These unique ecosystems are very different from other wetlands. The top layer of this habitat is made up of living mosses and plants. Underneath this 30 to 50 centimetres of thriving plant material lies up to 10 metres of dead and decomposing Sphagnum mosses and plants. This is the water-absorbent substance known as peat. While some gardeners use it as a mixture to aerate soil and keep their plants hydrated, here are the top three reasons to find alternatives to gardening with this remarkable organic material, mostly found in the boreal forest and subarctic regions of Canada.

1. Peatlands Are Home to Many Species

Canada is the steward of more than one-third of the world’s peatlands. These bogs and fens cover about 14 per cent of the country, providing critical habitat for birds, fish, mammals, plants, reptiles and amphibians. This includes at-risk species like Woodland Caribou and Spotted Turtles. Another fascinating fact is that many native wild orchids are specialized to thrive only in the peatlands of the boreal forest.

2. Peatlands Can Provide a Nature-based Solution to Climate Change

Peatlands store carbon. These natural ecosystems help keep the planet cool by trapping CO2 deep underground for thousands of years. They can also keep the area around them cool through water vapour exchange and by providing vegetation cover. By leaving these peatland resources intact, they may help mitigate the impact of climate change.

3. Peatlands Help With Water Retention and Filtration

Often compared to soggy sponges, peatlands can help prevent flooding. They are also helpful in times of drought. In addition, they help filter and clean water. Estimates are that peatlands can remove up to 90 per cent of contaminants from the water column by essentially trapping them in their pores.

These are just a few of the reasons to conserve peatlands and leave this Sphagnum moss undisturbed in its natural settings. Disturbing these habitats can release carbon and pollutants back into the environment and prevent further carbon sequestration. But many gardeners are unsure what to use as a substitute when starting seeds or potting plants.

Here are some ideas to consider and decide what is right for you.

Coconut coir is the fibrous material that results from separating the inner layer of the coconut husk from the outer shell. In its raw form, it is stringy and is used to make rope, mats and biodegradable pots and hanging baskets. When grounded into a fine powder-like form, it has similar, if not more desirable, properties to peat moss. Among other things, coir aerates soil while holding more moisture than peat and can be easier to water by allowing the water to penetrate more easily. Additionally, as it does not stress our peatlands, coir is an appreciated alternative and has become more available in recent years. Before you buy some, however, it is worth considering that while much of the processing is manual, there is variation in some of the steps and resources used when cleaning the coir, from steaming to using chemicals. Where possible, read labels or contact suppliers to find out what was involved and if it is acceptable to you. The other factor is, depending upon the source, it may have been shipped from extremely far locations which involves more resources and creates more pollution in doing so.

Some gardeners avoid both peat and coir by using compost or well-aged manure from trusted local sources. This is perfect for adding to soil when potting plants to both amend the soil structure and add nutrients, especially if you save and reuse soil from your outdoor pots year after year. You may also wish to add perlite or vermiculite which provide additional aeration and drainage but do your research to see if they suit your particular planting needs.

As to seeds, while it is desirable to have sterilized soil to prevent seedlings from succumbing to diseases, when you look more closely, it seems that much of what is available, including peat, is not totally sterile. So, if you can’t find a peat-free seed starter mix, there are methods of sterilizing soil at home that can be found on-line. There are pros and cons to all ways – heating in the oven, the microwave or with steam – and it’s a matter of doing some checking to see which method is best for you, if any. Alternatively, many gardeners do sometimes plant seeds in regular soil and manage well, so while sterilization is definitely helpful, it is not always critical.

For more tips on growing native plants, check out WildAboutGardening.ca
To learn more about peatlands, check out the Hinterland Who’s Who videos and fact sheets or download a copy of CWF’s Wild About Peatlands poster.

To be out amongst rows of strawberry plants, eagerly peeking through their leaves to find the tasty treasures within is always fun. (It’s even more fun to munch on a couple while filling your basket!) If you’ve ever considered growing them at home but felt a bit daunted by the space or effort needed, you might want to consider having a patch of wild strawberries instead. While their berries are smaller, they are generally sweet, flavourful and a great way to get kids outside, eager to explore and discover what’s new in the yard. In a good year, one can harvest many handfuls of strawberries from just a tiny patch of about 61 by 61 cm.

A Rose by Any Other Name

Canada has three species of native strawberries, all of which have white flowers that bloom typically between April to June. They are part of the rose family and have five white petals arranged radially around the centre which has many stamens, the part of the flower that bears pollen. Once pollinated, they form red fleshy fruit-like structures (commonly referred to as the fruit or berry) which have many small achenes – commonly but incorrectly referred to as the seeds. These structures are technically the fruit and contain the seed within! Wild strawberry plants are low to the ground, growing up to 15 to 25 cm high. They have trifoliate leaves, meaning they are divided into three leaflets, in this case, with toothed edges. Wild strawberries spread by sending out runners which grow along the ground and plant roots a distance away from the parent plant, anywhere from 15 to 50 cm.

