Latest news with #UniversityOfSaskatchewan
CBC
4 days ago
- Science
- CBC
Flourish or flounder: How wildfires affect Boreal forest wildlife
There's an entire cycle of life that helps some wildlife thrive when the boreal forest burns, but experts say climate change and human activity have led to larger, more intense wildfires, exacerbating the negative effects on some species. While it's too early to know exactly how one of the worst wildfire seasons in Saskatchewan history is affecting wildlife, research shows some species have evolved over millennia to take advantage of forest fire cycles. "It's almost essential, particularly in the boreal forest, to have some degree of fire on the landscape, because it is important to create that sort of regenerative habitat for species that depend on it," said Jean-Michele DeVink, an environmental consultant and adjunct professor in the school of environment sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan. "The challenge, of course, is that for other species that do require more mature forest, the extent of fires that we're seeing throughout the boreal forest is a bit of a problem." Some birds find feasts in a forest fire's aftermath. Certain types of beetles seek out fires because trees are more susceptible to infestation, and birds such as the black-backed woodpecker soon follow to feed on the larvae, DeVink said. Some mammals benefit because "the influx of nutrients into the soil after a fire and the regeneration of grass and young vegetation creates a lot of forage and a lot of food for herbivores like rabbits and a lot of the ungulates: the deer, the moose and the elk," DeVink said. Large animals like bears and deer are usually able to flee active fires, but newborns are particularly vulnerable this year because of the unusually early wildfire season, said Iga Stasiak, a wildlife health specialist with the Ministry of Environment. "At this time of year, many species are giving birth, so younger animals, nestling birds or animals that may be less mobile, may be unable to escape the fire," Stasiak said. That's what worried Ovide Michel when he and a group of firefighters in Pelican Narrows found a moose calf wandering alone near a highway about two weeks ago. "He was on the road for two days and I thought the mother would find it," said Michel, the mayor of the Village of Pelican Narrows. The group decided to rescue the calf, but realized they couldn't keep it and released it back in the area. They continued watching over it, but after two days the calf was gone. "I'm hoping the mother came back and found it," Michel said. It was a similar situation during the wildfire fight in the La Ronge area. Last week, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson posted on social media that firefighters rescued a fawn that was wandering around a fireguard alone at night. "The fawn was safely released to the wild, by conservation officers, in the vicinity it was rescued," Cook-Searson said in the post. The Ministry of Environment recommends people leaving young animals alone because it's not always certain they were abandoned, Stasiak said, adding that moose and deer in particular leave their young hidden in brush or grass throughout the day to protect them from predators. "People may feel those animals are orphaned, but usually the mother is nearby and they have the best chance of survival with the mother," Stasiak said. Both experts said more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of wildfire on the boreal forest and its inhabitants. "Wildfire disturbance is a natural part of our ecosystem, but what we're seeing is more intense fires, greater frequencies of fire and hotter drier weather," Stasiak said. "This is a relatively new area that we're going to need to examine as the intensity and the frequency of these fires continues to increase with climate change."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Flourish or flounder: How wildfires affect Boreal forest wildlife
There's an entire cycle of life that helps some wildlife thrive when the boreal forest burns, but experts say climate change and human activity have led to larger, more intense wildfires, exacerbating the negative effects on some species. While it's too early to know exactly how one of the worst wildfire seasons in Saskatchewan history is affecting wildlife, research shows some species have evolved over millennia to take advantage of forest fire cycles. "It's almost essential, particularly in the boreal forest, to have some degree of fire on the landscape, because it is important to create that sort of regenerative habitat for species that depend on it," said Jean-Michele DeVink, an environmental consultant and adjunct professor in the school of environment sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan. "The challenge, of course, is that for other species that do require more mature forest, the extent of fires that we're seeing throughout the boreal forest is a bit of a problem." Some birds find feasts in a forest fire's aftermath. Certain types of beetles seek out fires because trees are more susceptible to infestation, and birds such as the black-backed woodpecker soon follow to feed on the larvae, DeVink said. Some mammals benefit because "the influx of nutrients into the soil after a fire and the regeneration of grass and young vegetation creates a lot of forage and a lot of food for herbivores like rabbits and a lot of the ungulates: the deer, the moose and the elk," DeVink said. Large animals like bears and deer are usually able to flee active fires, but newborns are particularly vulnerable this year because of the unusually early wildfire season, said Iga Stasiak, a wildlife health specialist with the Ministry of Environment. "At this time of year, many species are giving birth, so younger animals, nestling birds or animals that may be less mobile, may be unable to escape the fire," Stasiak said. That's what worried Ovide Michel when he and a group of firefighters in Pelican Narrows found a moose calf wandering alone near a highway about two weeks ago. "He was on the road for two days and I thought the mother would find it," said Michel, the mayor of the Village of Pelican Narrows. The group decided to rescue the calf, but realized they couldn't keep it and released it back in the area. They continued watching over it, but after two days the calf was gone. "I'm hoping the mother came back and found it," Michel said. It was a similar situation during the wildfire fight in the La Ronge area. Last week, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson posted on social media that firefighters rescued a fawn that was wandering around a fireguard alone at night. "The fawn was safely released to the wild, by conservation officers, in the vicinity it was rescued," Cook-Searson said in the post. The Ministry of Environment recommends people leaving young animals alone because it's not always certain they were abandoned, Stasiak said, adding that moose and deer in particular leave their young hidden in brush or grass throughout the day to protect them from predators. "People may feel those animals are orphaned, but usually the mother is nearby and they have the best chance of survival with the mother," Stasiak said. Both experts said more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of wildfire on the boreal forest and its inhabitants. "Wildfire disturbance is a natural part of our ecosystem, but what we're seeing is more intense fires, greater frequencies of fire and hotter drier weather," Stasiak said. "This is a relatively new area that we're going to need to examine as the intensity and the frequency of these fires continues to increase with climate change."
