completely covered in black spots but as the weeks and months go by loose in and turn white.
As for habitat the Snowy owl prefers cold climates and resides primarily in the open plains and tundra of Canada and Russia. They spend their summer in the far north, in the tundra where they breed and raise their young. But in the winter months they fly south kind off, in the winter they are found primarily in Canada and the northern American states as well as their Russian equivalents. No one is really sure if the snowy owl is completely nomadic or if they actually settle down during the winter months due to the extreme size of their ranges and frequent complications and difficulty’s surrounding the tracking of the animals. Snowy owls are also the only breed of owl that is diurnal or hunts in the day and at night making them even more unique. They are also one of the widest ranging bird species with one exceptional male being born in northern British Colombia, flying to the west and being spotted in Labrador, flying back east to BC then across the pacific and was spotted for the last time in Finland.
The Snowy Owl and owls in general are important to Native American cultures but have different meanings and beliefs surrounding them depending on the area. In Some areas Owls are transformed witches and are feared and considered evil. In many plains communities owl feathers were worn in an attempt to gain their prowess as warriors, specifically for their night vision and for their great hunting. They are also associated with medicine in some cultures; they believe that owls are gentle to one another and wise so medicine men and women wear their feathers as a status symbol. They are also in some cases an ill omen, and are heralds for death and more specially death of a loved one. Snowy Owls are also some of the first animals recorded by man and are among the animals found in European cave paintings.
In regards to conservation it’s more an issue of finding tracking and learning about them more than it is keeping them alive. The Snowy Owl is protected from hunting and trapping in both the United States as well as Canada and due to their northern habitat mankind hasn’t really had the chance to ruin and or observe them yet. However in recent year they have been exhibiting some strange and unexplained behavior. In the winter of 2013-2014 thousands of the birds migrated farther south than ever previously recorded with some being spotted as far south as Florida, this event was also seen in the 2014-2015 winter and as of now gone unexplained.
As for habitat the Snowy owl prefers cold climates and resides primarily in the open plains and tundra of Canada and Russia. They spend their summer in the far north, in the tundra where they breed and raise their young. But in the winter months they fly south kind off, in the winter they are found primarily in Canada and the northern American states as well as their Russian equivalents. No one is really sure if the snowy owl is completely nomadic or if they actually settle down during the winter months due to the extreme size of their ranges and frequent complications and difficulty’s surrounding the tracking of the animals. Snowy owls are also the only breed of owl that is diurnal or hunts in the day and at night making them even more unique. They are also one of the widest ranging bird species with one exceptional male being born in northern British Colombia, flying to the west and being spotted in Labrador, flying back east to BC then across the pacific and was spotted for the last time in Finland.
The Snowy Owl and owls in general are important to Native American cultures but have different meanings and beliefs surrounding them depending on the area. In Some areas Owls are transformed witches and are feared and considered evil. In many plains communities owl feathers were worn in an attempt to gain their prowess as warriors, specifically for their night vision and for their great hunting. They are also associated with medicine in some cultures; they believe that owls are gentle to one another and wise so medicine men and women wear their feathers as a status symbol. They are also in some cases an ill omen, and are heralds for death and more specially death of a loved one. Snowy Owls are also some of the first animals recorded by man and are among the animals found in European cave paintings.
In regards to conservation it’s more an issue of finding tracking and learning about them more than it is keeping them alive. The Snowy Owl is protected from hunting and trapping in both the United States as well as Canada and due to their northern habitat mankind hasn’t really had the chance to ruin and or observe them yet. However in recent year they have been exhibiting some strange and unexplained behavior. In the winter of 2013-2014 thousands of the birds migrated farther south than ever previously recorded with some being spotted as far south as Florida, this event was also seen in the 2014-2015 winter and as of now gone unexplained.
5/11/2016 0 Comments
Woodland Caribou
The Woodland Caribou is a species most commonly found in the boreal forest in Canada and the US. Other Caribou kinds can also be found in Russia, Scandinavia, and parts of Greenland. Canada has been monitoring their populations over the past few decades, and has seen their numbers decline drastically. Woodland Caribou are currently listed as threatened in Canada, and endangered in the United States. Caribou only have one calf a year.
A study in Ontario found that Caribou have a 50% chance of surviving in the area, due to a significant amount of their natural habitat lost (or degraded) due to human activity and a lack of attention for keeping these natural areas healthy.