Watch out for the non-native look alike, Indian Strawberry (its name reflecting its origin from India and other Asian countries) Potentilla indica, once called Duchesnea indica. Its other common names are Mock Strawberry and False Strawberry for good reason – it, too, is a low growing plant with trifoliate leaves that have wavy or toothed edges and its fruiting bodies look just like an oversized wild strawberry. You can tell the difference by its flowers which are yellow and the larger rounder ‘berry’ which forms atop a stem pointing upwards, unlike wild strawberry fruit which typically hang down. The fruit are also edible but don’t have the same sweet flavour as a wild strawberry.

As to wild strawberries’ scientific name, Fragaria, it comes from the Latin word ‘fragra’ which comes from the more common word ‘fragrans’, describing a plant with fragrance. In this case, the strawberry fruit have a distinct and pleasant smell, especially if you crush them. ‘Strawberries’ refers to the fruit which form near to the ground. Many northern European countries call them ‘earth berries’ and people traditionally place straw around plants to lift the fruit up from the earth, keeping them cleaner and drier.

Benefits

Strawberry flowers provide nectar and pollen for many species of bees, flies and butterflies. Their ‘berries’ are eaten by birds and mammals, from chipmunks to bears and their leaves are a larval food plant for some butterfly species.

All parts of wild strawberry plants are edible and the plant as a whole is nutritious, providing minerals and vitamins A, B, C and E. Wild strawberries are also medicinal, acting as a tonic and providing support to organs like the liver and kidneys. They have been used to help with ailments such as gout and arthritis as well as to treat ulcers, wounds and sunburns. For some, these tiny but mighty plants are famous for treating digestive upsets. In fact, the roots and leaves were used in the original formula of “Dr. Fowler’s Extract of Wild Strawberry” that was sold in stores from 1901 to the mid-80’s.

Check out the plants below to see what species are native to your neck of the woods, especially if you fancy growing them at home as a ground cover, in the lawn or along pathways (for easy snacking!)

Coastal Strawberry / Beach Strawberry / Sand Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis)

This species (subspecies Lucida and Pacifica) is found along the coast of BC, in meadows, sand dunes and coastal bluffs. They grow in full sun to partial shade and are somewhat drought tolerant given their affinity with sandy soils. Their leaves are typically shiny and dark green and they are considered to be slower spreaders than other Canadian species. This is not to be confused with another subspecies of this plant which grows in South America (hence its scientific name ‘F. chiloensis ssp. chiloensis’ and its common name Chilean Strawberry) which is one of the parent plants of the cultivated strawberry.

Read more >

Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)

As its common name implies, this strawberry species grows in woods, thickets, forest edges and meadows, especially where there is partial shade. It is widespread, reaching most of southern Canada from BC to NL and up into the Northwest Territories. A subspecies, Fragaria vesca subsp. Bracteata (Pacific / Western Woodland Strawberry) is found in BC and AB.  The fruit is typically elongated and the achenes stick out a bit like little bumps

Read more >

Virginia Strawberry / Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

There are a few subspecies of this plant and collectively they are native to all provinces and territories. You might spot one in disturbed areas like roadsides as well as meadows, fields and open areas of woodland. They do well in full sun as well as partial shade. Virginia Strawberry is the other parent plant of the cultivated strawberry. The fruit is typically more rounded than the Woodland Strawberry and its light-coloured achenes are sunken or indented on the berry.

Read more >

This year, we received more than 10,200 images submitted in total! Year after year, we are stunned and left in awe at the support and generosity of every single photographer participating in the contest. We are grateful to every single person who shared their special wildlife moments with us – thank you.

The winning, runner-up and honourable mentions of this year’s Reflections of Nature Photo Contest highlight the best of Canada’s landscapes, wildlife and flora. They also capture how Canadians connect with nature and how wildlife weaves itself into our urban environments.

From a quiet moment with an Arctic fox, to caribou moving steadily across a wind-scoured lake, this year’s photos capture both patience and presence. There are close-up encounters beneath the surface, wildlife moments unfolding alongside busy urban life, and landscapes that feel vast, moody and humbling. Together, here are the 2025 photos that left us speechless.

GRAND PRIZE

WINNER

Steven Heipel 

Far out on the frozen ocean of Baffin Bay, Steven Heipel traveled by snowmobile and qamutiik, hoping to glimpse Polar Bears. During a 10-day Arctic camping trip, Inuit guides paused at the base of this iceberg to harvest ice for fresh water. One guide spotted an Arctic Fox high on the ice and guessed its den was inside the iceberg.  While the group congregated at the far end of the iceberg, Heipel waited alone. The fox appeared in a well of sea ice, paused for a breath, then began zigzagging through the maze of fallen ice again. Whispering a plea for her to look back, Heipel got his wish – just once – capturing a glance and a puff of breath in the cold air.

