Mountain Nature and Culture Podcast

089 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

Over the past few weeks, the news has been flooded with stories of countless graves of indigenous children, forgotten victims of Canada's Residential School system. This has brought into clear focus the horrible indignities done to our first nations over the span of more than a century and has forced many of us to open our eyes and recognize the horrible legacy of colonization and cultural genocide.  As someone lucky enough to born into a life of privilege, I've always known about reside...

088 Bringing nature closer when you can't go far.

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087 Ice Battleships and Alberta's Connection to WWII's Battle of the Atlantic.

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086 Dangers of the Insect Apocalypse

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085 Looking at the 25th anniversary of the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone

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084 Feeding Birds Ethically and Effectively

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083 The Real Story Behind the Movie The Revenant

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082 We're one of the top 15 podcasts on Ecology, and grizzlies digging up the high country

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081 Overtourism in Canada's Mountain National Parks

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080 Conserving caribou by blaming carnivores and ancient human footprints lead the way to a new coastal migration theory

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079 season of the crocus, earlier blooming is stressing bird populations and early berries for bears may not be a good thing.

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078 Examining a new Fire Management Plan for Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks and Game of Thrones connections in western Canada

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077 Wolverines in the mountain west, and tick season is upon us

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076 New report shows Canada warming up twice as fast as most of the world, a look a the biggest, the cuddliest, and the most frightening T. Rex's, and the day the world ended for the dinosaurs.

If you'd like to visit the show notes for this page, please go to: www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep076

075 Grizzly bears emerge from their winter dens, and Montana's Glacier National Park is losing its glaciers

074 Keepiing Alberta Rat Free, and how adding one non-native fish to Yellowstone caused a food web to collapse

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073 Scientific mysteries around ancient pictographs in Grotto Canyon, and how winters with lower snowpacks will effect local wildlife.

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072 Saying goodbye to the father of Global warming, Canmore's Nuclear Bunker, New Train Service to the Mountains, and watching for the bears to emerge

This week we say goodbye to Wallace Smith Broeker, the groundbreaking climatologist that coined the term "global warming'. I also look at a cold war bunker near Canmore, Alberta that forms a stark reminder of a more dangerous time in our history. A propos

071 Smoke melts glaciers, and winter wildlife survival strategies

Check out the show notes for this episode at www.MountainNaturePodcast.com/ep071 for links to additional information.

070 Polar bears and climate change denial, Alberta's mountains see the highest temperature increases, and did European contact in the New World cause the Little Ice Age

If you would like to view the transcript and show notes for this episode visit our web page at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep070.

069 Looking at why elk keep their antlers througout the winter, and forest fires in California and British Columbia

If you'd like to see the detailed show notes for this episode, please visit: www.MountainNaturePodcast.com/ep069.

068 Fire ecology in western Canada with fire expert Cliff White.

This is a special episode that I wanted to get out right away. It's an important talk about the fire situation in western Canada, but more importantly, what we can do in townsites like Banff, Canmore, and Jasper…and with that said, let's get to it. This presentation was organized through the Rockies Institute and featured Cliff White who worked for almost 4 decades with Banff National Park. He started as a park warden but rose through the ranks to positions including vegetation fire manage...

067 Mapping the Expansion of Coyotes, Reintroduced Bison Test Their Boundaries, and Time to Stop Making Rock Sculptures

Mapping the Expansion of Coyote Range across the Continent In the mountain west, we simply accept the presence of coyotes on the landscape. They're simply a part of the mountain environment that we call home.  For many places though, that isn't the case. Coyotes are one of the continent's most successful predators and have always been one of the first carnivores to explore potential new habitats. But just how native are they too much of their current range? If we were to look back...waaaaay ...

066 Finally, free roaming bison in Banff, and bear safety during buffaloberry season.

Parks Canada has just announced that it has opened the gates and finally allowed its growing herd of wild bison out of their enclosure and, for the first time, letting them wander somewhat freely within the park, at least within a 1,200 sq km release zone. The release has happened a little later than planned. The calving season was delayed and while last year saw its first birth on Earth Day, this year calving only began on July 15. In a recent article in The Province, Banff's Resource Co...

