In The News: Fields & Forests

2025-12-05

Get all the Canadian Wildlife Federation press releases on a variety of wildlife topics and issues.  

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) and a broad range of unlikely allies are coming together to help endangered bats. The partners include a wildlife control company, a bat researcher, federal youth employment and training programs, local homeowners, and a local men’s wellness group. The unique project, funded by the Ottawa Community Foundation, has the potential to provide habitat for 45,000 at risk bats.

2025-12-05

The forest area in Mexico occupied by overwintering Monarchs has been assessed and the 2019 numbers are very promising, giving a reprieve to a beleaguered population.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is calling for the creation of a national pollinator recovery strategy featuring pollinator pathways and a comprehensive pollinator monitoring program.

2025-12-05

“CWF’s Ottawa team collected and incubated over 600 Blanding’s, Northern Map and Snapping turtle eggs in the Ottawa area this year,” said Rick Bates, CEO. “The release of these hatchings back to the areas where they were found is part of CWF’s comprehensive turtle conservation program, which is also working to help mitigate the impact of road mortality on at-risk turtles in Eastern and Central Ontario. In road surveys conducted the last two years in the Ottawa-area, over 1,000 dead turtles were found. These included over 100 Blanding’s Turtles, a threatened species in Ontario.”

2025-12-05

Hibernating bats may be storing pesticides from contaminated insect food in their flesh over winter, lowering their immune systems and putting them at greater risk of disease and death, says the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF).

2025-12-05

Partnership between Canadian Wildlife Federation, Hydro One, and Lanark County to protect pollinator habitat

2025-12-05

Recent reports from Mexico show a large decline in overwintering Monarch butterfly populations, just as the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) launches a new campaign encouraging the natural growth of wild flowers and native meadows to restore habitat for Monarch and other pollinators in decline.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federationwelcomes major investments in recovering Canada’s economy through actions to conserve wildlife and habitat and reduce green house emissions. The allocation of $3.16 billion to make good on the Liberal platform promise to plant two billion trees moves this ambitious goal from planning to action. The two billion trees must strike a balance between supporting Canadians in the forestry industry whose jobs have been affected by COVID 19, and creating significant climate, biodiversity, and well-being benefits for all Canadians.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) and Scales Nature Park found hundreds of dead turtles on roads around Muskoka and Ottawa this summer and are calling for more help to save these species at risk.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is calling Canadians to help chart a path forward for innovative actions to ensure abundant wildlife and habitat for future generations.

2025-12-05

Nominations are now being accepted for the Canadian Conservation Achievement Awards, a national recognition program which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2018. There are nine award categories to highlight the contributions of volunteers, professionals and projects dedicated to environmental stewardship

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) expects to be applauding new federal investments to protect Canada's land, inland waters and oceans in tomorrow’s federal budget. Protecting key habitats are critical to the future of Canada’s terrestrial and marine wildlife and maintaining a strong connection to nature among Canadians.

2025-12-05

Call for swift action comes as government’s public consultation on neonics ban wraps

2025-12-05

OTTAWA, Aug 22, 2018 – The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is pleased that Health Canada has proposed the phase out of two neonicotinoid insecticides. CWF is calling on Canadians to support the proposed ban and push for further action to eliminate the impacts of neonics and give farmers alternatives #BanWithAPlan.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is launching a new Monarch butterfly recovery project in Eastern Ontario thanks to a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) and the partnership of the National Capital Commission, Hydro One, and Lanark County. <p></p><p> “I’m proud to announce the Ontario Trillium Foundation is supporting The Canadian Wildlife Federation with this $58,000 seed grant,” said Merrilee Fullerton, MPP Kanata-Carleton. “It’s an important investment in an outstanding organization that does so much for our entire community.” </p>

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is thanking Canadians for helping endangered species including turtles and pollinators as we approach International Day of Biodiversity May 23 and World Turtle Day May 24.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) applauds the federal government’s historic new investment of $1.3 billion to advance conservation in Canada and an additional $1 billion to support our environmental laws.

2025-12-05

Environmental groups are calling for an audit of federal pesticide regulation, after the Pest Management Regulatory Agency published its final decision on harmful neonicotinoid insecticides (neonics), allowing most uses to continue despite identified risks to wildlife and ecosystems. Today’s decision to continue registration of imidacloprid in Canada, reversing the PMRA’s 2016 proposal to end agricultural use of the chemical, follows parallel decisions last month in reviews of the two other main neonics, clothianidin and thiamethoxam.

2025-12-05

The International Monarch Monitoring Blitz is back for its eighth edition from 26 July to 4 August 2024! The Blitz provides a unique opportunity for individuals and organizations in Canada, Mexico and the United States to join forces across international borders to safeguard this iconic North American species.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is thrilled to receive a charitable donation of $25,000 over five years from The Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Project, a student-led fundraiser launched by five innovative teenagers from Ontario.

2025-12-05

Today, a group of conservationists published an open letter to Canadian municipalities urging municipal bylaw reforms to support development of habitat gardens: places where pollinator-supporting native plants replace traditional, non-native turfgrass. The group consists of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, Canadian Wildlife Federation, David Suzuki Foundation, Ecological Design Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University and author and environmental advocate Lorraine Johnson.

