EWC November 23' Update

This November marks the start of a new chapter for Exposed Wildlife Conservancy. With the launch of our initiative - Youth for Wildlife - we are building the foundation of our future, specifically the future of Canada’s wild places and the animals therein. This is made possible by mobilizing youth, with a focus on conservation, to safeguard our ecosystems and empower the next generation to become change agents for wildlife.

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You can be a part of this next chapter by helping provide youth with the resources, opportunities, education, support, and information they need to engage in conservation activities that make a difference. Such activities may include developing wildlife-focused curriculums that teachers can use in classrooms, offering in-person and virtual educational workshops, and citizen science programs that enable youth to get involved with in-the-field conservation activities. 

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There are three ways you can help mobilize the next generation of changemakers to make a positive and lasting impact on Canada’s wildlife.

1. Donate | A donation to the Youth for Wildlife initiative is a direct way that you can make a difference. Our goal is to raise $2,500 for our Youth for Wildlife program by Giving Tuesday (November 28th). By making a one-time or monthly donation, you are reducing barriers for youth in Western Canada to participate in conservation programs. Donate to Youth for Wildlife
   

2. Volunteer | As a volunteer, you will join a passionate community working towards bettering the treatment of Canada’s wolves, bears, cougars and more. We have several opportunities to volunteer based on your interests, skill sets, and goals. As a volunteer with Exposed Wildlife Conservancy, you will connect with a like-minded community that works together to solve the most pressing wildlife challenges facing us today.  Learn More and Apply to volunteer.‍
   

3. Raise Awareness | Every action makes a difference! If you are unable to donate today, we ask that you share our Youth for Wildlife fundraising campaign with your friends and family to help us get the word out and raise much-needed funds!

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Help us empower and mobilize future generations to take an active role in the conservation and protection of Canada’s wild places and wildlife by donating, volunteering, or raising awareness of the Youth for Wildlife initiative today. 

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Please note that we are currently in the process of obtaining charitable status. As a result, we are unable to issue tax receipts at this time. We appreciate your support while we work towards becoming a registered charity. 

The Cougar Series is now live! The Cougar Series is a free educational library on cougars which is available on our website here. It is our intention that this Series helps to raise awareness about cougars, including what they are, where they live, how to recreate and live with them safely, and much more! 

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Here is a preview of some interesting information about the elusive and solitary cougar that you will find in the Cougar Series:

• Cougars are solitary animals and are one of the least aggressive of all of the world’s large cats. In fact, cougars prefer to remain hidden from sight, avoid people as much as possible, and do not view humans as prey.
• Prey availability is among the most critical factors for the presence of cougars in any given area, with deer being their preferred prey. If their prey is migratory, the cougars will follow them. 
• Cougars are both nocturnal and crepuscular. This means that cougars are most active (i.e. hunting) between the hours of twilight, dusk, and dawn and prefer to sleep during the day. However, in west-central Alberta, they have been observed hunting in the day, usually late afternoon and evening. Cougars are stealthy hunters who stalk their prey until they are close enough to attack. They do not hunt from trees and rarely sit and wait for prey. 
• Unlike other big cats, cougars lack the specialized larynx and hyoid bone that other big cats have, which prevents them from roaring. Instead, cougars can purr and emit screams or high-pitched birdlike chirps which are often used by cougar mothers to attract the attention of their cubs.

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The Cougar Series aims to answer every question, from the most basic to the most complex, you may have about these mysterious felines. We encourage you to visit the Cougar Series and become cougar-savvy today! 

The Exposed team is hard at work developing the Trapping Series which breaks down the intricate and complex nature of the commercial trapping industry. From defining what different traps are, to exploring humane and ethical considerations, breaking down federal and provincial regulations, and examining the future of the trapping industry, you will be filled with the knowledge and resources you need to give fur-bearing animals a voice and create real change in the treatment of Canada’s wildlife.

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On Wednesday, December 6th we'll be sharing, for the very first time, a sneak peek at our highly anticipated Trapped In the Past documentary with our Insiders and announce the documentary’s official public release date! We cannot wait to share more details with you soon and invite you to the official release event of the Trapped In the Past documentary!

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Until then, we encourage you to become familiar with the Trapped In the Past campaign and how to support wildlife by clicking on the button below. 

Story contributed by Exposed Ambassador John E. Marriott

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This image was from an incredibly unusual wolf encounter back in the winter of 2015. I had been out scouting for tracks on the powerline adjacent to the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Bow Valley between Banff and Lake Louise when I came across two large sets of very fresh wolf tracks. It's almost always pointless to follow wolf tracks, in part because they travel so much faster than we do on foot and in part because it increases your chances of accidentally disturbing them, so in this case I started backtracking the wolves to see where they had come from and what they had done. 

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I was also immediately on the lookout for more wolves, since I knew the Banff Town pack, which had just formed that year, had two adults and three pups. I'd only seen two sets of tracks. And sure enough, about a kilometre into backtracking, I saw something grey coming toward me through the trees. 

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I ducked down into a tree well and stuck my 100-400mm lens out through a crack in the trees and as I sat there, the three pups from the Banff Town family appeared on the trail and slowly sauntered right toward me. 

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One of the gray pups, pictured here, saw my camera lens sticking out of the trees and briefly stared over at me from just twenty metres away. Eventually, all three pups walked right past me and continued down the trail following their parents. 

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Thank you for giving wildlife a voice and for supporting bears, wolves, and cougars across Canada. Be sure to follow us on social media for a weekly dose of fun, relevant, and interesting information on apex predators and other wildlife! We can be found on Facebook and Instagram at @exposdwc.

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Sincerely, 

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The Exposed Wildlife Conservancy Team