RUNNER-UP

Jean-Christophe Lemay

About 100 kilometres from Radisson in northern Quebec, Jean-Christophe Lemay spent days tracking caribou with little luck. The herd shifted locations nearly daily, and on this afternoon, the caribou had wandered far out onto a frozen lake, too distant for a handheld shot. With a little trepidation, Lemay decided to launch his drone above the caribou to see their reaction. To his surprise, the caribou paid no attention. From above, he captured their silent march across a landscape sculpted by wind and extreme cold, where temperatures often plummeted to -40 Celsius.

FOCUS ON FAUNA

WINNER

Abby Keeler

On her first visit to Stanley Park, Abby Keeler set out at sunrise hoping to photograph otters and beavers. After two hours of walking along the waterway, she spotted this Common Raccoon scavenging along the riverbed and spent the next hour quietly observing and taking photographs. For this shot, she lay down on a trail, hoping no one came along to disturb them. Observing wildlife has always been part of Keeler’s world – hours spent outdoors as a child turned into a daily ritual she eagerly embraced. 

RUNNER UP

Mike Jemmely

Mike Jemmely plunged into the clear waters of Forillon National Park in search of seals but instead discovered a North American Lobster peeking out from a tangle of seaweed. With its eyes fixed on the camera, the lobster paused long enough for Jemmely to capture this mesmerizing underwater portrait.

HONOURABLE MENTION

Jodie Gallant

Walking along the Conuma River during the salmon run on a school field trip, Jodie Gallant stumbled upon a Black Bear slumbering on a fallen tree. Perfectly camouflaged in the curve of the trunk, the bear was a reminder of how deeply wildlife belongs to this place. For Gallant, moving to a remote area taught her to slow down and attune to the rhythms of the seasons – a lesson this peaceful moment drove home.

HONOURABLE MENTION

Nancy Ross

Nancy Ross has admired Atlantic Puffins for years and chose Elliston Island – one of North America’s best sites to observe these marine birds – for her dream shot.  Positioning herself near the cliff’s edge, she waited four hours for the perfect moment: a puffin landing at sunrise, wings outspread against a glowing sky, carrying nesting materials in its bill.

HONOURABLE MENTION

Kyla Black

On a week-long trip to Churchill, Kyla Black watched as a female Polar Bear and her two cubs trudged across rocky terrain in a swirling snowstorm. Then, a Common Raven swooped in, diving low to tease the bears, only to lift away, just out of reach, at the last second, play a game of cat and mouse.

CANADIAN LANDSCAPES

WINNER

John Meragias

After a grueling week-long trek through Tombstone Territorial Park with a 70 lb backpack, John Meragias camped for two nights in the pouring rain, hoping to capture the moody beauty of this rugged wilderness. His persistence paid off at sunrise when he discovered clusters of Cottongrass along the lake’s edge, framed by the jagged mountain peaks. Though modest compared to more colourful blooms, Cottongrass are compelling – especially when juxtaposed by dramatic skies and the untamed terrain of northern Yukon. 

RUNNER UP

Mike Douthwright

Mike Douthwright made the trip from St. John’s to Tickle Cove, Newfoundland, after hearing about the breathtaking view through its sea arch at sunset—and it didn’t disappoint. For over an hour, he waited patiently for the clouds to part, framing the scene for that fleeting moment of light.  

CANADIAN LANDSCAPES

HONOURABLE MENTION

Edward Savage

In the aftermath of a brutal blizzard, Edward Savage endured -40 °C temperatures for over three hours, waiting for the northern skies to light up with aurora borealis. With the moon at his back casting light across jagged snowdrifts, the scene unfolded: wind-carved ridges leading to a stand of spruce trees overlooking the vast, frozen expanse of Hudson Bay.

CONNECTING WITH NATURE

WINNER

Kayley Amo

An early morning trip to Cache Lake in Algonquin Park gave Kayley Amo a chance to slow down and appreciate life’s small wonders: a sunrise, trees cloaked in mist and still waters reflecting the soft morning light.

RUNNER UP

Ray Cislo

While backcountry skiing in the Rocky Mountains, Ray Cislo captured a striking scene of skiers climbing the slopes. Their tiny silhouettes against the vast expanse of the mountain range highlight nature’s immense scale and the privilege of exploring its wonders. Cislo timed the shot perfectly, waiting until the skiers aligned with the sweeping ridges to evoke that sense of grandeur, all while balancing the demands of skiing and photographing at once.