065 The buffaloberries are back, and a new report on Coexisting with Wildlife in the Bow Valley

064 The story of Crowfoot wraps up, and new decisions on development in the Bow Valley

In this episode, I wrap up the story of Blackfoot Chief Crowfoot as he experiences life under Canada's Treaty 7. I also look at the implications of some recent government and court decisions regarding development in the Bow Valley. For the complete show notes, please visit our show page at www.MountainNaturePodcast.com/ep064. Here you'll find links to additional information and our show archive. 

063 New Reviews, Crowfoot gets to know the Mounties, and the secret lives of the Yellow Ladyslipper Orchid

A New Review of the Podcast Before I reprise the story of Crowfoot, I wanted to give a shout out to an iTunes listener with the screen name Jul121314 in the U.S. for the kind review. The review is titled "Great Storytelling". They continue saying: "Love listening to the stories - current and historical. I love the Canadian Rockies and this podcast gives me a much deeper understanding. " Thank you so much. Those that know me will tell you that I'm always trying to find the "story" hidden ...

062 The Life of Chief Crowfoot of the Blackfoot, and bears along the train tracks

Crowfoot The First Nations of the plains were a diverse and powerful collection of Tribes that were often at war with one another. Wars over territory, the best hunting areas, the theft of horses, and many other grievances kept the borders of various nations constantly in flux. One of the most powerful groups were the Blackfoot Confederacy of southern Alberta and northern Montana. The Confederacy was formed by three nations, the Siksika or Blackfoot, Piikani or Piegan, and the Kainai or ...

061 Sulphur Storms, Mismatched Colours, and Famous Filming Locations

Sulphur Storms This past week has marked the start of pollen season in the mountain west. The white spruce, in particular, released vast amounts of yellowish-green pollen, coating every car, patio set, pond, and puddle. The railings alongside trails and even the surfaces of leaves have been covered in this fine powder. On my car, places I previously touched were dusted in a manner similar to fingerprint dust, leaving a yellowish outline of my fingerprint. Spruce are part of the Pine Fa...

060 Tricking bumblebees and a renewed focus on ecological integrity in Canada's national parks

Orchids tricking Bumblebees Wandering trails around the Bow River valley, it seems like every day there are new and exciting changes taking place. The leaves have begun to emerge and the early season blooms are adding a splash of colour to the meadows and forest leaf litter. Today I saw my first Calypso orchids of the season. These tiny, delicate orchids are one of the first forest flowers to emerge in the spring. The forest floor is still a tangle of pine needles with nary a hint of col...

059 Local photographers, natural orchestras, Whirling disease, bear updates, and natural economics

Local Photographers If you're a regular listener, you'll already know that I am both a photographer and author. It was through both of these rolls that I'm feeling very sad today to hear of the passing of Doug Leighton. Doug was a visionary photographer who introduced countless numbers of people to the magic of the Canadian west. His coffee table books and calendars were widely collected. I remember a particular favourite was a large format 11 x 14-inch calendar which thousands of people...

058 Time to clean up the bird feeders, bobcats be coming, and the bears are back.

Time to take down your bird feeders Now that spring is, well, technically upon us. It's time to take down your bird feeders. Communities like Banff and Jasper, located within the national parks, already ban bird feeders. While Canmore is outside of the mountain parks, it has a bylaw that forbids bird feeders between April 1st and October 31st. While maintaining bird feeders can provide hours of amusement in the winter months when chickadees and nuthatches gather for sunflower seeds, there is...

057 New Burgess fossils, and red fox return to the Rockies, episode 57 of the Mountain Nature and Culture Podcast 057 New Burgess fossils, and red fox return to the Rockies, episode 57 of the Mountain Nature and Culture Podcast 057 New Burgess fossils, an

Welcome to episode 57 of the Mountain Nature and Culture Podcast, I'm your host, Ward Cameron and I'm recording this on April 1, 2018. This week I look at three amazing fossils that are teaching palaeontologists about the evolution of some of the world's oldest creatures. I also look at the return of red fox to the Rocky Mountains. It's an action-packed episode so with that said, let's get to it. Some wisdom from John Muir I wanted to start today with a fabulous quote by John Muir. As a hiki...

