What’s New with the WBRA?
Photo by Mackenzie Brown
Supporting Landowners in Conservation and Stewardship
Photo by Carla Koenig
The ecological integrity of native grasslands, wetlands, riparian corridors, and other habitat types are fundamental to supporting the overall biodiversity in Waterton Biosphere Region (WBR).
Communities and individuals within WBR depend upon this regional biodiversity for the pollination of our crops, soil health and retention, natural controls on agricultural pests and diseases, water quality, and an overall resilience to the impacts of climate change including severe drought and wildfire events.
Biodiversity loss, or, the decline and disappearance of biological diversity, is occurring across WBR and the planet, jeopardizing essential ecosystem services as well as our own spiritual and cultural dimensions.
Many individuals and groups are doing their best to help preserve biodiversity in our region. We have funding to support those wishing to complete projects that maintain or improve habitats for local biodiversity on private land.
Project ideas include:
Off-site Watering Systems
Whether it is solar, wind, or cattle-powered, an off-site watering system can help to keep herds healthy, and wetlands or stream banks protected.
Razer Grazer
This temporary and mobile electric fencing system can support rotational grazing and increase forage value, while also increasing habitat availability for species both above and below the soil surface.
Pond Leveller
A cost-effective and low-maintenance tool, the pond leveller is a pipe that prevents the upstream flooding sometimes caused by active beaver dams.
Properly designed and installed pond levellers eliminate the need for repeated beaver removal while also seeing benefits from slower water movement and a higher water table.
Photo by Beaver Solutions
You know the lands and waters of your home best. Habitat stewardship projects are limited only to your imagination, so please reach out to us at eanderson@watertonbiosphere.com or 403-563-0058 if you have ideas on how to improve your operation in tandem with conserving the biodiversity that makes life in WBR not only possible, but worthwhile.
Building Resilience for Bats
Photo by Elizabeth Anderson
A great migration is upon us. Perhaps not as prolific as the stampeding wildebeest of the Serengeti, or as regale as the soaring eagles high above Livingstone Range, but the bat species of southwestern Alberta are about to embark on a staggered, nocturnal journey toward their winter hibernaculum.
Alberta’s nine bat species can be divided into two major groups based on how they have evolved to endure those long, harsh, familiar Canadian winters. While all the bats in Alberta move at least short distances to overwinter, three species, including the Hoary, Eastern Red, and Silver-haired Bat are known to leave the province entirely. Little is known about where these long-distance migratory bats spend the winter, and observations range from Mexico (Hoary), southeastern United States (Eastern Red), to southern British Columbia (Silver-haired).
The province is also home to six bat species who are believed to hibernate within Alberta’s border, no small feat, considering these bats have been observed to travel up to 500 kilometers from their summer roost. Year-round residents include the Big Brown, Little Brown, Long-legged, Northern, Long-eared, and Western Small-footed Myotis.
Bat encounters are most frequently reported during late summer to early fall, when young bats are still learning the business of flight, and a larger number of bats are moving longer distances to their wintering habitats.
If you happen upon a grounded bat, there are a few safety considerations to be aware of.
Finding a Bat
Bats may be found on the ground or in unusual locations for a variety of reasons. They may be sick, injured, or simply too exhausted to continue flying.
If you encounter a bat that does not appear to be dead or injured, the best option is to leave the bat be, as chances are it will regain its strength and take to the sky the following night.
Grounded bat found in WBR
If the bat is in a location that makes it more vulnerable to predators such as cats or magpies, or is vulnerable to environmental conditions, it may be suitable to relocate the bat to an elevated place, such as a tree with decay or crevices the bat can use for shelter. Bats need room to take off in flight, so if it is possible, choose a site near a clearing. If you are comfortable enough to attempt to relocate a bat always wear thick, leather gloves, and consider using supportive tools such as flattened cardboard.
If the bat is displaying odd behaviour, such as flying during the day, flopping along the ground, or exhibiting no fear toward you, it is possible the bat is sick. While rare in Alberta (less than 1%), bats can carry the rabies virus. Never touch a bat with your bare hands. Report the injured or dead bat to your local Fish and Wildlife Office.
Excluding Bats from Buildings
If you are looking to exclude bats from a building in WBR, the recommended time window ranges from November to February, while bats are away at their winter habitat.
For more information about how to plan for a successful bat exclusion, please reach out to us at bats@watertonbiosphere.com or call 403-563-0058.
For more information on managing bats in buildings, please see Alberta Community Bat Programs free guide Managing Bats in Buildings Alberta Guidelines.
Carnivores and Communities Program
Photo by Jillian Cooper
Berries on their brain, or rather, hyperphagia from their hormones, are leading bears in WBR to gorge almost non-stop on nutrient-dense foods. Hyperphagia is the increased need to feed, a strategy used by bears to fatten up before retiring to their dens for their seasonally scheduled, supperless slumber.
Fall is an important time to ensure high-risk, high-reward attractants, such as grain and livestock feed are secured. Installing bear-proof doors, hopper bottoms, and steel or concrete floors are all eligible cost sharing projects with the Carnivores and Communities Program (CACP). The WBRA Technical Guide: Securing Your Grain Storage is a useful resource for anyone contemplating how to bolster their bear-proofing setup.
Jeff Bectell, our CACP Coordinator, was recently featured in The Globe and Mail, where he discusses the program’s role within WBR. Feel free to contact Jeff at jbectell@watertonbiosphere.com to discuss any project ideas that may ease current or future carnivore conflicts on your land.
Community
We enjoyed getting out to a few community markets and events held throughout WBR communities this summer.
Thank you to all who stopped by to learn, share, and speak with us. We tend to leave these events with more luggage than we packed, often in the form of bright new ideas and opportunities for collaborative action.
If you were unable to make it out to our booth, but are simmering in ideas related to activities, projects, or collaborations within WBR, please reach out to us at info@watertonbiosphere.com.
Elizabeth Anderson, Conservation Biologist, at the Pincher Creek Farmers Market
