Dawson City Bald Eagle

Dawson City Bald Eagle

Dawson City Bald Eagle

1 minute read – 

Imagine a bald eagle walking around, it’s like the fierce sky warrior forgot its wings. When it’s on the ground, its swagger is… questionable. Instead of the majestic glide we all picture, it’s more like a grumpy grandpa strutting through the yard, a bit hunched, stepping carefully as if it’s got somewhere important to be. It’s as if it’s trying hard to act casual, but can’t quite hide the fact that it’s totally out of its element. You just know it’s thinking, “I’m supposed to be flying right now…”

mature bald eagle in rehabilitation

On October 18th, we admitted a juvenile bald eagle into the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. The young eagle came all the way from Dawson City. Apparently, this bird was found struttin’ its stuff on the main street sidewalk of DC. This bird certainly was supposed to be flying but due to being slightly underweight, 4.4kg, not fueled well and muscles not strong enough, it was flightless. Damage to the tail feathers suggest it spent a fair amount of time, flightless. 

Old crow bald eagle upon arrival and admittance into the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre at the Preserve. May 10th. Photo credit L.Caskenette

The eagle spent one week inside, eating well and gaining weight. The second week in care and until her release she is working on her flight hours, gaining strength before going back to the wild. 

On November 7th, 2024, at 6kg in weight and less than a month in our care, the juvenile bald eagle was returned to the wild, at Chasàn Chùa (McIntyre Creek). she was not transported back to Dawson City for the release.  This added travel can be stressful and Dawson City in the winter can be a challenging place for a young eagle to succed. 

Help us get them back on their wings. We could use your help. If you are able to support the care of these two animals, please consider donating. Every contribution makes a difference and as a non-profit charitable organization, you can receive a charitable tax receipt for your support. 

Photo credit: L. Caskenette

Lindsay Caskenette

Lindsay Caskenette

Manager Visitor Services

Lindsay joined the Wildlife Preserve team March 2014. Originally from Ontario, she came to the Yukon in search of new adventures and new career challenges. Lindsay holds a degree in Environmental Studies with honours from Wilfrid Laurier University and brings with her a strong passion for sharing what nature, animals, and the environment can teach us.

867-456-7400
Lindsay@yukonwildlife.ca

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Breaking Down that Stink

Breaking Down that Stink

Breaking Down that Stink

2 minute read – 

Nestled in the heart of the Takhini River Valley on the traditional territory of the of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, is a haven for nature enthusiasts seeking a unique, immersive experience with Yukon’s native flora and fauna. Beyond the breathtaking landscapes and magnificent animal encounters, the Yukon Wildlife Preserve offers a unique opportunity to engage ALL of your senses. 364 days a year (we give the animals Christmas off,) you are invited into a sensory masterpiece. Visitors can witness the magic of nature through sight, sound, touch, and “ewww! What’s that smell!!??”

If you have visited us – especially during freeze up – you may have noticed a pungent odor… a formidable scent, around the preserve. No, that’s not Sex Panther by Odeon – or the outhouse…. It does smell like a bad fart though.

A quote from the movie Anchorman

 

So, what is it? Well back in 2016 there was quite the algae bloom in the moose pond, which prompted a call to the scientists at the YG water department. They came out to investigate and what they found was quite interesting. I’ll admit that I’m no scientist, but I invite you to come along with me, as I do my best to “break this down” – This pun will make sense later…

Algea Bloom in the moose pond. Photo from the July 2016 report by John Minder<br />
Water Resource Technologist – Water Quality<br />
Crystal Beaudry<br />
A/ Water Quality Technologist

High Nutrient Availability with an absence of h2O:

The moose pond at the preserve is a beautiful and diverse habitat. It supports much more than our annual moose swimming competition! Just kidding, although wouldn’t that be an event to witness? My money would be on Watson! Every year, migratory birds, from as far as South America, land on our very special pond. We have counted over 50 different species in the area at the height of spring.