URBAN INTERACTION

WINNER

Glen Strickey

Glen Strickey first headed to this fishing wharf after hearing reports of a Short-eared Owl in the area. Over the next 10 days, he made the 60-minute drive after work, logging more than 1,000 kilometres in search of the elusive raptor. He spotted the owl several times, and on the day, he captured this photo, it was hunting in a field near the wharf – its long wings sweeping through the air as a fishing boat framed the scene.

RUNNER UP

Jillian Brown

With her husband in surgery, Jillian Brown turned to her camera for solace. Under the Granville Island Street Bridge, she discovered a colony of Cormorants nesting among the steel beams. The birds leapt from the metal structure, soaring toward the ocean, on the hunt for food. The graceful contrast between the birds and the harsh lines of the bridge brought Brown back to the bridge time and time again. Look closely, and you’ll spot a nest tucked behind the highlighted Cormorant, with its partner nestled upon it.

HONOURABLE MENTION 

Ronia Nash

On her way to the 2025 Invictus Games at the Vancouver Convention Centre, Ronia Nash spotted a family of Canada Geese waddled down the busy street. She had only a few minutes to capture the moment – first as they crossed the road, then as they walked away in the neat line. With a school bus in the background, the scene almost looks as though the parents are escorting their goslings to school.

FINDING FLORA

WINNER 

Milena Esser

In the remote Experimental Lakes Area, conditions are perfect for pitcher plants to flourish. While documenting the region as an environmental researcher, Milena Esser turned her lens toward a Purple Pitcher Plant. Its bulbous shape and rich colour catch the eye but look closer and you’ll find tiny inward-pointing hairs, guiding unsuspecting prey towards the plant’s ingenious trap.

RUNNER UP 

Sarah Neufeld

On a quiet nature walk near Dawson City, Sarah Neufeld noticed a cluster of delicate Psathyrellaceae mushrooms rising from the forest floor. Drawn by their contrast and colours, their earthy tones framed by a wash of soft green, she captured this incredible shot.

HONOURABLE MENTION 

Kyla Black

Kyla Black returned to Waterton Lakes National Park five times to find the right conditions to capture this shot. On a late-spring evening, a hillside was covered in balsamroot as the sun set behind the mountain peak – a fleeting moment that made the effort worthwhile.

Learn more about the Reflections of Nature Annual Photo Contest or other ways the Canadian Wildlife Federation helps promote our connection with nature  >

Sometimes being part of a small, exclusive group feels good.

We have a shared vision where all Canadians understand and value the beauty and importance of grasslands — and are aware of the trouble they are in.

Coalition Assemble!

This is why we have assembled a very keen group of like-minded organizations and individuals into the Canadian Grassland Coalition: to work on sharing the secret of Canada’s disappearing grassland ecosystems.

Over the past year and a half, the Canadian Wildlife Federation has been working with more than 30 Coalition organizations preparing an awareness campaign to spread the word about Canada’s grasslands.

It’s been a great experience. We have met monthly to share experiences about the work we do and brainstorm ways to best communicate messages that will make more Canadians aware of natural grasslands. Working together, we have learned a lot.

Now, after over a year of hard work, the secret is out. The Canadian Grassland Coalition, with support from the Canadian Wildlife Federation, has launched the awareness campaign “The Secret Life of Canada’s Grasslands.”  You may see our ads on your favourite social media networks and you can visit our new website at CanadasGrasslands.ca.

We hope you learn something about our native grasslands and are inspired to do more. How? You can visit a grassland, join our iNaturalist project or even spread the word about grasslands to your friends and family.

So, What’s the Big Secret?

The secret is that Canada’s natural grasslands are magnificent places. They are home to many fascinating and beautiful wild species found nowhere else in the world. Native grasslands sustain our ecological systems and society by supporting pollinators, managing water in times of flood and drought and sequestering carbon underground, which in turn helps to mitigate climate change.

Native grasslands are also cultural resources. They are revered by First Nations and Métis peoples as well as a wide swath of Canadians who feel connected to Canada’s prairie heritage.

maskoskahk ōma pimatisowin. ē kaskihtamāsot iyīnitoayīsiniw isīhcikēwin, ahcahkowin, ēkwa pīkīswēwin. ka isi wahkotomihk kāwī paspīhk ēkwa ka apihkātamīk pōko kikwiy, ōma tāpwēwin kā kisētamihk ka isi pīmātīsomakahk okāwīmāw askiy.

Native prairie is the lifeline for Indigenous plains people’s cultural, spiritual and linguistic existence. Our collective wellbeing and survival are braided together with that of what remains.

This is the truth of a living world.

~Philip Brass, the testimonial is in nēhiyawēwin (Plains Cree). He is from the Peepeekisis Cree Nation, Treaty 4 Territory, Saskatchewan.

Grasslands are the backbone of Canada’s vital agricultural system. They are found across Canada — from B.C.’s Okanagan Valley, through the Great Plains of the prairie provinces, to southern Ontario tallgrass prairies and salt marshes in the Maritimes.