2025-12-05

New CWF research on agricultural land change highlights the importance of supporting farmland biodiversity in Ontario and Quebec

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the prestigious Canadian Conservation Achievement Awards.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is hopeful that more Canadians will join Monarch Butterfly conservation efforts now that the species is formally listed as Endangered

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is part of a delegation heading to an international grasslands summit in Colorado this weekend, saying there is an urgent need for co-ordinated tri-national action.

2025-12-05

Recent reports from Mexico show a slight increase in overwintering Monarch Butterfly habitat, but the count still falls short of the six hectares necessary to sustain the eastern Monarch population and more needs to be done in Canada to conserve the iconic butterfly, the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) says.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is planning a live and safe bat capture, tagging and tracking project within a 425 acre outdoor classroom east of Ottawa.

2025-12-05

With the growing urgency of the climate crisis, 407 ETR is putting a greater emphasis on biodiversity, and supporting organizations focused on enhancing and protecting Ontario’s green spaces

2025-12-05

On Saturday, community members of Lanark County gathered to celebrate the success of a $607,400 Grow grant awarded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Encouraging people to support a healthy and sustainable environment, this initiative is helping conservation and restoration efforts be better planned and more sustainable and has an impact on the lives of 22,000 people in the community.

2025-12-05

Canadian Wildlife Federation and Lanark County co-host Native Milkweed Collection and Planting EventSaturday, September 16th from 1:00 - 4:00 PM Remarks to take place from 1:00 1:30 PM followed by a photo opportunity and instructional harvesting and planting session.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is launching an outreach initiative to engage partners and stakeholders in developing a National Native Seed Strategy.

2025-12-05

CWF supports development of government policy and legislation, industry action and consumer actions to reduce emissions to a level that meets Canada’s commitment to the global target to not exceed a 1.5 degree increase in the average temperature of the planet.

2025-12-05

The US government’s recent decision not to list the Monarch Butterfly under the Endangered Species Act means that more citizens and corporations on both sides of the border need to work together to build pollinator pathways along critical migratory corridors. Although they won’t be listing this species under the Endangered Species Act in the immediate future, the US government has signed unprecedented voluntary conservation agreements with rights-of-way entities to help recover the Monarch. <p></p><p> </p>

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is pleased to announce the launch of the Canadian Chapter of the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group. This is a network aimed to engage professional managers of hydro lines, roadways and pipelines in restoring pollinator habitat by providing expertise, cost-effective best management practices and industry-driven resources.

2025-12-03

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is pleased to share ideas for conserving grassland songbirds like the Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark, now nesting on Canadian pastures and hayfields.

2025-12-05

Lanark County is launching a new roadside restoration pilot project in partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) to create critical pollinator habitat for species at risk including Monarch butterflies.

2025-12-05

Name a pollinator. Any pollinator. Did bees come to mind? Or maybe butterflies? What about flies? Probably not.

2025-12-05

iNaturalist Canada (also known as iNaturalist.ca) has hit a major milestone – more than 1 million verifiable observations in Canada. These confirmed sightings span from Canada’s East Coast to the western edges of British Columbia, and from Southern Saskatchewan all the way up to the most northern reaches of the country.

2025-12-05

Guest blogger Donna Cook is a nature interpreter who writes about her recent visit to the Monarch Butterflies’ overwintering grounds in Mexico.

2025-12-05

Since the new transformer station requires only five acres of the property, Hydro Ottawa partnered with the City of Ottawa, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and Canadian Wildlife Federation, to create one of the largest pollinator meadows of its kind in eastern Ontario. Adjacent to its future station, the agreement means that 15 acres will be dedicated to a pollinator meadow which is scheduled for seeding during 2021’s upcoming planting season. A four acre tree reforestation area was planted in 2020 with 2,750 trees thanks to the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.

2025-12-05

A new study from University of Michigan biologists presents the first genetic evidence of resistance in some bats to white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that has decimated some North American bat populations.

2025-12-05

The western chorus frog is about as small as your thumb, but it could prove to be a large obstacle to Premier Doug Ford’s plans for building Highway 413.

2025-12-05

Are we witnessing a mass extinction?

2025-12-05

The Wildlife Conservation Society Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Federation, with support from Environment and Climate Change Canada, launched the Canadian Bat Box Project this year to help bat populations recover with the assistance of community scientists

2025-12-05

Once again, overwintering numbers indicate another decline for the eastern Monarch Butterfly population.

2025-12-05

Did you know that our native, wild prairie grasslands are at risk?

2025-12-05

Active restoration includes seeding following wild parsnip removal, hydroseeding at construction projects, planting, and working in conjunction with the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) on a monarch habitat restoration project. Other activities have included workshops, education and awareness, tours and training, and participating in the mayors’ monarch pledge through the National Wildlife Federation.

2025-12-05

I didn’t grow up on the prairies, but as a kid I dreamed that I did. I read about life in the “wild west” and watched the movies. In my mind, I was a cowpoke, riding a horse and tending cattle in the vast grassland expanses of the Great Plains.

2025-12-05

Retailers embracing sustainability, supporting local ecosystems and pollinators

2025-12-05

Our understanding of dinosaurs today makes what we knew 50 years ago primitive. Decades ago, all we had to learn about dinosaurs and their lives was fossils

2025-12-05

Carolyn Callaghan, a biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, says many people love the look of a freshly mown lawn, but letting wildflowers grow instead is much better for the environment.

2025-12-05

Each year I grow herbs, mainly for me but a little for wildlife, too.

2025-12-05

Despite a surge in scientific and public fascination with fungi, they remain sidelined in conservation language.