CTV News
06-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Sask. researcher studies bacterium that causes Lyme disease
As the ticks known to spread lyme disease are being found further north, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are learning more about the bacteria.
CTV News
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Jim Cuddy joins surprise duet at U of S convocation
WATCH: Spring convocation at the University of Saskatchewan went off with an unexpected surprise — Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy performed a duet with the university president.
CTV News
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Canadian music icon Jim Cuddy performs surprise duet at U of S convocation
WATCH: Spring convocation at the University of Saskatchewan went off with an unexpected surprise — Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy performed a duet with the university president. Sorry, we're having trouble with this video. Please try again later. [5006/404] Nearly 4,000 University of Saskatchewan (U of S) students will receive their diplomas throughout the week, and those who convocated on Tuesday were treated to a musical surprise. Alongside honorary doctor of letters recipient and Blue Rodeo frontman, Jim Cuddy, the president took part in a musical performance for the graduates. 'I think it will be rather unusual for them to see the president get up and try to strum the guitar. So, I think it'll be kind of fun. It'll be a little historic moment at the University of Saskatchewan,' said Peter Stoicheff, U of S president. Stoicheff and Cuddy have been friends for many years, and while the musician has done countless performances throughout his career, this was something different. 'That makes it a bonus. I can't imagine just doing it cold, like, just having somebody say, come on over and do it ... the whole thing is very special,' Cuddy said. Cuddy is one of three recipients to receive this title thanks to the U of S. President Stoicheff described the honorary degree as the highest honour the U of S can bestow. 'Bestowing it on Jim Cuddy, who's had a fantastic career with Blue Rodeo and a fantastic career with his own band and is one of Canada's greatest songwriters of all time, was a real privilege,' Stoicheff said. Jim Cuddy U of S Iconic Canadian musician Jim Cuddy performed a surprise duet with the University of Saskatchewan president on Tuesday before receiving an honorary degree. (Hallee Mandryk / CTV News) While Cuddy initially graduated from Queens University, he shared that Saskatoon has a special place in his heart. 'It's a huge honor .... I think it's a beautiful university. It's funny that I probably came here for 20 years before I even saw the university. And when I first saw the university, I was shocked at how beautiful it was,' Cuddy said. 'It's sort of fun for me to just hear the names of the people embarking on the rest of their lives, having truly no idea what they're about to encounter,' Cuddy said. The musician, who some may remember for his show-stopping ascending falsetto in the 1987 Blue Rodeo single 'Try,' says that performing in Saskatoon over the years has always been something he looks forward to. 'I think that there's a shared feeling about Saskatoon among especially musicians that come through here because it's very cold ... but it's very sunny,' Cuddy said. It's a special day for many families. But for husband and wife, Debasish Chakroborti and Sristy Sumana Nath, the day is extra special. The duo both received their PhDs on Tuesday. 'It feels great to be graduated, but when you are doing it with your family members, like my wife, my Sristy, we're doing it together, so I'm feeling really great,' Chakroborti said. U of S convocation Husband and wife Debasish Chakroborti and Sristy Sumana Nath both received their PhDs together at the U of S on Tuesday. (Hallee Mandryk / CTV News) After originally joining the university as an international student in 2017, Nath says she is proud to be setting an example for her children. 'Education is very important and we're both graduating together. And [my daughter] she's looking at how we're both graduating together and she's very excited and wanting to do more studies and contribute here in Canada, and the world,' Nath said.