Caribou and Reindeer are part of the same species, the “Rangifer Tarandus”
Caribou and Reindeer are part of the same species, the “Rangifer Tarandus”
Differences Between Caribou and Reindeer :
Caribou Diet: Fun Facts:
Caribou eat plenty of things like Berries, plants, and lichen, but during the winter they are capable of living solely on lichen, something no other animal can do, creating a constant food source for the Caribou. As a result, Caribou thrive in big forests with plenty of Lichen, or open fields with Lichen growing on rocks and other organisms. Lichen can take anywhere from 60 to 150 years to fully develop to be consumed as food for the Caribou. |
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Their hooves are concave shaped to act like snowshoes to keep themselves on the snow instead of under it. This adaptation gives them an advantage over predators who have trouble traversing deep snow. This becomes a problem for the Caribou if roads, phone lines, and partial cuts of forests lessen the depth of the snow, allowing predators to traverse the forest with ease in areas they previously could not access. This, combined with forests being clear-cut or nearly clear-cut makes deforestation a difficult task to combat for Caribou. Not only do Caribou count on deep snow to protect themselves and their single newborn, but they also count on the trees to keep them hidden from the view of predators. |
Image from: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/03/groups-to-sue-over-limiting-of-caribou-habitat/
Little Smoky is the best example of development causing problems for Caribou. Herds travel all across the Boreal Forest, and Little Smoky is where one of the last few herds remain, currently struggling to survive for the aforementioned reasons. Little Smoky has little left in terms of forested area. What remains is enough to give homes to birds, squirrels, and potentially other creatures, but it is completely unsuitable for Caribou who need large enough expanses of forest to travel safely. As of 2015, there were anywhere from 60-100 Caribou in this herd travelling together. |
http://www.goskialberta.com/alberta-ski-areas/alberta-north/little-smoky-ski-area/
Wolves have been known to take advantage of the fragmented environment to spot easy prey, and can catch up to escaping Caribou with ease without traversing deep snow. Wolf culling has become a popular way to deal with this issue, but Wolf Culling has brought down Wolf populations significantly to the point where Wolf Culling cannot continue, as the Wolf populations rise to problematic amounts again. |
https://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlife/wolves/#parentHorizontalTab1
The Solution :
The best solution for keeping Caribou on our planet without putting Wolves in danger is to restore natural habitats to full forests, or to (re)develop with the smallest possible footprint on Caribou habitat. Planting/transplanting trees and bushes also helps.
Resources
McCaw, Robert. "Protect Woodland Caribou." Woodland Caribou. Ontario Nature. Web. 04 May 2016.
"Species at Risk Woodland Caribou – Southern Mountain Population." Parks Canada. Government of Canada, 23 Dec. 2014. Web. 04 May 2016.
"Woodland Caribou – Southern Mountain Population." Species at Risk. Parks Canada, 23 Dec. 2014. Web. 04 May 2016.
"Basic Facts About Woodland Caribou." Defenders of Wildlife. Defenders of Wildlife, 2012. Web. 05 May 2016.
"Reindeer … Caribou … What’s the Difference?" UAF Newsroom. University of Alaska Fairbanks. Web. 10 May 2016.
"The Little Smoky Area Represents a Critical Portion of Alberta’s Upper and Lower Foothills Natural Subregion." Alberta Wilderness Association. Alberta Wilderness Association, 2015. Web. 11 May 2016.
"Species at Risk Woodland Caribou – Southern Mountain Population." Parks Canada. Government of Canada, 23 Dec. 2014. Web. 04 May 2016.
"Woodland Caribou – Southern Mountain Population." Species at Risk. Parks Canada, 23 Dec. 2014. Web. 04 May 2016.
"Basic Facts About Woodland Caribou." Defenders of Wildlife. Defenders of Wildlife, 2012. Web. 05 May 2016.
"Reindeer … Caribou … What’s the Difference?" UAF Newsroom. University of Alaska Fairbanks. Web. 10 May 2016.
"The Little Smoky Area Represents a Critical Portion of Alberta’s Upper and Lower Foothills Natural Subregion." Alberta Wilderness Association. Alberta Wilderness Association, 2015. Web. 11 May 2016.