Why Focus on Grasslands Now?

Canada’s natural grasslands have sacrificed much in the past 150 years. Experts estimate that more than 80 per cent of natural grasslands have been converted for other uses: agriculture, transportation, mining and urban development. Of the many species that call grasslands home, about 90 are at risk. Natural grasslands are difficult to restore and continue to disappear every day. They are in desperate need of our support, and that starts with creating awareness.

2026 is the United Nations International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists — a global campaign raising awareness of the contributions of grasslands and farmers to sustainable food systems, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. This makes 2026 the ideal year for the Canadian Grassland Coalition’s grassland awareness campaign, providing us with the opportunity to engage with and highlight messages about grasslands in both Canada and on a global scale.

Like the members of the Canadian Grassland Coalition, we are confident that once you discover the secret life of Canada’s grasslands you will fall in love with, and want to conserve, our natural grassland ecosystems.

Uncover more secrets — Visit CanadasGrasslands.ca

That’s what makes them the perfect foundation for your WILD Space! We’re now on Step 3 of your journey: planning your native plant pollinator garden. If you missed the first two steps, don’t worry! You can catch up here >

Where to Start?

Before starting your garden, you need to decide which native species you’re going to plant, where your garden will be located, and your plant layout. Let’s start by learning which plants are native to your area, what their characteristics are, and organizing them in a plant chart.

1. Create a Plant Chart

Here is an example chart from a native plant nursery in the Ottawa area.

Visit the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Native plant encyclopedia and look up the plants that are native to your province. Using the Plant Chart template, create a table that includes the following:

• Name – common and scientific
• Colour
• Bloom time
• Height
• Width
• Attracts what wildlife

2. Design Your Garden Layout

Once you understand the characteristics of each plant, you can start planning where they will go in your garden. Begin by deciding both the shape of your garden—round, square, rectangular—and the location of your garden—freestanding or against a structure. These choices influence how your layout will take shape. For example, in a garden against a structure, taller plants should be placed at the back, while in a freestanding garden, place the tall plants in the centre as not to block the view of the shorter plants. See the example above for diagrams of a freestanding garden and of a garden up against a structure.

Download a garden-design template to get started on your garden layout today.

3. Submit Your Plan & Request Plants

Now that you’ve completed your plant chart and garden layout, send your design to cwfeducation@cwf-fcf.org. Submissions will be accepted until March 31, 2026

The Canadian Wildlife Federation works with native plant nurseries across Canada to give schools free pollinator plants. The sign-up for plants will be open until March 31, 2026. Availability of plants is limited. If you are to receive plants, you’ll be notified in April, 2026 about the date, time and location of the pick-pick event.

Request your plants >

You’re Ready to Grow

Your WILD Space is well on its way—every native plant you choose helps local wildlife thrive! For quick tips to keep your garden growing strong, check out our Basics of Wildlife-Friendly Gardening handout.

If you discovered this blog on our website, be sure to sign up for the WILD Spaces e‑blast. You’ll receive monthly updates, next‑step reminders, and resources featuring each month’s highlighted pollinator — everything you need to stay inspired and keep your garden growing strong!

The heart of a blue whale weighs approximately 180 kg, which is 640 times the weight of a human heart! This humungous heart could beat for 80-90 years if the majestic marine mammal is able to coast through its full lifespan. But sadly, the situation facing these creatures is heartbreaking: pollution, climate change, vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear have led both Atlantic and Pacific populations to be listed as endangered in Canada. How can we tackle these problems?

Follow Your Heart

Every day, a Blue Whale can consume a whopping 10 million microplastic pieces! These tiny particles are not directly ingested by the whales. It’s worse. They are already embedded in the food they eat, little shrimp-like crustaceans called Krill. To reduce microplastic pollution, humans must reduce the amount of plastic waste they create. You can do your part by following the reduce, reuse, refuse and recycle strategy. Reuse any plastic containers you already have instead of buying more. Let others know that you do not need or want extra plastic consumer items, you prefer to limit your impact on the environment to keep animals like Blue Whales safe and sound. Recycle as much as possible, including other plastic litter you find on your winter walks.

Listen to Your Heart

Noise pollution is a major threat to the survival of Blue Whales. Blue Whale calls can sound like beautiful songs and can be detected hundreds of kilometers away. They produce these calls to communicate information about food and socialize with other whales, even find mates. The increase of activity causing underwater noise in the shipping, industrial and military sectors, is disturbing the Blue Whale environment. When loud noises are constantly around you, it creates a stressful habitat and Blue Whale can struggle to feed, navigate and stay in groups. You can help by shopping locally to reduce the need for marine transport. Tell your government representatives we need to live in harmony with marine species, and ensure our activities do not have deadly consequences. Industry could develop noise cancelling systems to reduce noise pollution in the ocean.

