Have you ever wondered who lives on EALT’s conservation lands? While we regularly see signs and traces of wildlife, wild animals are often shy and evasive around humans. This is a good thing – but it means that they can be difficult to spot. That’s why EALT has remote cameras on many of our properties.
Why Use Wildlife Cameras?
Remote cameras are motion triggered, capturing and storing pictures that can later be retrieved and viewed. This makes wildlife cameras a non-invasive way to monitor wildlife activity without disturbing the animals. As an added benefit, we often catch species and behaviours on our cameras that we otherwise would not see. Here are some of the highlights captured by our cameras in 2022.
For the Birds
When warmer weather returns to Alberta, so too do many species of birds for feeding and nesting. Spring and fall are the best times for birdwatching in Alberta, and also the prime times for us to see birds on our wildlife cameras. We were especially excited this year to see our first camera trap photos of a Northern Goshawk pair and a Great Blue Heron.
Familiar Faces
We regularly capture images of moose, coyotes, and deer on our wildlife cameras. While many animals migrate or hibernate to escape Alberta’s cold winters, these mammals remain active year-round. We can also count on a sighting or two of the iconic beaver once the snow thaws!
The Unusual Suspects
Some animals are more uncommon visitors to EALT properties. Others are made more elusive by their habits. In 2022, we caught a few exciting glimpses of some seldom-seen animals including a sighting of a cougar.
Baby Boom
Spring heralds the arrival of new life to Alberta’s natural areas. We were delighted to capture an intimate look at some of the newest residents. Remember that while wildlife cameras can give us an up-close and personal look at these animals, it’s always best to observe from a distance to prevent disturbing the youngsters or their protective parents.
Our stewardship work would not be possible without the efforts of dedicated volunteers. We would like to extend a big thank you to all volunteers who helped process wildlife photos. If you would like to get involved, head over to our Volunteers page to learn how you can help.
We would also like to thank RBC’s Tech for Nature grant for funding our wildlife cameras in 2023.