5/11/2016 7 Comments
Honey Bees
The Honey bees is about 5-15 mm, and lives for about 1-10 months. They are a social insect and live in colonies or swarms. Usually honey bees are classified into 3 different types of honey bees. The first classification is the worker bee; the worker bees is a non reproductive female bee that goes out to collect pollen and nectar from flowers, which is the bee's food. The next group is the queen bee, whose job is to lay eggs in order to create the hives next generation of bees. If the queen is to die the colony will choose another queen and put her on a diet of royal jelly to make her fertile. The queen also produces chemicals to help control the behavior of the rest of the bees. The third group of honey bees is the male drone bee. Hundreds of drones live in the hive in the spring and summer and do a variety of things, but in the winter they are forced out in order to preserve food.
Honey bees are very important to humanity today. They help produce ⅓ of our food, as well as provide us with Honey and and Wax. The commercial use of bee products caused the bee industry to really expand.Our relationship with bees has been long and ongoing, having both positive and negative interactions. We have been there to help the bees, honey bee farmers have mad sure their population thrives in order to continue to get the befits of bees but our relationship with bees is not always good, our pesticides, over use and killing have had a large impact on the bees. We never thought we'd see an impact but today The honey is threatened. This issue was even large enough to get the attention of large corporations such as The Cheerio's company who launched the bring back the bees fundraiser.
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5/4/2016 1 Comment
Blue Whales
Blue whales are the largest animals on the planet, reaching sizes of over 90 feet long and upwards of 200 tons. They are named for their blue-gray colour spotted with light gray. The blue whales nickname is “sulfur bottom”due to their most recognizable trait other than their size. Their most recognizable trait being the yellowish tinge of their bellies which is caused by the cold water diatoms that adhere to their skin.
Blue whales have a dark history of being hunted for their oil. Due to the size as well as being able to reach top speeds of 50 kilometer per hour, gave them an advantage over early whalers. In 1868 Sven Foyn a Norwegian, revolutionized the whaling industry through the invention of the exploding harpoon gun, as well as new methods of inflating dead whales so that they did not sink. This allowed them to be harvested more easily, after 1900 the whaling industry started to hunt blue whales more readily. As whale of 90-feet alone could yield 120 barrels of oil, this discover spark their mass killing. The slaughter peaked in 1931 with more than 29,000 whales killed in a single season of whaling.
Currently the blue whales is still under threat from a number of different activities.Whaling is still a large issue even though they are listed as an endangered species they are still widely hunt for their bodies. Climate change is one of the biggest issues that affect the blue whale as it sparks the onset of other issues such as declining krill population which is the primary source of food of which they require four or more tons daily. Human activity is also caused by the changing climate, it encompass issues like habitat degradation, pollution, vessel strikes, human noise, and fisheries interactions. Most commonly blue whales can be found entangled in fishing nets.
The blue whale is a very solitary animal as it is most often found alone or in a pair, If the are seen in a group it usually ranges of upwards of 50 whales. As they are often very far from other blue whales they are able to emit sound so low that the human ear cannot detect it yet it is believed that it can reach other whales over 1,500 kilometers away under ideal conditions. As well it is thought that they use these sounds as sonar to navigate the deep ocean as they enjoy diving to depths of 330 feet to feed on krill.
Whales have had a rich relationship in first nations culture as spiritually animals. Yet the blue whale has not been seen as much in the culture of the world’s people other than for the purpose of whaling them.
As the largest animal on the planet, natural the blue whale is a cornerstone of the ocean’s ecosystem. In life it regulates the amounts of krill so that populations do not explode. In death it becomes the perfect breeding ground for new life as it so large that it pass through each layer of the ocean. Allowing for animals from all depths to take advantage of the large amount of resources that they can get from the whale carcass.
"Blue Whale." American Cetacean Society. Web. 04 May 2016.
Blue whales have a dark history of being hunted for their oil. Due to the size as well as being able to reach top speeds of 50 kilometer per hour, gave them an advantage over early whalers. In 1868 Sven Foyn a Norwegian, revolutionized the whaling industry through the invention of the exploding harpoon gun, as well as new methods of inflating dead whales so that they did not sink. This allowed them to be harvested more easily, after 1900 the whaling industry started to hunt blue whales more readily. As whale of 90-feet alone could yield 120 barrels of oil, this discover spark their mass killing. The slaughter peaked in 1931 with more than 29,000 whales killed in a single season of whaling.
Currently the blue whales is still under threat from a number of different activities.Whaling is still a large issue even though they are listed as an endangered species they are still widely hunt for their bodies. Climate change is one of the biggest issues that affect the blue whale as it sparks the onset of other issues such as declining krill population which is the primary source of food of which they require four or more tons daily. Human activity is also caused by the changing climate, it encompass issues like habitat degradation, pollution, vessel strikes, human noise, and fisheries interactions. Most commonly blue whales can be found entangled in fishing nets.
