We can't go through Invasive Species week without talking about one of the biggest threats in terms of invasives, Zebra, Quagga and other invasive mussels. These mussels are know for attaching themselves to every hard surface they can. Because of this they can damage infrastructure like irrigation pipes and municipal water systems which could cost millions to fix. These mussels also alter the food web, by outcompeting native species like salmon and Rocky Mountain Ridged musse

Today is all about being close to family. One family in nature that is definitely celebrating this holiday is Canada Geese. Canada geese have a family that is quite close and protective. Firstly, male and female geese will often mate for life, with only few records of "divorce". These parents are also quite protective of their young. Males will hang around the nest if they sense a threat and they will watch the nest if the female needs to leaves the eggs for a while. And whe

During the winter, its common to see more than mallards in the lakes. Many other waterfowl species can be seen, the problem is that a lot of them have black/white or brown/white colourations. Here are some similar species that can be found and how to ID them: Common Goldeneye: As the name suggests, look for the bright golden eye. The males of this species will also have a white pact between its eye and its beak. The females will have no patches on its face, and instead will h

Did you know that beavers aren't the only mammal that will build lodges in the water? Muskrats will also build lodges in marshes, but they will use different material than beaver. Instead of using sticks and branches, they will use cattails and bullrushes for a majority of their lodge. But location and resources is everything when building a house. If the marsh they live in doesn't have the necessary material, they will just dig burrows in the side of banks instead of making

Cattails are an iconic part of many wetlands, and like anything, they are good in moderation. Cattails provide great habitat for many species, like red-wing blackbirds, Chorus frogs and Yellow-headed blackbirds. However, in certain ponds, cattails have taken over to the point that they are causing problems. They are prolific spreaders, reproducing via seeds and self-cloning. Because of this they can limit the diversity in the area and the amount of open water. The reason that

Did you know Goldfish were once given away as prizes at fairs, carnivals, and other events? Goldfish come from eastern Asia and were...