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Red Tree Brain Fungus
Fall may be peak mushroom season on PEI, but fungi can be found at all times of year. One that I’m seeing a lot right now is the...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 6, 20252 min read


The Story of PEI Part 10: Introduced Mammals
Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored how and why PEI lost its large, native mammals during the 18th and 19th centuries. But in the...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 2, 20253 min read


Abuzz about Bees
Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist, your own personal Google for information on all things natural on PEI. Today’s topic is courtesy of...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 30, 20255 min read


The Story of PEI Part 9: Land Clearing
In the last few posts, we’ve looked at aspects of PEI’s forests and wildlife hundreds of years ago, before European settlement. In each...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 26, 20253 min read


It's not a skull, it's a synsacrum!
Reading wildlife tracks is one way to know who’s been around, but our neighbours of other species leave other signs as well. There’s...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 23, 20252 min read


Lichens and Rocks
At the end of the last Ice Age about 12,500 years ago, PEI would have looked more lunar than Earthly: no vegetation, just clay, silt,...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 19, 20252 min read


Ruffed Grouse Tracks
There are two types of tracks I am seeing everywhere on PEI this year: Snowshoe Hare (featured March 3), and the topic of today’s post:...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 16, 20253 min read


The Story of PEI Part 8: Plagues of Mice
Last week, we looked at some of the large mammals that once roamed PEI, including Black Bears, Lynx, Walrus, and Caribou. You may think...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 12, 20253 min read


Meadow Vole (aka Field Mouse) Tracks
If it looks like a Mouse and squeaks like a Mouse it. . . might be a Vole! This week, we explore Vole tracks and sign, and look at Voles’...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 9, 20253 min read


The Story of PEI Part 7: Early Wildlife
Last week, we explored the PEI landscape of three centuries ago, around the time Europeans arrived. Those pre-settlement forests and...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 5, 20253 min read


Variations on Hare Tracks
No matter where I go on PEI this winter – town or country – the most common tracks I see are from Snowshoe Hare. It’s been like this for...
katemacquarrie22
Mar 2, 20253 min read


The Story of PEI Part 6: Early Forests
This winter we’ve been looking at PEI’s natural history – the story our landscape tells about itself. So far, we’ve read chapters written...
katemacquarrie22
Feb 26, 20253 min read


Recognizing Red Squirrel Tracks
This winter’s frequent bouts of fresh snowfall have made for some ideal tracking conditions. While Red Squirrels are very common, it’s...
katemacquarrie22
Feb 23, 20252 min read


New Book Coming Soon!
My new book, Wild Foods of Prince Edward Island is coming out this spring and now available for pre-order. Published by The Acorn Press,...
katemacquarrie22
Feb 22, 20251 min read


The Story of PEI Part 5: Post-glacial Land and People
So far this winter, we’ve explored the formation of the Island’s sedimentary sandstone, fossils that can be found within it, a unique...
katemacquarrie22
Feb 19, 20253 min read


A Busy Intersection
One of my favourite things about winter tracking is coming across a wildlife intersection: a spot used by a variety of animals. Often...
katemacquarrie22
Feb 16, 20252 min read


The Story of PEI Part 4: Glaciation
PEI has experienced many ice ages over its long history, but the landscape we know and love today was shaped by the most recent – the...
katemacquarrie22
Feb 12, 20253 min read


Beaver Tracks
It’s hard to find near-perfect examples of tracks from terrestrial mammals, let alone from semi-aquatic ones. That’s why I was thrilled...
katemacquarrie22
Feb 9, 20253 min read


Burls vs. Galls
Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist, your own personal Google for information on all things natural on PEI. Winter is great time to spot...
katemacquarrie22
Feb 5, 20253 min read


Spotting Skunks in Snow
Reading wildlife tracks and sign has very practical uses. For example, even with the recent cold snaps this winter, the Striped Skunks on...
katemacquarrie22
Feb 2, 20253 min read
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