WBRA April 2022 Update

What’s New with WBRA

Photo by The Good Planet Project

Carnivores and Communities Program

CACP Podcast Interview

Coffee Cows & Crops Podcast host, Johanna Murray, interviewed Jeff Bectell, WBRA’s Carnivores and Communities Program Coordinator for a feature episode that aired in March.

In this episode, Jeff and Johanna discuss the challenges that come with large carnivores on agricultural operations and the importance of trying to manage what attracts these animals. Grain bin upgrades, electric fencing, livestock management and general risk assessment are covered, including safety for farm and ranch families encountering bears on their operations.

They also talk about recommendations on what to do when a conflict is first detected, practices to try to avoid, how Jeff got started with the Carnivores and Communities Program, and more!

It was an enjoyable conversation. Thank you Johanna and Peace Country Beef & Forage Association for having us on the show!

You can listen to our Carnivores and Communities Program feature episode here or find it wherever you listen to podcasts: “Dealing with Bears with the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association”.

Listen Here

Northern Leopard Frogs in the Waterton Biosphere Reserve

New Web Page

As we shift from winter into spring here in the Waterton Biosphere Reserve (WBR), we will also be heading into the breeding season for many creatures that call this land home, including the northern leopard frog, a species at risk (SAR) in WBR. We began this SAR project back in 2017 and are excited to say that we have given our project webpage new life – just in time for the start of the northern leopard frog breeding season as they start to bring new life to the land.

You can find information on our project, biology facts, the three distinct habitats northern leopard frogs need each year to survive, the threats they face, stewardship opportunities, and much more! Visit our new web page here to learn more about this species at risk that will be coming out of hibernation very soon – if they haven’t already.

We want to acknowledge and send out a huge thank you to the supporters of our Northern Leopard Frog work: Alberta Environment and Parks, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Parks Canada – Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta Conservation Association, and Land Stewardship Centre.

Visit Northern Leopard Frog Web Page

Photo by Kelly Cooley

Please Report Dead Bat Sightings

Spring is here which means bats will be coming out of hibernation soon – if they haven’t begun to already. A dead bat or a bat flying during the day could indicate infection with the fungus causing white-nose syndrome. If you come across:

dead bats – place the bat in a Ziploc bag using a gloved hand. Note the date and location on the bag and then place it in a freezer. Contact bats@watertonbiosphere.com or roostreports@albertabats.ca to arrange collection, as it will be tested for white-nose syndrome.
sightings of bats flying during the day – send a note about the sighting including the time, date, location, and temperature of when you spotted the bat to roostreports@albertabats.ca.

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions: bats@watertonbiosphere.com. Help contribute to early detection of white-nose syndrome as it spreads into Alberta.

To learn more about bats, which species are found in Alberta, and white-nose syndrome, you can visit our Building Resilience for Bats project webpage below:

Learn More About Bats

Next week is National Volunteers Week

We want to send a big shout out from Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association to all of our volunteers. Thank you for the time, talent, and compassion you share with us and the community that make our programs such a success. We feel the heart you bring to what we do and we greatly appreciate it and your dedication to us and the community.

We are looking forward to our upcoming Day on the Creek on May 25th and spending the day with everyone!

What’s New with WBRA

Carnivores and Communities Program

Northern Leopard Frogs in the Waterton Biosphere Reserve

Please Report Dead Bat Sightings

Next week is National Volunteers Week

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