Spring is a time of renewal, including for PEI’s wildlife. Early breeders such as Coyotes, Foxes, and Ravens have their young now, and others such as Snowshoe Hares, Striped Skunks, and Red Squirrels will follow soon. Our migratory birds are also returning and will make starting a family job one.   This is an important time of year for wildlife, but it’s also the time of year when well-meaning people can do the most harm. Seeing young animals in spring and summer is normal an

One of PEI’s first botanical signs of spring are Pussy Willows ( Salix  spp.). We have more than a dozen different Willows on the Island, but only one – Salix discolor  – officially has the common name ‘Pussy Willow’. Willows are notoriously difficult to tell apart, but don’t worry: all our species are commonly called Pussy Willows this time of year so, right now, you can’t go wrong!     Those soft, fuzzy balls are the male flower buds, called catkins. (Female catkins are sim

Some PEI wildlife signs are subtle, while others are hard to miss! These are the unmistakable holes of a Pileated Woodpecker.    Pileated Woodpeckers are roughly crow-sized birds, with black bodies, white stripes down their necks, white patches on their wings (visible in flight), and a dramatic red crest on their heads. If you can imagine Woody Woodpecker, you’ll be in the ballpark: the Pileated Woodpecker is said to have been the inspiration for that cartoon character.    Th

We’ve looked at needle-leaved and broadleaved trees this winter but standing and fallen dead trees make enormous contributions to PEI’s forests, too!     Trees die naturally from a variety of causes: old age, disease, insects, fire, weather damage, or environmental stress, among others. The death of a tree is part of the life of a forest and is necessary for the survival of everything from plants, lichens, and fungi to insects, birds, and mammals.    Insects such as Bark Beet

Pop quiz: what’s the largest winter wildlife track you’ll find on PEI?  Coyote is our largest animal, so that would be a reasonable – but wrong – guess. Snowshoe Hare’s hind feet are pretty big, but not the largest. The honour goes to an animal you may not have thought of: the Bald Eagle.   When identifying bird tracks, toe arrangement is a helpful starting clue. Here we see three long toes pointing forward and one long toe pointing back, in what’s called the classic (aka ani

Earlier this year, my youngest (and largest) dog was cornered on the deck by something that was clearly very scary. I rushed to rescue him and immediately saw the fearsome creature: this lovely Northern Parula Warbler ( Setophaga americana ). ( No birds were harmed in the taking of this photo ). The Northern Parula is one of about 20 species of migratory warblers that breed on PEI. I’m no birder, but the Parula Warbler’s distinctive call is one of the few I recognize: a fast

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...

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:...

Winter is the best time for finding wildlife tracks and sign, but before leaf-out in spring is second on my list.  Being able to see...

Spring is a time of renewal, including for PEI’s wildlife. Early breeders such as Coyotes, Foxes, and Ravens have their young now, and...

🎵 One of these things is not like the others 🎶.  If you walk or hike anywhere on PEI in spring and summer, you pass many bird nests...

Some of PEI’s natural habitats punch well above their weight – their importance far exceeds the area they occupy in the landscape....

Most of PEI’s winter wildlife tracks come from mammals, but there are lots to be found from birds, too!  Ruffed Grouse is a great species...

[Note: No eggs, nests, or birds were harmed in the taking of this photo] Not all birds nest in trees. Here on PEI, you can find nests in...

Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist: your own personal “Google” for information on all things natural on PEI! Today’s question comes from...

When you think about reading PEI wildlife tracks and sign, it’s likely that mammals such as Foxes, Coyotes, Raccoons and Skunks are the...