2025-12-05

In the last 50 years, bird populations that live in Canada’s prairies have declined by 60 per cent. Given the size of these populations, this means that millions of birds have disappeared from this grassland wilderness since the 1970’s. I don’t know about you, but I find this statistic alarming.

2025-12-05

August 10, 2023 Global's Katelin Owsianski visits a pollinator garden created by the Canadian Wildlife Federation's WILD Outside program to learn how the local ecosystem can benefit from a properly managed garden.

2025-12-05

Spot the good caterpillars from the bad

2025-12-05

Bats get a bad rap. Whether they’re in the belfry or portrayed as flying bloodsuckers in pop culture, humans generally don’t feel warm and cozy about the creatures of the night. “It’s absolutely true,” said Carolyn Callaghan, the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s senior conservation biologist, terrestrial wildlife, down the line from Luskville, Quebec.

2025-12-05

More homeowners are adopting the 'no-mow' lawn movement, writes Beverley Golden

2025-12-05

Keith Currie, who runs a 300-acre grain and oilseed farm in Collingwood, Ont., Has long grown to be told that farmers need to focus on sustainability. In response, he always asks: “Tell me what it means to you.” The answers, he says, are always somewhat different. There is no consensus on a definition for sustainability, even among farmers, let alone unanimity across the entire food system.

2025-12-05

The overwintering Monarch population in Mexico has increased. Let’s help them when they make their trip home to Canada!

2025-12-05

The strategy, which the government hopes to be finalized in the next year, aims to serve as a guide to support the livelihoods of farmers while growing a sustainable sector.

2025-12-05

Hope for Wildlife in Seaforth, N.S., hired 50 interns in 2018 from all over the world to keep up with demand - including CCC participant Kambal Bloxham.

2025-12-05

Carolyn Callaghan of the Canadian Wildlife Federation speaks about what is killing off Canada's pollinators.

2025-12-05

Does your school have a garden? More and more educators are experiencing the magic that happens when a school garden becomes a dynamic teaching tool.

2025-12-05

Meet the Black-capped Chickadee, one of Canada’s most beloved birds. Found throughout most of Canada, these puffballs are a joy to watch year-round. Want to make your yard the ultimate chickadee hangout? With the right food, shelter, and nesting spaces, you can help these friendly birds thrive while getting a front-row seat to their daily adventures!

2025-12-05

New decisions by Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency will allow the widespread use of neonicotinoid insecticides to continue, despite evidence of harm to wildlife and ecosystems.

2025-12-05

Here are some of the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Photo Contest images showing Canada’s hummingbirds in their habitat.

2025-12-05

The wet spring that brought us bumper crops of mosquitoes and deer flies has also left us a kinder gift: This is an amazing summer for fireflies.

2025-12-05

Huron County council approved $20,000 in this year’s budget to go toward the pilot project, though staff also successfully received an $8,700 grant from the Canadian Wildlife Federation for the efforts.

2025-12-05

The plow, roads and cities have reduced this to about 10 million hectares — about an 81 per cent decline. In no small part, the natural grasslands that remain owe their survival to being “not good for much” except grazing livestock. They were undesirable for growing crops and not even in the right places for housing or industrial development.

2025-12-05

It’s #GivingTuesday. #GivingTuesday is a day when we think not of packages and bows, but of those in need this season.

2025-12-05

Lanark County is on a mission to bring back the butterflies and other at-risk pollinators.

2025-12-05

A bear surviving the Jasper wildfires.

2025-12-05

You might be reading this with a call for 15 centimetres of snow in the forecast but winter won’t last forever. Spring is on the horizon. If you forgot to clean out the nest boxes in your backyard at the end of autumn, early spring is another great time to get this task done.

2025-12-05

In June, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) Rights-of-Way (ROW) Community of Practice (CoP) — part of the CWF Rights-of-Way Habitat Restoration Network — visited the City of Toronto’s prescribed grazing pilot at Don Valley Brick Works to learn more about integrating targeted grazing into meadow management.

2025-12-05

It would mean a radical change for both human life and wildlife in Canada. The simple fact is Canadian winters marked by freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls serve significant purpose for all inhabitants of the Great White North.

2025-12-05

ildlife populations in Dufferin and Caledon have come and gone over the past few centuries, most dramatically since European settlement. Some species have vanished from the landscape. Others have arrived. Now things are changing again.

2025-12-05

Let’s talk about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees. Did you know that across North America, pollinators are in a steep decline. It may seem like an unlikely union, but utilities are ideally suited to restore these environments. Here with us to discuss Hydro Ottawa’s latest partner project to create one of the largest pollinator meadows of its kind in Eastern Ontario is Tracey Etwell from Canadian Wildlife Federation & Meaghan McDonald from Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.

2025-12-05

The United Nations warns that 1 million species worldwide are at risk of extinction

2025-12-05

For the North Atlantic Right Whale — one of the most critically endangered baleen whales in the world — 2017 proved to be a terrible year.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation and other conservation groups have been pushing for the Monarch Butterfly to be listed as Endangered, a decision which is expected to come from the Government of Canada this spring.

2025-12-05

We are happy to announce that our 14-acre wetland restoration project is complete. This project, located south-east of Tom’s Meadow, was coordinated by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA).

2025-12-05

Our little turtles are hatching quickly. Once all the eggs from a nest are hatched, the young will be released together in the area they were laid — only this time they will be a safe distance from the road!