056 New Super Berry, what's in a name, and ecological trap

So, what would you be willing to endure to make it home for Christmas In these modern times? These days trips home usually involve expensive plane fares or long drives on winter roads made safer by winter tires, interior heaters, and modern clothing. What if you were faced with a 112 km snowshoe trek on an unbroken trail in a blizzard - you know, just like your parents told you what it was like to walk to school in the days of yore! Well, Tom Wilson was more than just a mountain man. He was ...

055 Advice from Edward Abbey, bison updates, and woodpecker headaches

Edward Abbey Quote I stumbled upon a quotation recently from the great ecological activist Edward Abbey. It was shared on Facebook by Kevin Van Tighem, a former Banff National Park Superintendent. He was talking about how tiring it can be to be a public advocate for nature and ecology. Abbey was highly regarded as one of the great authors on conservation and was a militant protector of wild spaces. He also strongly opposed what he called: "industrial tourism", something the mountain west is ...

054 Frozen feet at Christmas, new wolf pack forming, 10 New Year Resolutions, and what determines success in Grizzly translocations

Home for Christmas - Tom Wilson has a close call So, what would you be willing to endure to make it home for Christmas In these modern times? These days trips home usually involve expensive plane fares or long drives on winter roads made safer by winter tires, interior heaters, and modern clothing. What if you were faced with a 112 km snowshoe trek on an unbroken trail in a blizzard - you know, just like your parents told you what it was like to walk to school in the days of yore! Well, ...

053 David Thompson heads west, and do mountain pine beetles increase the risk of forest fires?

David Thompson heads west Last week, I ended the story of David Thompson with his leaving the employment of the Hudson's Bay Company, and joining the rival Northwest Company. As Thompson began his journey to the west, he described the landscape of the great plains: "The climate is good, the winters about five months, the summers are warm, and autumn has many fine days. The soil is rich and deep, and [there is] much vegetation mould from the annual decay of the leaves of the forest trees, and...

052 David Thompson quits the Hudson's Bay Company, and what's up with climate science deniers?

David Thompson Part 2 Last week I talked about David Thompson's arrival in Canada and some of his adventures during the earliest part of his long career in Canada. They were just the start of a 40+ year adventure across the wilderness of this nation and the northern United States. This week, I planned to talk about his explorations in the Canadian Rockies and along the course of the Columbia River in British Columbia, but quite frankly, his story is just too important to rush. So this we...

051 Melting Glaciers, and David Thompson's Legacy Begins

Melting Mountain Glaciers For many years it has been believed that Canada's western mountain glaciers, also known as the Cordilleran Ice Sheet, melted some 12.5 thousand years ago. A new study published in the Journal Nature by researcher Brian Menounos and his team is shedding new light on just when our mountains became ice-free. Deciphering the story of ice melt across western Canada's mountain has far-reaching implications. By understanding how ice melted thousands of years ago, we can al...

050 New frontiers for wildlife crossings, and the scourge of scurvy

Welcome to Episode 50 of the Mountain Nature and Culture Podcast. I'm your host, Ward Cameron and I'm recording this on November 25, 2017. I can't believe this is actually episode 50. When I started this project almost a year and a half ago, I'm not sure I believed I would actually ever get 50 shows recorded. All I could do was focus on the next episode. Each new episode triggered a new round of research, reading, scripting, recording, editing, and uploading. For me, it's been about the proc...

049 A look at polar bear ecology, cougars that aren't solitary and does shooting problem bears work

In this episode I look at some of the reasons so many people flock to Churchill every year to see polar bears. I also look at a new research study that has shown that cougars are not nearly as solitary as biologists once believed. Finally, I examine a stu

048 Pikas struggling with warming climates, Neanderthal medicine, and mining gravel river beds

Pika in a time of Climate Change The Rocky Mountains are known around the world as a great place to spot wildlife.  Although most visitors to the area are looking for iconic animals like elk, bighorn sheep and bears, some of our tinier residents can be equally exciting. One of the more fascinating alpine animals is the pika.  If you’ve never seen a pika —relax, you’re not alone.  I remember my first sighting.  I was nearing the summit of Nigel Pass in Banff Park, when all of a sudden I start...