Heart to Heart

Whether or not you live along a shoreline, any chemicals you use can end up in the water supply. By reducing your use of pesticides, oils and other toxins and safely disposing of any chemicals that may be in your household, like leftover paints and stains, you are helping Blue Whales and other marine species. Climate change also impacts the ocean, like warming waters and altering ocean currents. Atlantic Blue Whales can be found from Quebec to Newfoundland, while Pacific Blue Whale are occasionally spotted on the Canadian west coast. Wouldn’t it be great if we saw more whales and less pollution? Anything you can do to reduce your carbon footprint can also help the whales. This might include disposing correctly of toxic products, reducing your energy consumption, considering public transit or eating local produce instead of imported specialty items.

In a Heartbeat

Marine traffic can have tragic impacts on marine wildlife. Risk assessments are underway in areas like the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where Blue Whales can be found year-round. The goal is to provide scientific evidence of where and when risk is high so that protection measures can be created and adapted. Research has shown that even small vessels can cause serious injuries to large whales. Collaborative approaches are required so that boats of all sizes avoid collisions with these gentle giants, who always need to come back to the surface to catch a breath. You can help by reporting sightings of whales and by supporting regulations designed to keep whales safe. If you own a boat, be sure to check your local regulations regarding the distance to be maintained from whales on the water.

Change of Heart

Entanglement in rope is harmful to whales and can cause serious health problem, even if the whale gets freed. The commercial fishing industry is an important part of Canada’s economy and culture, with techniques passed down through the generations. But harvesters in Atlantic Canada and the West Coast are beginning to employ new fishing technologies to reduce the amount of rope in the water. This on-demand fishing gear eliminates persistent ropes while still allowing harvesters to fish and retrieve their catch. By piloting this new technology, harvesters are demonstrating that a love for the fishing industry and love for marine life can co-exist. We just need to keep working on it, like any great relationship, and keep the lines of communication open. You can help by letting fish harvesters know you value and support their efforts to change decades old fishing techniques.

To learn more, visit HelptheWhales.ca.

Natural population fluctuations, seasonal differences, and changes in the landscape all influence where species are found. Yet one major driver remains constant: climate change. Fortunately, another constant is the growing number of community scientists whose observations help track these changes in real time. When ordinary people notice species turning up where they haven’t been seen before, we gain an essential advantage in monitoring range shifts across the country.

On platforms like iNaturalist Canada, observations accumulated year after year reveal when plants take root beyond their usual range, when insects appear farther up a valley, or when birds linger longer into the winter. As Canada’s climate warms, these small observations form a larger pattern: species moving north as conditions become more suitable. Community scientists have become central to documenting this shift.

Exploring the Ponderosa Pine biogeoclimatic zone

A clear example comes from the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. In 2021, Tyler D. Nelson and Chandra E. Moffat published a report describing a 25-kilometre northern range expansion of the Yellow Scarab Hunter Wasp (Dielis pilipes), a critically imperiled species in Canada. This shift into Summerland, within the Ponderosa Pine biogeoclimatic zone, was supported by iNaturalist observations and fieldwork conducted by the authors in 2020.

This expansion carries implications for both conservation and agriculture. The species may be vulnerable to pesticide use in the Okanagan Valley, yet it also acts as a natural predator of agricultural pests, making its presence potentially beneficial for orchards and vineyards. The report is more than a curiosity, it is a concrete, peer-reviewed piece of evidence that a species once confined to warmer pockets is extending farther north.

iNaturalist amplifies these kinds of findings. Photos and geotagged records submitted by hobbyists, farmers, naturalists, and kids create dense, time-stamped maps of species distributions. Scientists can use these data to detect new appearances, seasonal shifts, and repeated sightings that together signal a range expansion.

Winter: the quiet frontline of change

While many of us think of spring and summer when we imagine wildlife shifting their ranges, winter is a silent but powerful axis of change. Milder winters bring fewer days of extreme cold and more freeze-thaw cycles, and these are transforming landscapes that once served as hard boundaries for many species. For example, White-tailed Deer are pushing farther north into Canada’s boreal forests, a movement strongly tied to less severe winter conditions.

This expansion isn’t without consequence. In parts of Alberta, researchers have documented how deer densities correlate with winter severity, and how their incursion supports higher predator populations, to the detriment of Woodland Caribou, which are ill-equipped to cope with these trophic shifts.

At the same time, bird communities are reshuffling. Warmer winters are allowing species adapted to more southerly climates to survive regions further north, altering the winter bird assemblages we see during cold months.

Community scientists have a particularly important role here. Winter observations act as early warning signs. A single iNaturalist photo of an unexpected species in January, or an out-of-season lingering bird, can spark deeper investigation. Over time, these snapshots build up into a picture of how species are responding not just to warmer summers, but to the thawing boundaries of winter.