The blue whale is a very solitary animal as it is most often found alone or in a pair, If the are seen in a group it usually ranges of upwards of 50 whales. As they are often very far from other blue whales they are able to emit sound so low that the human ear cannot detect it yet it is believed that it can reach other whales over 1,500 kilometers away under ideal conditions. As well it is thought that they use these sounds as sonar to navigate the deep ocean as they enjoy diving to depths of 330 feet to feed on krill.
Whales have had a rich relationship in first nations culture as spiritually animals. Yet the blue whale has not been seen as much in the culture of the world’s people other than for the purpose of whaling them.
As the largest animal on the planet, natural the blue whale is a cornerstone of the ocean’s ecosystem. In life it regulates the amounts of krill so that populations do not explode. In death it becomes the perfect breeding ground for new life as it so large that it pass through each layer of the ocean. Allowing for animals from all depths to take advantage of the large amount of resources that they can get from the whale carcass.
"Blue Whale." American Cetacean Society. Web. 04 May 2016.
4/28/2016 0 Comments
The Whooping Crane
The whooping crane is a rare and beautiful bird. Standing 5 feet tall, with a wingspan of 7 feet this crane is the tallest bird in North America. The bird is most known for it’s clarion call for which it was named. Sporting a red crowned head and a sleek white body with black tipped wings, the whooping crane is easily recognizable. Famous for their elaborate mating dance the beauty of these birds is greatly admired by bird watchers.
Cranes have been an important symbol in cultures all over the world. They can be found in art, poems, and stories. Often representative of wisdom, intelligence, longevity and loyalty the bird is a significant subject of art in countries like Japan, China, Greece and North America.
More recently the whooping crane has had a more negative relationship with humans. Due to extreme habitat loss from the draining of wetlands and marshes for development, and hunting, the whooping cranes population hit a very concerning low of only about 20 wild birds in the 1940’s. Historical populations were never very prevalent, having no more than an estimated 20,000 birds, but this extreme decline was concerning in more than one way. It was an indication of the habitat destruction that was occurring in the wetlands of Northern Alberta. During this time other animal populations were in decline as well. It was clear that something needing to be changed.
In 1922 the Wood Buffalo National Park was created. Situated on the border of Alberta and the Yukon, this park was meant to protect the bison living there. It also happened to be the only remaining nesting ground for the whooping crane in the entire world. With their nesting grounds now protected and the species protected under the Endangered species act in Canada and the Migratory Birds Act in the US, they started making a comeback. This process was still really slow. With very few mating pairs of cranes and only one chick per pair the population doesn’t increase very dramatically. However through the efforts of conservation projects their numbers are growing. A captive breeding program was implemented in order to raise young chicks and release them back into the wild. This was a way to ensure their survival, but had its difficulties as well. The birds had to be raised with minimal human contact but still be taught how to fend for themselves. One way this challenge was overcome was by using puppets that looked like the crane.
Another conservation effort was to introduce a new flock of cranes to a different part of the world. Today there are two flocks in existence. One lives in the Wood Buffalo National Park area and migrates to the southern part of Texas to a smaller area of wetlands for the winter. The second flock is in Florida. However these birds do not migrate. They were introduced to the area in 1993 from captivity, and therefore never taught how to migrate. A creative way this issue is being addressed is the flying of a plane that the birds then follow.
Although the whooping cranes remain an endangered species, with over 300 birds, thanks to the efforts of the International Whooping Crane Recovery Team and other conservation efforts, there is hope for their future.
Images: Nigge, Klaus. Whooping Crane. Parks Canada, Wood Buffalo National Park.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whooping_crane
Nigge, Klaus. Whooping Crane and Young Crane. Parks Canada, Wood Buffalo National Park.
Cranes have been an important symbol in cultures all over the world. They can be found in art, poems, and stories. Often representative of wisdom, intelligence, longevity and loyalty the bird is a significant subject of art in countries like Japan, China, Greece and North America.
More recently the whooping crane has had a more negative relationship with humans. Due to extreme habitat loss from the draining of wetlands and marshes for development, and hunting, the whooping cranes population hit a very concerning low of only about 20 wild birds in the 1940’s. Historical populations were never very prevalent, having no more than an estimated 20,000 birds, but this extreme decline was concerning in more than one way. It was an indication of the habitat destruction that was occurring in the wetlands of Northern Alberta. During this time other animal populations were in decline as well. It was clear that something needing to be changed.