2025-12-05

All eight of Canada’s freshwater turtles are listed as Species at Risk. Turtles have survived and thrived on earth for more than 200 million years - until now. Today, all eight of Canada’s freshwater turtles are listed as Species at Risk, and are one of the most endangered groups of animals in the country.

2025-12-05

Davidson told council the county had been successful in its application to the Canadian Wildlife Federation for monarch butterfly habitat, which meant the CWF would provide the “appropriate seed mixture and possibly some funding” for the project.

2025-12-05

“Essentially, all life depends on the soil … There can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved together.” ~Charles E. Kellogg

2025-12-05

When you have the chance to look at a tree with a child, or even by yourself for that matter, there are many ways you can focus your attention.

2025-12-05

The newest winter counts for the winter population of eastern Monarch Butterflies have been released (March 21, 2023).

2025-12-05

We were contacted in October by biologists at the Canadian Wildlife Federation. They wanted to meet with us to talk about developing recommendations to promote grassland bird populations and habitat on farms.

2025-12-05

Some good news: we look at why Canada's monarch butterfly numbers are on the up.

2025-12-05

iNaturalist.ca was featured recently in the Ottawa Citizen as one of the best travel apps.

2025-12-05

The project could require up to $60,000 a year, for five years, for maintenance and monitoring. But the staff report recommending the pilot within the 7.5-hectare section, between Guelph Line and Fisher Avenue, suggests pursuing a grant from the Canadian Wildlife Federation to offset or completely cover costs.

2025-12-05

Warm weather and some rain has brought on spring blossoms and buds, even bumblebees are starting to buzz. It's national wildlife week and the Canadian Wildlife Federation would like to help you learn more about making your yard more inviting...

2025-12-05

There’s a concept in Conservation Biology, called Ecosystem Services, that has been around for a while and continues to grow in popularity and importance.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation is in its second year of identifying places of high turtle road mortality, or “hotspots.” By surveying roads and finding these areas, we are able to inform municipalities on where it is important to put up mitigation measures to prevent further turtle deaths on the road.

2025-12-05

We keep learning how artificial light impacts wildlife. While many species can be affected, migratory birds are particularly sensitive to lights left on at night.

2025-12-05

When you think of Canadian grasslands, do you think dry, droughty, with barren soils blowing in the wind?

2025-12-05

The Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) is so rare in Canada it is only found in one place in Canada: Grassland National Park. The prairie dog was first documented in Canada 1938, when the first prairie dog “towns” were discovered. The nearest colonies are in Montana over 20 kilometres away — way too far for breeding between populations.

2025-12-05

Have you had the opportunity to spot one of these flighty little birds?

2025-12-05

he Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation (SSGF) marked a national first this week with the formal signing of Canada’s first-ever term conservation easement, protecting 640 acres of native grassland south of Fir Mountain, Sask., for the next 25 years.

2025-12-05

Last year, in partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, SNC successfully created a pollinator meadow at Mill Run Conservation Area, transforming a 1.5-acre field into a biodiverse community pollinator garden. Donated by Augusta Township to the Conservation Authority in 2021, the property will support the growth of a variety of native wildflowers over the next few growing seasons, providing diverse food sources for pollinating insects.

2025-12-05

Good News. CWF will be working with the Saskatchewan Stockgrowers Foundation on a prairie grassland conservation project, funded by the Weston Foundation. Learn more about this project, and other initiatives to conserve the biodiversity of the prairie grasslands

2025-12-05

Have you ever seen a turtle digging on the side of the road and wondered what they were doing? That was likely a female turtle nesting.

2025-12-05

Large mammals that live on the open prairies have a lot of pretty “cool” adaptations to winter life.

2025-12-05

James Pagé is the species at risk and biodiversity specialist at the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

2025-12-05

Humans from all over the Northern Hemisphere have always been fascinated by the Northern Raven, including us. In turns revered or despised, this large, black songbird has rarely left anyone indifferent!

2025-12-05

Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation (SSGF) is pleased to announce it has been awarded $3.4M from the Weston Family Foundation Prairie Grasslands Initiative to collaborate on one of the largest prairie grasslands conservation efforts in Canadian history.

2025-12-05

One of the most special moments of spring is watching the beautiful Monarch Butterflies return to southern Canada.

2025-12-05

In June of this year, CWF’s turtle team spent many long evenings searching for turtles laying eggs. In particular we were looking for Snapping Turtles and Blanding’s Turtles in the process of laying their eggs. Our goal was to let the females lay their eggs and afterwards we would dig up and collect the eggs to incubate them back at CWF headquarters.

2025-12-05

With the arrival of spring, you may now be thinking of tending to your garden or yard but you may want to hold off on that for the time being.

2025-12-05

The end of August and start of September is a time of change. Leaves begin changing colours and temperatures slowly (but surely) begin to lower. It’s also the time when the iconic Monarch Butterfly migrates south from Canada to their overwintering grounds in Mexico!

2025-12-05

WILD Family Nature Club outings are a lot of fun — and so easy!

2025-12-05

Did you know that out of 800 species of bees in Canada approximately 45 are bumble bees?

2025-12-05

Wasps don’t have the best reputation. They’re not exactly a welcome sight at BBQs or outdoor picnics, are they? Studies show that, as you might suspect, wasps are more disliked than their fuzzy bee relatives.