Use of iNaturalist during the winter

Winter brings its own challenges for community science. Fewer people are outdoors, daylight is scarce, and many animals stay hidden, so iNaturalist records naturally dip during the coldest months. That doesn’t mean winter observations are less valuable, just harder to collect. The result is a patchier dataset, where a single mid-January sighting can matter more than dozens of summer photographs.

Despite this, the platform is becoming an important window into seasonal change. Occasional winter reports of species lingering farther north than expected help complement long-running monitoring programs like the Christmas Bird Count. Each winter upload adds a missing piece to the puzzle, helping track where species are managing to survive the cold and how those patterns shift over time.

Even a brief glimpse of life in mid-winter can reveal meaningful change. That is why every photo taken in the quiet season carries outsized weight: it helps researchers see beyond the limitations of winter fieldwork and follow how climate change is reshaping Canada’s coldest months.

Join the CWF Observation Nation

The human element matters. iNaturalist users who help detect wildlife in their backyards are not conducting research in a lab; they are neighbours noticing something new. Photographs become observations, observations become data, the data become a scientific note, and that note enters the broader conversation about biodiversity in a warming world. iNaturalist links observations with expertise, shortening the distance between a sighting and scientific action.

The takeaway is practical and empowering: your phone and your curiosity can contribute to science through CWF’s Observation Nation. Uploading a clear photo, along with a date and location, can help researchers track where species are moving and when. These community contributions can prompt follow-up studies, help set conservation priorities, and even influence local policy when species of concern appear in new places.

Change is happening. When we pay attention and share what we see, we not only record these changes, but we also help shape the story of how Canada understands and responds to them.

It’s February in Canada which means much of this country is covered in snow, air temperatures are chilly and lakes and ponds are covered with ice. And while many of us may be cozied up by a fire or wrapped in a blanket; beneath the icy, cold waters there’s still a flurry of activity taking place. Activity that for some species, we’re still learning about. This may be especially true for insects!

In a study that was just published in 2025, researchers looked at ice-covered ponds in Nova Scotia. They found that all major insect taxa, including beetles, mayflies and caddisflies, were active in the winter. It seems the cold doesn’t slow down some insects at all. Some beetles, for instance, appeared to swim around as if it was a sunny, balmy day. This study brings new insight into winter insect activity, an area that remains largely underexplored and one that requires more research.

Roaming Reptiles

While some freshwater turtles like Snapping Turtles and painted turtles go dormant in the winter, Northern Map Turtles continue to take daily, local excursions. That’s right – they keep moving, even under ice. Why? Researchers believe it’s so they can meet their oxygen needs. Moving around, even if it’s minimally, allows them to “breathe” through their skin. It replaces the oxygen-depleted layer of water on them with water that is freshly oxygenated. It may also allow them to search for areas with higher oxygen concentrations as well as areas with more desirable depths and temperatures.

Frisky Fish

Burbot are an interesting fish. They are a cold-water fish and can be found in most of Canada. They are eel-like in appearance but are most easily identified by their chin barbel, sometimes referred to as their chin whisker, which helps them find food. They are active in winter but perhaps what’s most interesting about this fish is when they spawn. They spawn in winter under ice! While they are normally found in deep waters, when it comes time to spawn, they move to shallower areas. They congregate into what are called “spawning balls”. Eggs are released and fertilized in the water before they settle on the bottom.

Masterful Mammals

Even Muskrats are busy under ice. They create feeding shelters called push-ups. This is when they push aquatic plants up through holes or cracks in the ice, creating a small dome-like structure. They use push-ups as a place to rest when out foraging. You might have even noticed these small piles on top of the ice. They’ll chew away at the ice throughout the winter to keep the holes open!

It’s incredible how much life and activity continues beneath the surface of the water and under ice during winter. From tiny organisms to larger animals, countless species remain active, adapting to the cold and thriving in this hidden world. Exploring this underwater world in winter isn’t easy, and there’s still so much more to learn about what happens beneath the ice.

Whether it’s spending long days hiking steep mountain trails in search of the elusive Vancouver Island Marmot or walking windy beaches to spot the egg cases of the Winter Skate, community naturalists and scientists across Canada put an incredible amount of heart and effort into understanding and protecting our most at‑risk species. Their work, often quiet, patient and persistent, helps us see the bigger picture of how wildlife is changing and what we can do to help.

February 7, 2026 is Reverse the Red Day, a moment for the global community to pause and celebrate conservation efforts happening around the world. At its core, Reverse the Red is a movement focused on hope, uniting countries, organizations and individuals behind a shared mission to stop the decline of biodiversity and help species recover. The name comes from the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) famous Red List, a global assessment that identifies species at risk of extinction. By “reversing the red,” the goal is to move species out of threatened categories and back toward recovery.

