The Canadian Field-Naturalist (E-Journal)
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"The Object’s the Thing: the Writings of Yorke Edwards, a Pioneer of Heritage Interpretation in Canada" by Richard Kool and Robert A. Cannings, 2021. [book review]
Get PDFAssessing migration strategies and cause specific mortality of adult female White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in North Dakota, USA
Get PDFLife-history characteristics of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have been documented in areas of the Northern Great Plains, but limited information is available in grassland dominated regions. We documented migration strategy, home range use, and survival of adult female White-tailed Deer in central North Dakota. We monitored 62 radio-collared adult (>1.5 year-old) female White-tailed Deer from February 2010 to December 2012. We documented 86 summer home ranges and classified deer as resident, migratory, or exhibiting a late season movement. Mean migration distance between non-overlapping summer and winter home ranges was 11.76 km (SE 0.86, n = 21). Mean late season movements were 20.69 km (SE 2.94, n = 7) and were likely the result of deer exhausting food resources throughout winter. We also developed five competing models that represented variation in survival among time periods (e.g., pre-hunt, hunt, and post-hunt in 2010 and 2011). Our top model indicated that survival (S) was similar between hunt 2010 and post-hunt 2011 periods but was lower (S = 0.82; SE 0.04, 95% CI 0.73–0.89) than the remaining time periods (S = 0.97; SE 0.01, 95% CI 0.93–0.99). Our results suggest that deer migration strategies and survival are likely influenced by a combination of winter severity and food availability. Mortalities attributed to hunter harvest were low during our study, which may indicate that increased recreational opportunities could be made available, even after severe winters
Paedomorphic Blotched Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium melanostictum) in ovo counts, British Columbia, Canada
Get PDFReproductively mature larval morphs, known as paedogens, are a rare occurrence in Blotched Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium melanostictum). The Southern Mountain population of this subspecies, confined to the southern interior of British Columbia, is listed federally as Endangered and has been facing increasing pressures from anthropogenic stressors in both their aquatic and terrestrial landscapes. In 2017, we examined a subset of 36 frozen Blotched Tiger Salamander paedogens collected in September 1985 after rotenone treatment in preparation for a recreational fishery near Oliver, British Columbia. We estimated total in ovo numbers in nine gravid individuals to gain insight into paedogen reproductive condition. The number of eggs per individual averaged 227 ± 109 [SD]; range 28–421), with larger dark eggs accounting for 133 ± 69 and smaller pale eggs (possibly follicles or colour may be an artifact of storage) accounting for 94 ± 49. Salamanders were collected in September after the expected egg-laying period for the terrestrial form (early spring); thus, the reproductive stage of the eggs is unclear, but is assumed to be post-breeding and representative of developing eggs and follicles. Canadian data on in ovo counts within the body cavity have not been reported for Blotched Tiger Salamander paedogens and our study provides valuable information on the reproductive condition of paedogens. Although terrestrial forms have been observed, the presence of paedogens in the treated wetland has yet to be detected
Another mention of Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) found in pellets of Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) in northern Ungava Peninsula, Canada
Get PDFThe examination of raptor pellets can be used to evaluate Arctic biodiversity. We found the remains of Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and Ungava Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx hudsonius) in pellets from Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) nesting in the northern part of the Ungava Peninsula. We differentiated the two species by visual identification and geometric morphometric analysis of molar shape. The results of our study combined with historical data suggest that most commonly used range maps of Meadow Vole should be revised.Les restes de proies contenus dans les pelottes de rejection de rapace permettent d'évaluer la biodeversité arctique. Cette étude, basée sur des pelettes de harfang des neiges nichant au Nord de la Péninsule d'Ungava, rapporte la présence de Microtus pennsylvanicus associé à Dicrostonyx groenlandicus. L'identification de M. pennsylvanicus dans cette région représente l'occurence la plus au Nord connue dans la péninsule d'Ungava, ce qui suggère une révision des cartes d'aire de réparition de cette espèce
Key observations of flexed-leg urination in the free-ranging Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
Get PDFFlexed-leg urination (FLU) in female Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) has been little studied in the wild. Captive females in packs do not exhibit FLU unless they are both mature and dominant to an associate female, but these characteristics have not been confirmed in free-ranging wolves. We present observations of wolves in Yellowstone National Park that accord with those of wolves in captivity, extend our knowledge of FLU in Gray Wolf, pose additional questions about it, and suggest new areas of study to better understand it
A male Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) recaptured after 28 years at the same site in southwest Saskatchewan, Canada
Get PDFLittle Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) is one of the most common and widely distributed mammals in Canada and has been recorded to live over 30 years in the wild. As part of a long-term bat research project in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Saskatchewan, we recaptured a male Little Brown Bat in a mist net over Battle Creek on 12 June 2021. The bat was recaptured within 100 m of where it was first captured and banded as an adult in 1993, indicating that this bat was at least 29 years old and exhibited repeated use of the same summer flying, foraging, and drinking site. The bat was not caught in the intervening years; therefore, its frequency of use of this site is unknown. In eastern North America, this species has declined because of high mortality rates associated with White-nose Syndrome (WNS). WNS has been moving westward and has now been detected in eastern and western Saskatchewan. Understanding aspects of the natural history of Little Brown Bat, including longevity, is important before WNS is detected in a region and leads us to advocate continued marking of individuals (e.g., banding, PIT tagging) to continue learning about bat longevity and survival before and after WNS infection
A highly anomalous Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) song
Get PDFRed-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a highly vocal species with a repertoire of similar, yet acoustically distinct songs. These songs may be altered drastically if, as a nestling, the male goes deaf or becomes acoustically isolated. In deaf Red-winged Blackbirds, these dramatic song alterations may present as songs bearing slight resemblance to the introductory phrase of their normal song. Here, we present a Red-winged Blackbird song observed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, that is far outside any normal variation in Red-winged Blackbird songs. Given the individual’s age and the consistency of the anomalous song, it is possible that this is a deaf bird