In 1922 the Wood Buffalo National Park was created. Situated on the border of Alberta and the Yukon, this park was meant to protect the bison living there. It also happened to be the only remaining nesting ground for the whooping crane in the entire world. With their nesting grounds now protected and the species protected under the Endangered species act in Canada and the Migratory Birds Act in the US, they started making a comeback. This process was still really slow. With very few mating pairs of cranes and only one chick per pair the population doesn’t increase very dramatically. However through the efforts of conservation projects their numbers are growing. A captive breeding program was implemented in order to raise young chicks and release them back into the wild. This was a way to ensure their survival, but had its difficulties as well. The birds had to be raised with minimal human contact but still be taught how to fend for themselves. One way this challenge was overcome was by using puppets that looked like the crane.
Another conservation effort was to introduce a new flock of cranes to a different part of the world. Today there are two flocks in existence. One lives in the Wood Buffalo National Park area and migrates to the southern part of Texas to a smaller area of wetlands for the winter. The second flock is in Florida. However these birds do not migrate. They were introduced to the area in 1993 from captivity, and therefore never taught how to migrate. A creative way this issue is being addressed is the flying of a plane that the birds then follow.
Although the whooping cranes remain an endangered species, with over 300 birds, thanks to the efforts of the International Whooping Crane Recovery Team and other conservation efforts, there is hope for their future.
Images: Nigge, Klaus. Whooping Crane. Parks Canada, Wood Buffalo National Park.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whooping_crane
Nigge, Klaus. Whooping Crane and Young Crane. Parks Canada, Wood Buffalo National Park.
4/28/2016 0 Comments
GRIZZLY BEARS
Bears have been around for over 20 million years. Historically there used to be over 50,00 grizzly bears in the lower U.S. and Mexico in the early 1800’s. In 1985, estimated populations of the grizzly were 1,200 in Alberta, 6,500 in British Columbia, and 4,000 to 5,000 in the Northwest Territories.
Grizzly bears have been hunted for their hides, teeth, claws, paws and their internal organs (specifically the gall bladder) for the Asian medical market. The gall bladders are ground up and sold on the black market to treat digestive problems, blood purification and inflammation; the most expensive gall bladder was sold for $45,000.
Bear paws are sold in Asian restaurants as food and are cooked up, sometimes while the bear is still living. Many bear paws are sold to Korea and cooked for a dinner around $300 to $500.
Native tribes symbolize the grizzly bear as a god. The bear in native history is a symbol of strength, bravery, peace, resurrection, powerful, benevolence, sovereignty, motherhood and duality. The bear symbolism offers many messages to us as humans such as patience and connection, confidence and authority and nurturing and protection. This is because the bear is also a totem animal meaning that the bear will help guide us through some tough times in our lives. The grizzly stood for many meanings and rituals. The bear dance was considered the “ghost dance” to bring back the spirits of the bears who have passed away and the ancestors of the natives come back and help put the bears to sleep for the season of hibernation or torpor.
The grizzly bear is not only a symbol in Native American history; the grizzly is also a symbol for many historic groups and people. In the Scandinavian legend the bear was an aspect of the god Odin and berserkers were known to wear the bearskin in battle to enforce ferocity.
In Greek mythology the huntress Artemis would wear bearskin as a symbol of hunting prowess and power.
The positive impacts with the grizzly bear are that we have gotten to study a species and focus on them to figure out history, evolution, and taxonomy of the species. Positive impacts are that we have been able to save humans with the “medicine” that we gather from the bears, but the real thought is; can what we are doing to these bears be considered right? We have chased the grizzly bear out of its habitat because of the hunting and the infrastructure that we have been creating. Humans and bears have been in contact for a long time and we are currently trying to make sure that we aren’t harming the bears anymore. There have been lots of deaths with grizzly bears entering people’s garbage’s and chicken coops to getting hit on highways because we have paved roads right through their habitat. Grizzly bears need secure habitat to be able to move and roam around like Yellowstone National Park. The grizzly populations have been split up and now they navigate through the road system and town system that we have set up because we have built right between the habitats. It is important we don’t split up the grizzly bear species and population anymore because they are important to the ecosystem, environment, and ecology of the forests and tundra’s that they currently live in. The bear is the king of the jungle in Northern America and because we are splitting up the habitats the grizzly bear numbers have been declining significantly. Everything in the ecosystem works together, if we eradicate grizzly bears from their habitat then we will have problems with other species growing and the balance will be lost.