National Work Contributes Internationally

In Canada, we often hear about species designated by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). While both COSEWIC and the IUCN are working toward the same broad goal of protecting biodiversity, they operate at different scales. The IUCN evaluates species globally, whereas COSEWIC focuses specifically on wildlife within Canada. Still, these systems connect: COSEWIC uses criteria based on IUCN standards to help guide its own assessments. Together, they contribute to a larger conservation framework that not only identifies species at risk, but also supports the policies and actions needed to protect them.

And the need is great.

Canada has more than 800 species currently considered at risk. It’s a number that can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a reminder of just how important every observation, every data point, and every set of eyes on the landscape can be. Researchers can’t be everywhere at once. That’s where community science becomes essential.

You’ve Got the Tools, You’ve Got the Talent

iNaturalist Canada is one of the most powerful tools supporting this effort. Anyone with a phone or camera can contribute meaningful data simply by recording a sound or taking a picture of a plant, animal, or fungus and uploading it.

For rare and endangered species, even a single observation can help fill major information gaps, telling scientists and decision makers where a species still occurs, critical habitat that needs protecting, how populations might be shifting, or where conservation action is needed most. For species so uncommon that only a handful of records exist, these contributions can be game‑changing.

Connection Grows Conservation

But iNaturalist isn’t just about data collection. It’s also a way for people to connect with the biodiversity around them; to learn the names of the species living in their neighbourhoods, discover which ones are at risk, and understand how their observations fit into a much bigger story. Awareness is one of our strongest tools in conservation, and iNaturalist Canada helps make it accessible to everyone.

This Reverse the Red Day, we celebrate not only the scientists and conservation organizations leading recovery efforts, but also the hundreds of thousands of everyday naturalists helping to conserve species simply by paying attention. Together, we really can reverse the trend.

Lear more about how the Canadian Wildlife Federation and COSEWIC are using iNaturalist to conserve and assess species at risk in Canada with the iNaturalist project.

American Badgers (Taxidea taxus) are mammals found in Canadian grasslands from British Columbia all the way east to Ontario. Scientists have identified three distinct badger populations in Canada:

• Southwestern Ontario
• Kootenays/prairie/Rainy River
• Cariboo/Thompson/Okanagan

They are considered a Species of Special Concern in the prairies (sensitive to human activities or natural events) and endangered (immediate risk of extinction or extirpation) in the others. If you’ve never seen a Badger in Canada, you are not alone. Not only are they naturally elusive, nocturnal and tend to avoid humans, they also spend some of their time underground in burrows. Especially in the winter.

Hiding Not Hibernating

Unlike other northern mammals found underground in the Canadian winter, Badgers are not hibernating. They survive the harsh, cold winters in Canadian grasslands by using burrows as protection. From about November to March, they will overwinter in burrows, insulated from the cold air above. Researchers at Thomson Rivers University, the British Columbia government, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada found that winter burrows had more vegetation and more entrances than summer burrows, suggesting Badgers spend more time underground in winter. They may have as many as 15 different burrows over the winter but spend most of their time in one or two.

For part of the time they are underground, Badgers will enter a shallow torpor, a kind of very brief hibernation, during which their heart rate will slow by 50 per cent and their body temperature drops by 9° C. Although we don’t know what triggers them to wake up, it probably has something to do with their fat reserves; they get hungry, wake up, and head out to forage. This is a tradeoff as foraging in the cold exposed landscape will use up energy. Their food is energy-rich — commonly ground squirrels, pocket gophers, mice, and voles — but hard to find in the winter months.

Indeed, research shows that they leave their burrows despite cold air temperatures and even despite snow depth. Driven by hunger, they emerge mostly at night, typically a colder part of the day. This is where the loss of grassland habitat in Canada affects Badgers; if grassland hunting habitat is lost, or patchy, Badgers have both fewer fat reserves going into winter, and fewer opportunities to replenish them during winter. Thus, a healthy grassland habitat is needed to support healthy Badger populations.

Building Burrows Enriches Grassland Systems

Across Canada, what Badgers do to prepare their burrows for winter benefits many plants and animals. By digging burrows and storing food (including vegetation) underground they improve the health of grassland systems by increasing water infiltration, nutrient cycling and provide homes for other animals like western rattlesnakes, burrowing owls, and swift fox. Like Beavers elsewhere, Badgers are the ecosystem engineers of the grasslands.

Conserving natural grasslands, like those needed for Badgers to thrive, is the objective of CWF’s Native Grassland Conservation program. We work with producers and landowners to help promote natural grassland habitat and support Canada’s rich grassland biodiversity, including the American Badger.

Learn more about CWF’s work with Canada’s Native Grasslands or learn more at CanadasGrasslands.ca