Lately I’ve been watching young Robins Grackles and Blackbirds harass their parents for food, and their constant squawking reminded me of the various parenting strategies, phenomenons and conflicts that animals find themselves in as they raise their offspring. Blinded by the plight It was a hot, sum...

Bears on the golf course, bears by the creek, bears in the campgrounds. Mid May to mid-June is the time of year when bear sightings in human use areas are common. And although this spring is less hectic than 2022, when two sub-adult grizzlies were using the townsite to avoid larger boars, make no mi...

Photos by Patrick Barker for The Jasper Local An elk that fell through a partly frozen lake in Jasper National Park was given a new lease on life by Parks Canada staff. An elk fell through spring ice on Lac Beauvert April 17. // Patrick Barker On April 17 at approximately 5 p.m., a bull elk fell thr...

“This is a really exciting opportunity, a novel undertaking in caribou conservation” A first-of-its-kind caribou breeding facility will move forward in Jasper National Park. Ottawa has given its blessing to Parks Canada’s plans to move forward on a new caribou conservation breeding program to suppor...

My watch claimed it was morning, but as I walked towards my snowmobile it was still dark. The snow crunched loudly beneath my boots, as it does when the thermometer dips below -30℃, and when I drew breath, I could feel the crispness of the frigid air as it entered my lungs. I swung my arms in a vain...

Sprinkler system surrounding community to be dismantled Firefighters are “locking in” the north and south ends of the Chetamon mountain wildfire east of the Jasper townsite in Jasper National Park. The Chetamon wildfire’s north and south perimeters are being “locked in” thanks to cool temperatures a...

Photos by Simone Heinrich Coyote pups are starting to make their annual appearance in Jasper National Park. The pups are venturing out of their dens and beginning to use their eyes, ears and noses to learn about the world around them. An average litter size of six makes for many playmates and there ...

Local photographer Simone Heinrich found this furry friend at Maligne Lake recently. Red foxes are part of the dog family. In the Rockies, red foxes are solitary during late fall and winter, living without dens in home ranges of 3.5-8.5 km-square, according to naturalist Ben Gadd’s Handbook of the C...

Kendra Neef often finds herself exploring little-known corners of Jasper National Park. “I’m always keeping my eye out for cool stuff,” the local wildlife guide and photographer said. On April 15, very soon after the ice came off of Talbot Lake in the east end of Jasper National Park, Neef’s eye spi...