2025-12-05

As I write this, our CEO Sean Southey, two of my teammates and I are en-route home from a Summit at the University of Minnesota that brought three nations of people together to reconnect and energize our collective efforts to recover a micro, mighty species.

2025-12-05

You can conserve wetlands. That’s right. I said it. Just to be clear: You can conserve wetlands. Learn how.

2025-12-05

The federal government’s climate change mitigation strategy encourages the conversion of farmland to hay and pasture but this Ontario study shows a trend in the opposite direction.

2025-12-05

Agricultural Land is Home to Hundreds of Wild Species

2025-12-05

Now that we are into the year of 2023, we anxiously await the annual count of the overwintering Monarch Butterfly’s population in Mexico.

2025-12-05

Bat researchers are trying to learn what the Little Brown Bat is doing in the Ottawa area.

2025-12-05

The Valley Bat Box Project has a two-fold mission: to build and distribute bat boxes to help local populations, and to provide educational information about the importance of bats to our community. It was great to hear lots of expertise from various university professors and James Page from the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

2025-12-05

Land slated to protect 10 species at risk is valued at $64 million, federal government says

2025-12-05

The science is clear: hayfields, forage crops and pastures are good for soil health. But with the area under grass and legumes shrinking, expanding forage acres remains a tough sell.

2025-12-05

It is a common — and completely understandable — misconception that the best habitats for biodiversity are undisturbed habitats.

2025-12-05

Throughout the summer of 2021, participants showed their progress with before and after pictures of their gardens designed to provide beauty for their homes as well as help pollinators do their jobs

2025-12-05

In some parts of Canada, wildlife is not dominant in the landscape.

2025-12-05

Why create meadow habitat along roadsides? What’s the point? Aren’t roadsides dirty, noisy and full of chemicals? Isn’t this poor habitat for pollinators? We can all attest to the value of pollinators in our environment and that we need to do what we can to protect them. Pollinators are a big group, including native bees, flies, beetles, wasps, moths and butterflies. In simple terms, pollinators need to feed and breed.

2025-12-05

The Company pledged a total of $300,000 over three years to fund conservation and research with the organization

2025-12-05

On May 18, 2021, Hydro Ottawa seeded their very first pollinator habitat.

2025-12-05

The world is run by bees. Not in a literal sense, mind you, but in a very real way life on this planet is made possible by the work of bees and other pollinators who ensure that new flowers and plants are able to grow and thrive. In return, we have air to breathe, fruits and vegetables to eat, and beautiful spring meadows to enjoy. Bees, however, are in trouble. According to many different organizations, including the David Suzuki Foundation, The Bee Conservancy and the Canadian Wildlife Federation, factors like decreasing habitat space due to land development, the use of neonic pesticides, and the growth of invasive plants are all contributing to a crisis in the insect world, including bees and other pollinators.

2025-12-05

Researchers also hope to learn why bats choose one bat box over another to have pups

2025-12-05

Before the rusty-patched bumble bee was listed as endangered in 2010, researchers wanted to know how many were still buzzing around. They spent more than 600 hours over eight years navigating through Ontario’s brush looking for the bees, but only spotted three, one in 2005 and two more in 2009.

2025-12-05

It’s within earshot of a busy highway, in the shadow of electrical towers, within sniffing distance of the dump. But the bees, flies, wasps, moths, butterflies and beetles that visit this site don’t seem to care.

2025-12-05

Several local projects and businesses involving agriculture, sustainability, the environment and economic development were highlighted at the gathering attended by about 30 people. Some of those projects are partnerships involving the municipality and other agencies such as the Canadian Wildlife Federation and South Nation Conservation that involve habitat restoration. The township is working with local beekeepers to promote pollination.

2025-12-05

The bats were released into the bat houses without incident. They were friendly, chatting the whole time, and very excited to get back to their old stomping grounds. The Big Browns are now supporting the local ecosystem by keeping the night-flying insects in check.

2025-12-05

Our Pollinators are in Trouble – Your Lawn Could Make All the Difference

2025-12-05

Did you know that farmland hosts 313 species of birds, and 69 per cent of all breeding bird species in Canada?

2025-12-05

As spring arrives on the Prairies, many species are either waking up or migrating to their summer homes.

2025-12-05

407 ETR and the Canadian Wildlife Federation are teaming up to restore the equivalent of 22 football fields of land to enhance monarch butterfly and pollinator habitats along roadsides in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

2025-12-05

According to the Canadian Wildlife Federation, bats of this species weigh only seven to fourteen grams and have a wingspan of 22-27 centimetres. In 2014, the species was added to the federal government's at risk registry.

2025-12-05

Wildlife experts have launched the first study of its kind in Canada to find out where bats go after they've been evicted by humans, and whether they'll settle for a man-made shelter.

2025-12-05

While every action, individual and specific interest in wildlife is important to us, we are here to tell you that it can very easily be your name on the press release, awards trophy and banquet reception honouring today’s Conservation Heroes. Whether you submit your name now, or plan to enter for next year, here are a few things to keep in mind.

2025-12-05

Probably 10 per cent of the people in the western world are already birdwatchers. Probably another 50 per cent know something about birds but haven’t taken them seriously. The rest of you haven’t really thought about bird watching because you don’t know much about it. This post is addressed to the last group.

2025-12-05

Vanessa Burchill is growing and giving away hundreds of swamp milkweed seedlings so endangered monarch butterflies have somewhere safe to land and lay their eggs. A 12-year-old Dartmouth, N.S., girl is growing and giving away hundreds of milkweed plants so endangered monarch butterflies have somewhere safe to land.

