Posts Tagged: Alberta

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.

Too Tall – the North American Moose

June 1, 2024

With a scientific name so nice you’ll want to say it twice, north American moose (Alces alces) are…

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’,…

For the Love of Bogs

April 26, 2022

Spring has sprung here at Fiera, and so, like everyone, our thoughts turn to bogs. What are they? How do they work?