Different Stakeholders that that affect the relationship with the Grizzly bears are:
Two wildlife management strategies are that the NGO organizations and the government of Canada and the provincial government are working together to help conserve the grizzly bear population. One strategy was to track the bears using collars and watch the patterns and marks on the trees that they rub on. Managing the area that the bears live in will show researchers the habitat that they live in. Other strategies are to minimize road and construction, minimize infrastructure in the habitat that the grizzly bears live in. One of the biggest wildlife management plans is to build tunnels and bridges for the animals to cross over so that the vehicles don’t hit them and that they can learn to use the overpass when needed. C-Paws has a step-by-step process on bringing the grizzly bears back into Alberta. The trade off is less infrastructure, but in order to bring back a certain species in the forest where we can bring back and maintain the forest ecology is important.
C-Paws plan to bring back the grizzly bears:
Luckily now we have a government that is focusing on the youth and focusing on getting back in focus with protecting the environment. The Canadian Government under Justin Trudeau and the liberal party have focused and campaigned on saving certain parts of the environment and the ecosystem such as the Great Bear Rainforest. I was critical that the Northern Gateway Pipeline was not built because it would have gone through the Great Bear Rainforest and would have along the way damaged a lot of homes for other species in the rainforest, as it is the largest temperate rainforest in Northern America. Non-governmental-organizations such as C-Paws and WWF have joined hands with the stakeholders and communities as well as people all around the world to protect many acres and spots of land to promote the species of animals and to promote grizzly bears and the wildlife habitat that they live in.
As people, we may not think that grizzly bears have a huge affect on us, well especially living in the city we might not be able to do much but it doesn’t take a huge effort to think about what we can do. Driving out to the mountains and towns such as Canmore or Banff we should be cautious of the animals that we can encounter as we enter bear country. Now, going on hikes and camping we can all take a few seconds to dispose of our trash rather than littering and even the thought of running into a grizzly and her cubs is a lot to bear. However being smart and knowing how to deal with a situation if you ever encountered a grizzly is an easy thing to do. BE BEAR AWARE. We as humans need to stop being a threat to grizzly’s and be conscious about our decisions on when we are out in the wild and together we can help the grizzly population thrive again.
- Federal Government
- Parks Canada
- Provincial Government
- Municipal Government
- Landowners
- Farmers
- NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) (C-Paws)
- Tourists
- Businesses
- Towns
Two wildlife management strategies are that the NGO organizations and the government of Canada and the provincial government are working together to help conserve the grizzly bear population. One strategy was to track the bears using collars and watch the patterns and marks on the trees that they rub on. Managing the area that the bears live in will show researchers the habitat that they live in. Other strategies are to minimize road and construction, minimize infrastructure in the habitat that the grizzly bears live in. One of the biggest wildlife management plans is to build tunnels and bridges for the animals to cross over so that the vehicles don’t hit them and that they can learn to use the overpass when needed. C-Paws has a step-by-step process on bringing the grizzly bears back into Alberta. The trade off is less infrastructure, but in order to bring back a certain species in the forest where we can bring back and maintain the forest ecology is important.
C-Paws plan to bring back the grizzly bears:
- Decrease roads and trails in the Eastern Slopes to below maximum densities for grizzly bear and maintain or restore security of grizzly bear habitat. In order to achieve this more places in grizzly bear range will have to be protected, and activities will have to be carefully regulated on the unprotected landscape. In particular, a maximum density of roads and other motorized travel corridors (trails, seismic lines and other cleared rights-of-way) need to be enforced within grizzly bear range.
- Reduce grizzly bear deaths to below maximum numbers outlined in the Recovery Plan for the entire provincial population and populations of each BMA.
- Financial support to communities in grizzly bear range to implement strategies to reduce bear conflicts.
- Ensure connectivity between grizzly bear sub-populations in Alberta. Research suggests that grizzly bear population units should be at least 500-700 individuals. Connecting populations isolated by human transportation corridors is essential for the survival of small subpopulations.
- Achieve 1000 mature breeding adults in Alberta. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines identifies this as a minimum number of individuals to prevent unacceptable risk of decline. Alberta uses these guidelines to assess the status of endemic species.
