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Safe and Sustainable Foraging
I often hear from people at both ends of the foraging spectrum: those who fear wild foods aren’t safe and those who feel that anything...
katemacquarrie22
May 5, 20232 min read


Bird-Window Conflicts
Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist: your own personal “Google” for information on all things natural on PEI! Today’s question comes from...
katemacquarrie22
May 3, 20232 min read


Early Spring Roots: Edible Evening Primrose
Leafy wild greens aren’t the only edible plants available on PEI in early spring – you can find wild root vegetables too! Some of the...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 30, 20233 min read


Using Evening Primrose Root (Oenothera biennis)
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a common, native species here on Prince Edward Island. The entire plant is edible, but this time...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 30, 20232 min read


Mystery Insect Eggs
Welcome to a new series I’m trying out for 2023 – Ask a Naturalist! Do you have a question about plants, animals, or habitats but Google...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 26, 20232 min read


Recipes for Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is the poster child for edible spring greens, with good reason: it’s everywhere, hard to mistake...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 23, 20232 min read


Early Spring Greens: Dominant Dandelions
Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is the poster child for edible spring greens, with good reason: it’s everywhere, hard to mistake...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 23, 20232 min read


Early Spring Greens: Wonderful Watercress
PEI’s wild greens are popping up so fast this spring it’s hard to keep up! However, I always have time to stop and collect one of my...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 19, 20232 min read


Early Spring Greens: Delicious Docks
Most of us are several weeks away from planting our backyard gardens. Fortunately, wild leafy vegetables are appearing everywhere around...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 16, 20232 min read


Recipes for Wild Docks (Rumex spp.)
Of the seven species of Docks known to occur here on Prince Edward Island (Canada), many are too bitter when mature to be enjoyed. But...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 16, 20233 min read


Kate's Homemade Dressing for Wild Greens
It can be hard to find a commercial dressing that pairs well with wild greens. Some plants are easily overpowered by a strong dressing,...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 14, 20231 min read


Negative Tracks
PEI’s snow is almost gone here on Prince Edward Island, and my Winter Wildlife Tracks and Sign series is winding down. Before it does, I...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 9, 20232 min read


The Ring-necked Pheasant Introduction
The 20th century was the ‘Wild West’ of wildlife introductions on PEI. You can read more about the Island’s White-tailed Deer experiment...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 5, 20233 min read


Mysterious signs of Canada Geese
The sound of Canada Geese returning to their northern breeding grounds is one of my favourite signs of spring – “goose music”, as Aldo...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 2, 20232 min read


Canada Goose tracks and scat
Let’s take a look at some tracks and scat from an animal that is a sure sign of spring: Canada Goose (Branta canadensis). Elsewhere in...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 31, 20232 min read


Bird Pellets
PEI wildlife leave all sorts of signs that they’ve been around: tracks, scat, dens, nests, and feeding spots, among others. Some of my...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 29, 20232 min read


Wildlife Intersections
The recent snowfall has extended PEI’s winter tracking season a bit longer. It’s always fun to come across a wildlife intersection: a...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 26, 20232 min read


Bark Photosynthesis
It’s spring and all my favourite signs are here: snow is melting, birds are returning, and tree bark is photosynthesizing. Wait – what?!...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 22, 20232 min read


Canine Scent Posts
Dogs, Foxes, and Coyotes navigate the world far more with their noses than with their eyes or ears. Canines have 20 times more sensory...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 19, 20233 min read


Hungarian Partridge
During the 20th century, no fewer than six species of game birds were released on PEI with hopes they would establish. The most...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 15, 20234 min read
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