CPAWS-NL
360 Topsail Rd., Suite 302 A1E 2B6 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Canada

As we celebrated a special day this past weekend, why not keep the love in the air by sharing some of the reasons why we love Protected Areas! Medical, economic, and ecological research continues to come forward supporting the creation and management of protected areas as a way to take care of our future. We feel it's important to highlight some key reasons for why Protected Areas need to factor into all plans made by decision makers in our province. Stayed tuned this week as we share them with you!

Some good news to brighten your day! Not a single North American Right Whale (a critically endangered species) was killed this past year in Canadian waters!! Have a look through this article to learn about how 2020 was actually a good year for Canada's whale populations:

The only thing cuter than one puffin is a puffin couple Did you know that puffins rarely change mates? They return to the same nest every year and perform a little mating ritual known as "billing" where they rub their beaks together!

For this week's #wildlifewednesday we're celebrating a species that you wouldn't want to kiss, but still deserves some love- the Wolffish! Newfoundland and Labrador has 3 species of wolffish: the Atlantic (Striped) Wolffish, the Spotted Wolffish, and the Northern Wolffish. Wolffish are great mates to one-another! They stay true to only one partner. The males protect the nest of eggs from predators until they hatch while the females hunt for food. ... Wolffish and their habitat need to be protected because they have an important role in regulating ocean ecosystems. They love to snack on sea urchins and green crabs, whose populations escalate rapidly and can have massive negative effects on the marine environment All are protected under the Species at Risk Act as their population has been in decline in our province, and all three species have overlapping habitats and face similar threats- like accidental by-catch, habitat destruction, and seismic activities. You can help the Wolffish population by Reduce plastic use and ensure plastic and other garbage are properly disposed of or recycled. Marine debris alters habitats and disrupts food chains, habitat conditions, and ultimately affects population success. Since 2004, all Wolffish accidentally caught during any fisheries must be released, quickly, without harm to the Wolffish, and at the site of capture. Report any sighting of Wolffish toDFO or CPAWS-NL

Welcome to #wildlifewednesday Taking a page from other CPAWS Chapters we’ll be highlighting the amazing species that inhabit -or travel to- our province! First up is the Northern Gannet: Atlantic Canada’s LARGEST seabird. They average in size at around 94cm in length and 180cm in width. ... In late march they come to nest on island sea cliffs where the male builds a tall mount of seaweed, vegetation and dirt held together with droppings. The parents share the incubation and raising duties of a pale blue to white egg. -MUN Ocean Sciences The infamous Bird Rock in Cape St. Mary’s is the third largest nesting site of Northern Gannets in North America. Check out other #wildlifewednesday posts from CPAWS chapters across the country to learn about Canada’s incredible biodiversity! @cpaws_national

Habitat loss continues to be the greatest threat to species in Canada. Despite the continued recognition that habitat loss is driving the decline of wildlife species in Canada, several recent reports have pointed out that efforts to protect the critical habitat of threatened and endangered species continue to lag. Read through our back 2 basics posts to learn more terms + info and stay informed!

As the weekend kicks off remember to take time in nature look around to see if there is anything you can contribute to your environment. When we take a moment to care of our surroundings it reverberates throughout our lives, no matter how small an action #wildernesswellness

Be proactive and educate yourself on protecting our public land and water CPAWS’ vision is to protect at least half of Canada’s public land and water so that future generations can experience the country’s irreplaceable wilderness. While many parks in Canada strike a balance between recreation use and protection of nature, some are heavily impacted by commercial development as well as overuse and human-wildlife conflict.... Read through our back 2 basics posts to learn more terms + info and stay informed!

For a fresh start to the new year we thought we’d bring it back 2 basics and share the information about protecting our public land and water we feel is important to understand! Our hope is to make these concepts clear so that when news or projects come up that effects our environment YOU are better informed. Let’s ensure our nature is protected

We’re happy to be back working to protect our nature and accomplish more in 2021! Stayed tuned for more good things to come

Memorial's Dr. Paul Snelgrove is among a large international group that evaluated new goals from the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to reduce extraordinary biodiversity loss. Read the findings published today in the journal Science. http://ow.ly/ZWXb50C11N0

This spooky 1877 artwork by J.G. Keulmans depicts the cruel and unforgiving nature of the sea, personified by the sea witch Mother Carey and her flock of Storm-Petrels. Mother Carey never traveled alone when looking for her next victim. She would fly with her flock of ‘Chickens’ or Storm-Petrels, which would signal to sailors the imminent arrival of the dreaded sea witch. If you were unlucky enough to be seen by Mother Carey, she would conjure up a storm so bad that it would ...sink the ship, sending the crew to Davy Jones’ Locker. Many sailors over the years have reported seeing Storm-Petrels (or Mother Carey Chicks) unbothered by the stormy weather at sea, so it is no surprise that they have made their way into folklore about shipwrecks! Check out our other page Puffin & Petrel Patrol NL to learn more about Storm-Petrels! Photo Credit: Wikimedia

Although we may not see it directly but lurking below the ocean's surface are thousands of forms of Ghost Gear, which haunts innocent wildlife and continues to work without the use of humans! Ghost fishing gear is any fishing-related litter that is abandoned, discarded, or lost at sea and is the most harmful form of marine debris. Wildlife such as sea turtles, whales, birds, and more become entangled and killed each year. Ghost gear is also a huge contributor to macroplasti...cs in the ocean, about 70%! Learn more about ghost gear here: www.ghostgear.org Photo Credit: Georgette Douwma / naturepl.com

It's only fitting that we highlight the ghoulish-looking Atlantic Wolffish during Halloween week! These fish can be found lurking in dark crevasses and caves around Newfoundland and are known for their distinct set of razor-sharp teeth that can eat sea urchins in just one bite! We have 3 species of Wolffish in Newfoundland (Northern, Spotted, and Atlantic or Striped Wolffish) that are all protected under Canada's Species at Risk Act. Check out our other pages: Puffin & Petr...el Patrol NL and Ship to Shore Newfoundland and Labrador! Photo Credit: Turners-Seafood