Wildlife Archive
2013-06-03 AWA Letter: Lac Ste. Anne RV Proposal in Western Grebe Habitat
It has come to our attention that an RV development proposal before the county of Lac Ste. Anne will be situated near the breeding and nesting habitat of Western Grebes at Lake Isle, Alberta. We believe the proposal will have negative impacts on important and environmentally significant areas. Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) lists Western Grebes as “Sensitive” and notes: “Locally distributed in the province; their gregarious nature make them vulnerable to nest disturbance, and other disturbances such as oil spills.” Not only will these sensitive grebes be at risk from the proposed disturbance associated with the development; we believe other species may also be impacted.
2013-05-07 Habitat Conservation in Canada - Presentation to Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development
On May 7 2013, AWA was invited to give a presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. The committee is undertaking a study on habitat conservation in Canada to find ways in which the National Conservation Plan can complement and enhance current habitat conservation efforts. It was in recognition of AWA’s longstanding productive work on the ground in this part of the country that our input and advice was sought.
2013-03-28 AWA Wilderness & Wildlife Defenders: Alberta's Wolf Bounty
Decisions on Alberta’s wolf population are now being made by local authorities, and by hunting groups with funding from foreign special interest groups. And the Alberta government seems unwilling, or unable, to do anything to intervene.
2013-03-22 Sandhill Crane Hunt
Letter from AWA to Environment Canada, opposing a proposed new hunt for sandhill cranes in Alberta.
2013-03-19 Preliminary Chronic Wasting Disease Test Results Indicate Continued Spread
Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (AESRD) released part of the 2012 Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) test results on Feb 8, 2013.
2013-03-04 Coffee and Conversation Mark the Beginning of the Sage-grouse Partnership
AWA was pleased to meet with landholders in Manyberries to discuss the future of Sage-grouse, grasslands and ranching communities!
2013-02-16 Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute and the Willmore Wilderness
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2012, by Katie Rasmussen. The ABMI is an organization tasked with rapidly improving our knowledge of biological diversity in Alberta. This knowledge is an invaluable tool to use in the crafting of land-use planning and land management strategies. Rasmussen reports on some of the research being undertaken by the ABMI in the Willmore Wilderness Provincial Park.
2013-01-31 Frequently Asked Questions regarding Greater Sage-grouse Recovery Strategies
AWA offers its perspective on a number of hot topics related to Greater Sage-grouse recovery initiatives and management of critical habitat.
2013-01-24 Alberta's Biodiversity Strategy Needs to be Pushed Forward
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2012, by Carolyn Campbell. 20 years of Alberta's “slow progress towards a meaningful biodiversity strategy” are explored by Campbell in an article that touches on the commitment Canada made to the 1992 UN Convention on Biodiversity, up through the establishment of the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. Finally there is a look at where Alberta can go from here.
2012-12-27 What Exactly is Biodiversity?
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2012, by Katie Rasmussen. So what do we actually mean by the term “biodiversity?” And why is it important? What are we getting at when we say that the conservation of biodiversity, and the development of a biodiversity strategy, is an AWA priority? From the WLA's Biodiversity Issue, this introductory article serves as an exploration of the topic and some of its nuances.
2012-10-05 State of Canada's Declining Bird Populations Warrants Urgent Conservation Action
Wild Lands Advocate update, August 2012, by Madeline Wilson. A recent report published by Environment Canada reveals alarmin numbers about declining bird populations across the country. This should serve as a call to action for all Canadians to protect our wildlife and their habitat now.
2012-09-26 Where is Alberta's Biodiversity Strategy?
Wild Lands Advocate update, August 2012, by Carolyn Campbell. Campbell previews what AWA has learned about an anticipated biodiversity strategy and management system planned for release by the Alberta provincial government.
2012-06-26 State of Canada's Birds Report
The 2012 State of Canada's Birds report was published by Environment Canada on behalf of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, the report compiles population data gathered since 1970.
2012-06-04 AWA Wilderness & Wildlife Defenders: Speak Out in Defence of Nature and Democracy
In the April 26, 2012 proposed budget our current federal government bundled an assortment of non-budgetary changes that, among many things, serve to substantially weaken Canadian environmental laws. The proposed changes will only be reviewed by the federal budget committee. We all need to let our representatives know that bundling non-budgetary changes into a budget, and the substantial weakening of Canada’s environmental laws, is not acceptable. Visit http://www.blackoutspeakout.ca/index.php to learn more about how important voices across Canada are being silenced, and what you can do to speak out.
2012-03-22 To Report, or Not to Report? That Is the Question
Wild Lands Advocate article, February 2012, by Madeline Wilson, looks at the provincial Report-a-Poacher program
2012-03-01 BearSmart in the Crowsnest Pass
Wild Lands Advocate article, February 2012, by Nigel Douglas looks at an active BearSmart program in southern Alberta.
2012-02-22 AWA News Release: Alberta Government Kills 145 Bears at Oilsands Camps. No Charges Laid
Last year, the Alberta government killed 145 garbage-habituated black bears at oilsands camps in Alberta. Poorly-managed oilsands camps have been long known to attract bears to garbage. But rather than enforcing regulations, or prosecuting the guilty companies, Alberta government staff simply move in and kill bears. Lots of bears.
2012-01-25 ENGO News Release: Will Alison Redford's Clearcuts Crush Bear Cubs in their Dens?
Joint news release from WildCanada Conservation Alliance, Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition and AWA. Conservationists today called upon Alberta premier Alison Redford to halt plans for winter logging would disturb, displace or even kill bears denning in the Castle Special Management Area...
2012-01-18 AWA Wilderness & Wildlife Defenders: Federal Minister Fails to Protect Sage-Grouse
The deadline (January 16, 2012) has now passed for Environment Minister Peter Kent to respond to our November petition, demanding that the federal government take the necessary steps to prevent the extirpation of the greater sage-grouse from Canada.
2011-12-06 Survey Says: Albertans Extremely Concerned Sage-grouse May Soon Disappear
In response to a poll featured in the Medicine Hat News on December 2, 2011, 89.8% of all respondents said they were extremely concerned that sage-grouse may disappear from Alberta, as scientists predict.