2025-12-05

Have you been hearing squeaks? Seeing bats flying around your roof? You may have bats in your home. This news might freak out a lot of people, but don’t put your house up for sale just yet. It’s easier to cohabit with bats than you’d think.

2025-12-05

To your average city-slicker, native grasslands may not be the first thought when it comes to a unique and diverse ecosystem.

2025-12-05

Hundreds of at-risk baby turtles were incubated over the summer

2025-12-05

Scientists are capturing, tagging, and releasing bats, so that after they're evicted from a home where they're unwanted, they can be tracked. The hope is they'll choose to re-locate to one of three designs of a bat home, thereby revealing their preference, and informing future bat builds.

2025-12-05

When it rains it pours. How can we help bats with this new threat?

2025-12-05

Interview with CWF's Carolyn Callaghan on the Snowy Owl.

2025-12-05

More than 100 bats have called the attic of a Manotick mansion home for months. For researchers, the discovery is an opportunity to study the creatures, mostly big brown bats, and determine what happens to them once evicted from a home or building.

2025-12-05

With vivid colours of bright yellows to deep reds, they are incredible creatures! There are 13 species of finches in Canada: Evening Grosbeak, Pine Grosbeak, Gray-crowned Rosy Finch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Cassin’s Finch, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, Red Crossbill, Cassia Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Pine Siskin, and the American Goldfinch. If you’d like to attract them to your garden we have seven tips to help you!

2025-12-05

After a long winter, the 46 bats rescued this past December in Mississippi Mills, Ontario are going home

2025-12-05

t’s a new school year! Now is the perfect time for you to incorporate a few fun celebrations and wild activities into your upcoming plans. There are so many things in Canada — and the world — to celebrate. Pick your favourites from these options and plan something special! If you do, let us know on your favourite social media channel.

2025-12-05

In March 2023, 407 ETR announced funding to support Canadian Wildlife Federation and help bend the curve on biodiversity loss by restoring 12 hectares of land—the equivalent of 22 football fields— to enhance monarch butterfly and pollinator habitats along roadsides in the GTA. The Company continues to work towards its target of a 25 per cent reduction to Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Learn more about the Company's environment, social and governance (ESG) at 407etr.com.

2025-12-05

Momentum is building to establish Canada’s first agri-food sustainability index. A private–public coalition of 34 diverse partners has released the Business Case for Establishing the National Index on Agri-Food Performance to affirm Canada’s agri-food leadership in a more demanding food world.

2025-12-05

Let’s celebrate International Migratory Bird Day on May 12 by learning more about some of the coolest feathered travelers that are, or will be, arriving up North for a few months!

2025-12-05

Lanark County Public Works staff are playing a part in reducing turtle mortality on county roads, and the public is invited to help!

2025-12-05

Listen to their interview here to learn more about participants’ experiences within Living Lab – Central Prairies, and the importance of the project to ranchers, researchers and conservationists alike.

2025-12-05

Is it time for an official Canadian ban on neonicotinoids for their devastating effect on bugs, birds and humans? Most experts say yes.

2025-12-05

CWF's Canadian Conservation Corps participant and Niagara Falls resident Caitlin Brant is the developer of Monarch Mayhem program

2025-12-05

New research by the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) shows a large and increased conversion of perennial pasture and forage to annual cropland across the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone in Ontario and Quebec.

2025-12-05

A CWF conservation expert tells us why insects might be our best ecological allies… and why we must act now to prevent a collapse of the world’s bugs.

2025-12-05

Canada can do more to help the monarch, says the Canadian Wildlife Federation's Carolyn Callaghan.

2025-12-05

Have you spotted one of these Endangered species yet? In early May, we received the first report of a Monarch Butterfly migrating back into southern Ontario.

2025-12-05

Our interest is not only in mitigating climate change, but also on how efforts to store carbon affect biodiversity. We think that there is huge potential to conserve grassland wildlife as well as store more carbon. A win-win for the environment and society.

2025-12-05

Did you know that some butterflies also get their nutrients from damp sand, compost and manure (behaviours called “mud puddling”), as well as from tree sap and moist organic matter like rotting fruit, dung and carrion?

2025-12-05

One of nature’s greatest migrations may be returning to health after a stunning growth in the number of monarch butterflies that fluttered across North America last year. But if populations of the striking black-and-orange aviators are starting to recover, it’s no thanks to Canada, said Carolyn Callaghan of the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

2025-12-05

n our Rights-of-Way as Habitat Networks project, the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is creating nectaring and breeding habitat for Monarch Butterflies — an umbrella species for our native pollinators. CWF partners with rights-of-way managers along the Eastern Monarch migratory path to both actively and passively restore native wildflower meadows.

2025-12-05

More than 50 participants gathered on the County’s South Shore Saturday in hot and humid weather to learn how to observe and monitor Monarch eggs, caterpillars and adult butterflies.

2025-12-05

Grasslands sequester billions of tonnes of carbon and support hundreds of plant species and over 60 species at risk. They are also one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems

2025-12-05

Many older residents of the Canadian prairies talk of seeing large numbers of Monarch Butterflies flying about in the summer.

2025-12-05

Lanark County's experience creating welcoming habitats for butterflies.

2025-12-05

More than 50 years ago, Canada banned the use of the insecticide DDT.