047 Canada's 150th birthday and its effects on visitation to the Mountain Parks an Ode to Bear 148, and interviews with several candidates.

Canada 150 Visitation Unless you've been living under a rock this past year, you know that 2017 represents the 150th birthday of Canada. As a nation, we were born just 150 years ago on July 1, 1867. Now this wasn't the Canada we know today, but a teeny tiny Canada with a lot of well, wilderness. Canada, such as it was, was made up of Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and that's it. Upper Canada then became Ontario and Lower Canada, Quebec. Looking at the rest of what wou...

046 Bears and Trains and the Cariboo Goldrush becomes a Bonanza

Look Out Bears, There's a Train Coming In episode 34 I talked about the incredible success that Banff National Park has had in terms of reducing the number of animals, such as grizzly bears, that are being killed along our highways. The system of over and underpasses that have been pioneered here are now serving as a template for many new areas that are trying to emulate Banff's successes. You can listen to the full episode at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep034. While the highways hav...

045 Wolves help grizzlies by killing elk, the Trans Canada Trail is complete, the Jasper to Columbia Icefields trail falls into limbo and gold rushes in British Columbia

Wolves are a grizzlies best friend - at least in Yellowstone Yellowstone has become a world renowned laboratory for what can happen when long absent carnivores are returned to the landscape. For decades across North America, predators were seen as the enemy, and targeted for extermination. Bounties were paid for the pelts of wolves, coyotes and other carnivores in order to make the wilderness a more human friendly place. The program resulted in a natural system that ran amok. Food chai...

044 Flying giraffes and loving the mountains to death

Flying Dinosaurs as Tall as Giraffes If you're a regular listener of this podcast, then you know that I love dinosaurs. Living in Alberta is the perfect mix because we have one of the best landscapes for finding dino remains and there are new discoveries happening all the time. The Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller is one of the leading research centres in the world and for many visitors to Alberta, it is there first real opportunity to look at some of the most unique fossils that have bee...

043 Save a caribou, kill a moose, the burgess shales and fire updates on the mountain west

Can Killing Moose help Caribou? A recent study conducted by researchers in British Columbia's Columbia Mountain range is raising eyebrows for its novel approach to trying to help struggling caribou populations in several endangered herds throughout several areas. Over the past few years, programs focused on killing wolves in many areas concentrated on reducing predation of already declining herds of caribou in Alberta and British Columbia. These herds have been in decline for a long time...

042 Grizzlies choose berries over salmon, and the Canadian Last Spike

This week I look at an amazing report from Alaska that shows that given the choice, salmon may not be a grizzlies first choice for dinner. I also bring to a close, the story of the building of Canada's transcontinental railway..and with that said, let's get to it. Grizzlies Choose Berries over Salmon Every once in a while you come across a study that throws out everything that you thought you knew about a subject. As a biologist and naturalist, I often lament about how tough the bears in the...

041 Flying Squirrels, Forest Fire Records and Van Horne Rescues the CPR

This week I take a look at one of our most secretive animals, the northern flying squirrel. It also looks like B.C. has broken a record this summer for the worst fire season on record. Finally, I'll share the story of the Greatest Canadian Railroader, that wasn't well Canadian, William Cornelius Van Horne. And with that said, let's get to it. Flying Squirrels We're all familiar with the red squirrel, that ubiquitous little scavenger that invades bird feeders and constantly chatters at us...

040 Pine beetles bring fire fears and Major A.B. Rogers surveys through the western Mountains, episode 040 of the Mountain Nature and Culture Podcast

Welcome to episode 40 of the Mountain Nature and Culture Podcast. I'm your host, Ward Cameron, and I record this on August 16, 2017, we've finally received a bit of rain in the Canadian Rockies. Every drop is a gift at this point and hopefully it will reduce our explosive fire hazard and let us stop worrying about unplanned fires. This week, I take a look at the fire fears in Jasper as an increase in pine beetle killed pines has added vast amounts of fuel to an already tinder dry forest. I a...