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katemacquarrie22
Feb 14, 20243 min read
Game Bird Introductions
Releasing new species into the wild is generally frowned upon today, but this wasn’t always the case, and the 1940s were the heyday of...
103 views2 comments
katemacquarrie22
Feb 11, 20243 min read
Beaver Tracks
Some PEI wildlife travel our fields and forests all winter, leaving conspicuous tracks in their wake. Others prepare a cozy, well-stocked...
104 views0 comments
katemacquarrie22
Feb 7, 20242 min read
Rockhounding on PEI
You may not think of PEI as a rockhounder’s paradise, but there are interesting geological finds here. Sure, you’re not likely to come...
1,512 views2 comments
katemacquarrie22
Feb 4, 20242 min read
Snowshoe Hare Tracks
The most abundant wildlife tracks I’m seeing these days are from Snowshoe Hare, and I’ve been getting quite a few questions about them....
590 views0 comments
katemacquarrie22
Jan 31, 20243 min read
Marcescence
Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist: your own personal “Google” for information on all things natural on PEI! In October, I posted about...
75 views0 comments
katemacquarrie22
Jan 28, 20243 min read
Skunk Tracks
Reading wildlife tracks on PEI has very practical uses. For example, this mild winter has allowed our Striped Skunks to stay active, and...
147 views0 comments
katemacquarrie22
Jan 24, 20243 min read
Springs
Bubbling Spring. The Healing Spring. Spirit Spring. Fountainhead. PEI’s springs are so culturally important that many have names. We may...
187 views3 comments
katemacquarrie22
Jan 21, 20243 min read
Coyote Myths & Facts
It’s not unusual to see Eastern Coyotes on PEI at any time of the year, but reported sightings tend to go up in late fall and winter as...
1,009 views6 comments
katemacquarrie22
Jan 17, 20243 min read
Black Banks
I describe natural history as the story our land tells about itself. PEI’s bogs tell many interesting stories, and at Black Banks the...
202 views3 comments
katemacquarrie22
Jan 14, 20242 min read
Feline Tracks
Canine track identification tops the list of questions I get this time of year, but “is this a cat track?” is a close second. Whether...
652 views1 comment
katemacquarrie22
Jan 10, 20242 min read
2024 Eclipse
The highlight of this year’s natural calendar is the total eclipse on April 8th. PEI will be in the path of totality, making this among...
160 views0 comments
katemacquarrie22
Jan 7, 20242 min read
Canine Tracks
I’m no fan of winter, but it does have one redeeming feature: snow gives us ideal conditions to see what our neighbours of other species...
2,710 views2 comments
katemacquarrie22
Jan 3, 20242 min read
Coal
I hope you didn’t find a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking, but did you know you can find it along PEI’s shores? Let’s start the...
117 views0 comments
katemacquarrie22
Dec 26, 20232 min read
A New Year's Resolution: Nature Literacy
We’ve lost our nature literacy. Here’s why that matters. It wasn’t that long ago that just about every Islander knew how to catch a...
80 views4 comments
katemacquarrie22
Dec 10, 20231 min read
A Year-end Thank You!
It’s been a busy year! I want to thank the hundreds of people who attended my public walks and talks, the thousands who follow me, and...
26 views2 comments
katemacquarrie22
Dec 6, 20233 min read
Stories in Sandstone
To me, Natural History is the story our land tells about itself. PEI’s oldest stories are told by our sandstone cliffs and go back some...
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katemacquarrie22
Dec 3, 20232 min read
Fungivorous Squirrels
If decorating a tree is part of your December routine, you’re not alone. PEI’s Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) have been doing...
134 views1 comment
katemacquarrie22
Nov 29, 20233 min read
Witches' Broom
Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist: your own personal “Google” for information on all things natural on PEI! Recently, we looked at the...
75 views0 comments
katemacquarrie22
Nov 26, 20232 min read
Cat's-tongue
As a professional botanist, I don’t know my mushrooms well, but I am working to learn more. This fall, I’m sharing some easily...
441 views0 comments
katemacquarrie22
Nov 22, 20232 min read
Eastern Larch
PEI’s colourful fall leaves are mostly gone, but one native tree is still putting on a show: Eastern Larch, also known as Juniper,...
171 views0 comments
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