2025-12-05

At the Canadian Wildlife Federation we’ve been busy experimenting by creating native meadows for pollinators at three sites in eastern Ontario.

2025-12-05

You’re driving down a back-country road and suddenly there’s a turtle on the road. What do you do? Read on to learn how to move a turtle across the road.

2025-12-05

A new habitat restoration project being undertaken at The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary means that migrating birds will have one more feeding and resting stopover in the Essex Region.

2025-12-05

Have you ever described what you do at work and been asked: “Okay, but why?” I’ve encountered this fairly often when talking to friends and family about my work with the Turtle Team at the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

2025-12-05

June is a recipe for disaster, as the already crowded roads of Ontario become oversaturated with cottage goers, and turtles, seeking out safe nesting areas to lay their eggs, find themselves in the direct path of vehicles and tragically end up as carnage on our roads. To make it even worse, many turtles found dead or injured on the road during June are pregnant females.

2025-12-05

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Melissa Spearing (Seed Biologist) from the National Tree Seed Centre and Dr. Stefan Weber (National Native Seed Strategy Coordinator) from the Canadian Wildlife Federation to discuss the native plant movement in Canada. Topics include the state of native plants in Canada, biggest threats to their natural areas, the role of the timber industry in the country, and also their journey into ecology. Intro music by Egocentric Plastic Men, outro music by Dave Bennett.

2025-12-05

When developing a native seed mix for pollinator meadows we advise including many species, sometimes as many as 25 species.

2025-12-05

Happy Mother’s Day! As you celebrate, keep a lookout for turtles — she could be a mom, too!

2025-12-05

There are over 1,300 bat species worldwide, 19 of which call Canada home.

2025-12-05

We need your help to track down the Giant Lacewing (Polystoechotes punctate).

2025-12-05

More on a new project about to take flight in Eastern Ontario to bring back the monarch butterfly.

2025-12-05

Researchers are excited to find more bats have emerged in Nova Scotia this year than anticipated.

2025-12-05

Oak Savannah ecosystems of southern Ontario are home to some very rare and unique plant species including Sundial Lupine and Carolina Wood-Vetch.

2025-12-05

The search and destruction of the egg masses of the spongy moth — previously known as the gypsy moth — is the focus of a hike planned for Mark S. Burnham Provincial Park on Saturday.

2025-12-05

As the largest supporter-based conservation charity in Canada, we thought we’d report back to you on some of what we’ve accomplished during the 2018 summer conservation field work season. There were both successes and failures, but all of the work we do helps further our understanding of these species in order to best conserve Canada’s wildlife.

2025-12-05

'We need to break the traditional definition of what a beautiful yard means'

2025-12-05

Trees are wonderful additions to any property. They provide clean air, shelter and food for wildlife and so much more. Once you’ve decided on what kind of tree you want, follow these steps to ensure it’s a happy and healthy addition to your backyard.

2025-12-05

Road infrastructure on the prairie has a significant impact on the movement and migration of the pronghorn, North America’s fastest land animal. A multidisciplinary research project with a citizen science component has identified several areas along the Trans-Canada Highway between Brooks in southeast Alberta and Swift Current in southwest Saskatchewan where road improvements can support pronghorn conservation.

2025-12-05

Canadian Wildlife Federation’s teams across the country are getting ready for a fruitful spring and summer in the field.

2025-12-05

Pronghorns used to race across the prairies — until people put up fences. Now, a group of volunteers is working to reconnect this divided landscape.

2025-12-05

Several research projects are tracking the region’s bat population after it was reduced by the disease

2025-12-05

A national not-for-profit wildlife conservation group is expanding its efforts to protect the Monarch butterfly, which frequents areas of Chatham-Kent. The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) has established networks across eastern and southern Ontario and partnered with agricultural producers, municipalities, and conservation authorities in an effort to create meadow habitats for the insects.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Dr. Carolyn Callaghan talks about the steep decline of the Monarch butterfly and what we can do to protect this endangered species.

2025-12-05

The Arctic tundra is a fascinating area between the edge of the boreal forest and the permanent ice caps closer to the North Pole.

2025-12-05

If asked this question, many Canadians might imagine wheat and canola fields extending as far as the eye can see.

2025-12-05

A few barbed comments about the amazing porcupine and what we might learn from studying its quills

2025-12-05

The Government of Saskatchewan recently announced its intention to end the Saskatchewan Pastures Program and consult on the future management of the 50 pastures totalling 780,000 acres of public grasslands that have never been cultivated.

2025-12-05

Make Rain Barrels a Fun Feature of Your Garden — Not an Ugly Tool to Hide!

2025-12-05

Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, moths and flies, play critical roles in ecosystems and in the production of our food.

2025-12-05

Thanks to their unfailing dedication, along with that of our partners, we are seeing the seeds of change for our meadows and Monarchs. Soon, the 1,795 hectares of meadow habitat we’ve restored will begin to bloom..

2025-12-05

Christina McGough from the Canadian Wildlife Federation joins Global News Morning Calgary to discuss the organization’s call for a national strategy to help pollinators thrive.

2025-12-05

Protecting Canada’s Forests Through Personal Action The Canadian Wildlife Federation’s programs engage young Canadians in conservation.

2025-12-05

I think it’s safe to say that when most of us hear about bees or wasps we think of honey, trying not to get stung or maybe even pollination. But there is a diverse and remarkable world that awaits to be discovered when it comes to this very large group of insects.