Luckily now we have a government that is focusing on the youth and focusing on getting back in focus with protecting the environment. The Canadian Government under Justin Trudeau and the liberal party have focused and campaigned on saving certain parts of the environment and the ecosystem such as the Great Bear Rainforest. I was critical that the Northern Gateway Pipeline was not built because it would have gone through the Great Bear Rainforest and would have along the way damaged a lot of homes for other species in the rainforest, as it is the largest temperate rainforest in Northern America. Non-governmental-organizations such as C-Paws and WWF have joined hands with the stakeholders and communities as well as people all around the world to protect many acres and spots of land to promote the species of animals and to promote grizzly bears and the wildlife habitat that they live in.
As people, we may not think that grizzly bears have a huge affect on us, well especially living in the city we might not be able to do much but it doesn’t take a huge effort to think about what we can do. Driving out to the mountains and towns such as Canmore or Banff we should be cautious of the animals that we can encounter as we enter bear country. Now, going on hikes and camping we can all take a few seconds to dispose of our trash rather than littering and even the thought of running into a grizzly and her cubs is a lot to bear. However being smart and knowing how to deal with a situation if you ever encountered a grizzly is an easy thing to do. BE BEAR AWARE. We as humans need to stop being a threat to grizzly’s and be conscious about our decisions on when we are out in the wild and together we can help the grizzly population thrive again.
"National Parks." Liberal.ca. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. <http://www.liberal.ca/realchange/
national-parks/>.
"Grizzly Bear Recovery." C-Paws. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. <http://cpaws-southernalberta.org/
campaigns/grizzly-bears>.
"New Solutions." arc-solutions. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. <http://arc-solutions.org/
new-solutions/>.
"Help Us Protect Grizzly Bears." Defenders.Org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.defenders.org/help-us-protect-grizzly-bears>.
"Grizzly Bear History." WesternWildlife.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://westernwildlife.org/grizzly-bear-outreach-project/history/>.
"Grizzly Bear." NWF.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016. <https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/
Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Grizzly-Bear.aspx>.
"Brown/Grizzly Bear hunting in Alaska." adgf.alaska.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm%3Fadfg=brownbearhunting.main>.
"Traditional Medicine Trade: Bears." Endangered Species Handbook. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.endangeredspecieshandbook.org/trade_traditional_bears.php>.
"Threats to Grizzly Bears." Defenders.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.defenders.org/grizzly-bear/threats>.
"Grizzly Bears." indians.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016. <http://www.indians.org/articles/
grizzly-bear.html>.
"Grizzly Bears." edu.pe.ca. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016. <http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/
grizzly.htm>.
"Basic Facts About Grizzly Bears." defenders.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.defenders.org/grizzly-bear/basic-facts>.
"Ursus arctos horribilis - the Grizzly Bear." tolweb.org. Spencer Heffernan, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://tolweb.org/treehouses/?treehouse_id=4728>.
"future for the grizzly." env.gov.ab.ca. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016. <http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/
wld/grzz/grst.html>.
"Grizzly Bears." National Wildlife Federation. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016. <https://www.nwf.org/
Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Grizzly-Bear.aspx>.
"spirit guides." behance.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. <https://www.behance.net/gallery/
9432995/Spirit-Guides>.
"Grizzly Bears." Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Grizzly_bear>.
national-parks/>.
"Grizzly Bear Recovery." C-Paws. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. <http://cpaws-southernalberta.org/
campaigns/grizzly-bears>.
"New Solutions." arc-solutions. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. <http://arc-solutions.org/
new-solutions/>.
"Help Us Protect Grizzly Bears." Defenders.Org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.defenders.org/help-us-protect-grizzly-bears>.
"Grizzly Bear History." WesternWildlife.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://westernwildlife.org/grizzly-bear-outreach-project/history/>.
"Grizzly Bear." NWF.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016. <https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/
Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Grizzly-Bear.aspx>.
"Brown/Grizzly Bear hunting in Alaska." adgf.alaska.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm%3Fadfg=brownbearhunting.main>.
"Traditional Medicine Trade: Bears." Endangered Species Handbook. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.endangeredspecieshandbook.org/trade_traditional_bears.php>.
"Threats to Grizzly Bears." Defenders.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.defenders.org/grizzly-bear/threats>.
"Grizzly Bears." indians.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016. <http://www.indians.org/articles/
grizzly-bear.html>.
"Grizzly Bears." edu.pe.ca. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016. <http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/
grizzly.htm>.
"Basic Facts About Grizzly Bears." defenders.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.defenders.org/grizzly-bear/basic-facts>.