2025-12-03

2025-12-05

Take a look below at some of Canada’s most popular scavengers and some that just may surprise you.

2025-12-05

Tim talks to Sarah Coulber conservation education specialist with the Canadian Wildlife Federation. She talks which pollinator plants are available each may (grown in Vineland at Willowbrook) so people can plant and attract wildlife (bees, birds, butterflies) to their gardens.

2025-12-05

In recognition of Pollinator Week, 407 ETR is proud to announce that its pollinator conservation efforts with the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) have surpassed the12-hectare goal of roadside restoration.

2025-12-05

Local couple have created a thriving bird colony in their Carstairs yard

2025-12-05

Pollinators — such as bees, butterflies and many others species — face real and serious problems including habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. Insect pollinators are declining around the world. . Without pollinators, our food system will suffer. We all need insect pollinators to thrive. But here at the Canadian Wildlife Federation, we are trying to give them a fighting chance.

2025-12-05

Do you have a bat box at your cottage? If so, the Canadian Bat Box Project needs your help. Karen Vanderwolf, a PhD student at Trent University, and her project partners at the Canadian Wildlife Federation and the Wildlife Conservation Society, are calling on citizen scientists from across the country to help better understand how effective bat boxes are and to determine best practices for their design and placement.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is launching an outreach initiative to engage partners and stakeholders in developing a National Native Seed Strategy.

2025-12-05

Discussions continue about “greening” a section of the City of Burlington’s Crosstown Trail along the hydro corridor. Approved by city council last year with an implementation budget of up to $115,750, and anticipated annual maintenance costs of up to $60,000 for five years, the effort to transform the 7.5-hectare trail section between Guelph Line and Fisher Avenue into a meadow habitat begins public consultation this month.

2025-12-05

All along the California coast in fall and winter, there are places you can visit where colonies of adult Monarch butterflies overwinter.

2025-12-05

These simple insect dishes can provide ample benefits to Mother Nature's little critters and can boost our biodiversity, says a Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) education specialist.

2025-12-05

Sounds aren’t the only way species communicate with each other

2025-12-05

Bat boxes can help alleviate habitat loss threatening many of the troubled species in Canada, especially in the summer, as they encounter stormy weather. So, now is the perfect time to build a cozy shelter for the flying mammals.

2025-12-05

Since the 2016 census, tame and natural pasture numbers have dwindled. Reported livestock acres for cattle, pigs, chickens and sheep have all significantly fallen. For John Wilmshurst, native grassland conservation manager for the Canadian Wildlife Federation, this has been a concern for some time.

2025-12-05

La Pêche, Que., couple says their vegetation is a habitat for bees and butterflies

2025-12-05

Gardeners everywhere want to do their little bit to support pollinators. We’ve heard of the importance of honey bees, but butterflies, moths, birds, flies, beetles, and in other regions bats, are also important pollinators.

2025-12-05

Biologists use the term “plasticity” to describe coyote behaviour, which means they can quickly adapt to changing conditions. For example, sudden pressure from hunting can prompt them to start having larger litters, which can end up increasing the population.

2025-12-05

Cattle ranchers in the Milk River watershed, Saskatchewan, participated in a federally funded program by taking voluntary actions to support rangeland sustainability, habitat conservation and recovery of species at risk.

2025-12-05

And gannets and swallows and sparrows and… A new study suggests there are 50 billion birds on the wing in the world. Some are plentiful, other species have dwindled to fewer than 5,000

2025-12-05

“What happened in this case, was there was a science review done and a variety of pieces of information were brought together and it was determined that while there wasn’t an imminent threat to the survival of the species, the development did pose a threat to the recovery,” David Browne, the director of conservation for the Canadian Wildlife Federation, told Global news.

2025-12-05

While the number of estimated bird deaths due to collisions with buildings is staggering, you can play a key role in helping mitigate these deaths by rescuing birds and identifying hazardous structures.

2025-12-05

Climate change is a serious and, unfortunately, always present concern for our planet. Its impacts are far reaching and may also affect the ‘seasonal routine’ of many organisms, including the relationship between plants and pollinators.

2025-12-05

Canadian government announces funding to support monarch butterfly habitat restoration projects.

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is hopeful that more Canadians will join Monarch Butterfly conservation efforts now that the species is formally listed as Endangered. “Recovery is within reach, but it will take a united approach that includes all levels of government, Indigenous stewards of reserves, corporations, conservation organizations, schools, agricultural producers, faith and cultural communities, homeowners, gardeners, and citizen scientists in order to give the Monarch a bright future,” says Carolyn Callaghan, CWF senior conservation biologist, terrestrial wildlife.

2025-12-05

Canada geese are rarely given credit for their intelligence and ability to adapt to life in the city, according to a wildlife biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Nathan Clements says the growing number of Canada geese in Vancouver are an example of a species exploiting a niche in an urban environment.

2025-12-05

As we transition into winter in Ontario, you might think the time is over for seeding restoration projects. But in fact, this is a great time to get your seed mix planted!

2025-12-05

The Canadian Wildlife Federation hopes that by meeting with like-minded groups in the United States and Mexico it can find solutions to preserving native grasslands. John Wilmshurst, the organization’s native grassland conservation manager, recently met with U.S. and Mexican organizations in Fort Collins, Colorado, to discuss possible collective efforts to conserve North American grasslands.