"Ursus arctos horribilis - the Grizzly Bear." tolweb.org. Spencer Heffernan, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
<http://tolweb.org/treehouses/?treehouse_id=4728>.
"future for the grizzly." env.gov.ab.ca. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016. <http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/
wld/grzz/grst.html>.
"Grizzly Bears." National Wildlife Federation. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016. <https://www.nwf.org/
Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Grizzly-Bear.aspx>.
"spirit guides." behance.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. <https://www.behance.net/gallery/
9432995/Spirit-Guides>.
"Grizzly Bears." Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Grizzly_bear>.
Sockeye salmon are the most abundant species of salmon in all of British Columbia, which is to say they’re a pretty big deal. For thousands of years their huge numbers sustained the local aboriginal communities along the rivers and coasts of British Columbia, who used nets and weirs to funnel and capture salmon on their long migrations. More recently, commercial and recreational fishing opportunities have been supplied by the sockeye, which are very tasty.
Sockeye begin life in freshwater lakes, rivers and streams of inland British Columbia in late summer and early fall, where female salmon lay their eggs in nests called ‘redds’. The redds are shallow scoops in the gravel which are created when the salmon fan their tails, scattering the gravel out of the hole. The redds are then recovered with gravel until the eggs hatch. Young salmon spend the early stages of their life at home in the freshwaters near where they hatch. There’s no place like home! Later on, the salmon make their way down river to the ocean, where their diet of crustaceans and shrimp causes them to have a high oil content. After about four years, the sockeye return to the same stream in which they hatched, so they can spawn. The salmon turn red when they are about to spawn, and die shortly after spawning. It’s a lot of work after all.
Many aboriginal communities in British Columbia are located along the coasts and riverbanks, where they have easy access to salmon. On the rivers, such as the Fraser, weirs were used to direct salmon into the nets of fishermen who would perch high on elevated platforms suspended from the canyon walls.
Many aboriginal communities in British Columbia are located along the coasts and riverbanks, where they have easy access to salmon. On the rivers, such as the Fraser, weirs were used to direct salmon into the nets of fishermen who would perch high on elevated platforms suspended from the canyon walls.
On the coasts, rocks were piled into walls, which created artificial tide pools that the salmon would get stuck in as the tide went out. Fishers would then easily remove the salmon with nets.
Salmon are common in the art of First Nations’ groups in British Columbia because of the role they played in traditional life as a source of food. In art, it symbolizes determination, dependability, renewal and instinct. It is also represented as the provider of life, due to the sustenance it provides. If paired with another salmon in art, the pair represents good luck.
Commercial fishing began in British Columbia in the 1870’s, and over the decades the number of salmon caught increased well into the millions. By the 1920’s, 10-12 million sockeye were harvested annually and this number has risen to 20 million today. Sockeye only make up a portion of the total amount of salmon that is harvested annually, but they are the most significant single species of salmon in fisheries. For this reason as well as the ecological functions salmon provide, conservation of the sockeye is a critical requirement of a healthy fishing economy, and healthy ocean and forest ecosystems.
Images: "Adult Sockeye Salmon." Digital Image. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
"Indian Fishing Place." Wm. Notman and Son. 1907. Collection of the Author.
Salmon are common in the art of First Nations’ groups in British Columbia because of the role they played in traditional life as a source of food. In art, it symbolizes determination, dependability, renewal and instinct. It is also represented as the provider of life, due to the sustenance it provides. If paired with another salmon in art, the pair represents good luck.
Commercial fishing began in British Columbia in the 1870’s, and over the decades the number of salmon caught increased well into the millions. By the 1920’s, 10-12 million sockeye were harvested annually and this number has risen to 20 million today. Sockeye only make up a portion of the total amount of salmon that is harvested annually, but they are the most significant single species of salmon in fisheries. For this reason as well as the ecological functions salmon provide, conservation of the sockeye is a critical requirement of a healthy fishing economy, and healthy ocean and forest ecosystems.
Images: "Adult Sockeye Salmon." Digital Image. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
"Indian Fishing Place." Wm. Notman and Son. 1907. Collection of the Author.
4/7/2016 1 Comment
And So It Begins...
This is the Natural Science 30 Blog spot to begin building out and highlighting the research elements that are required for your Wildlife Stewardship assessment for Mr. Lake. As you research and discover each element, you can post your information on this blog to complete your work. This will allow you to slowly tackle the material, publish your results and allow others to see your progress and what you have discovered. Have fun and lets enjoy the journey.