We also have muskrat, who call the pond home. You may have noticed their “push-ups” in winter (they look like a pile of dirt in the middle of the pond.) Our wild fox like to hunt the muskrat and will often use the frozen pond as a playground in the winter, checking each push-up and wrestling in between. Last but certainly not least, we have our Moose! For most of the year Jessie, Watson and its newest inhabitant Jake, reside in the moose habitat – using the pond to cool off in the summer heat and feasting on their favorite snacks that grow under water. So, needless to say, it’s a pretty happening place!

Migratory birds take off over the moose pond

Why is this so important? Well the scientists at YG discovered that the Moose pond exhibits characteristics of Hypereutrophic water, which is a fancy way of saying it’s jam packed with nutrients – specifically phosphorus and nitrogen. Where do these nutrients come from? Well, the decay of natural organic matter like plants, moose feed, and … poop! Lots of poop, in the pond. This overabundance of nutrients allows plants and algae that thrive in this kind of environment, to fill the pond. When the plants and algae fill up the pond, oxygen levels deplete and this creates something called anoxic conditions – a crucial factor in the odorous equation.

an·ox·i·a – an absence of oxygen.

So, as the plants and algae take over the pond, there is less space for oxygen and this sets the stage for anoxic processes to begin. These conditions provide an ideal environment for the explosion of sulfate-reducing bacteria and these bacteria really get the party started. They are basically in there, having a massive feast, “breaking down” (remember that pun ) all the plants and poop, which ultimately leads to the production of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas – the infamous “rotten egg” odor.

Sulphur Source:

Now our moose pond is special. Not only does it have the bacteria endlessly feasting on poop, but it also has another smelly source feeding the frenzy. High sulphate levels detected in 2016 pinpoint a substantial sulfur source in the area – we are located on the Hot Springs road after all!

The potential origin of this sulfur lies in the surrounding rocks and beneath our feet.  The Richthofen Formation is a large rock formation, made up of sedimentary rock (think sandstone, limestone & shale) that was formed in the early Jurassic period. That’s around 200 million years ago! Sedimentary rock often starts as sediments carried in rivers and deposited in lakes and oceans. Eventually this sediment settled, the water dried up and it all became cemented to form rock.

Migratory birds take off over the moose pond

There is also groundwater and a local aquifer under our feet. As the ground water from rain, and spring melt flows over the mountains, into the valleys, into the ground and eventually to the aquifer, it slowly dissolves the sedimentary rock that was deposited here those millions of years ago. In this case, it’s dissolving a lot of shale. As the water breaks down the shale, it actually causes a similar reaction as the pond, where sulphates are again the star. And what happens when the sulphates are the main course at the party? Anoxic conditions and fuel for H₂S-generating bacteria. AKA – Stink Bomb x2!

The Freeze-Up Factor:

Now another interesting factor here, are the seasons. Some parts of the year just stink more than others and freeze-up is generally the worst. The freeze-up of the ground, before the pond water, may hold the key to the intensified scent during this period. Normally, H₂S contained in groundwater would degas along its flowy journey. However, during freeze-up, the gas becomes trapped in the frozen ground. So instead of flowing along, this causes the gas to migrate up to the open water and makes an extra special smell around certain parts of the pond – this is noted mostly where the pond flows out and under the road, at the crossroads. This spot is always the last to freeze, therefore it offers a way out for the trapped gasses, concentrating the smell.

Conclusion:

When you combine low oxygen, nutrient abundance, water and 200-million-year-old rocks, we solve the great mystery of “What’s that smell??” at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. So, you can stop side eyeing the other guests in your tour group. It’s not the result of last night’s taco Tuesday! Just nature being neat in all its complicated intertwined beauty!

This blog is my interperatation of the Monitoring Report – Yukon Wildlife Preserve Algae Bloom from 2016 conducted by Yukon Department of Environment Water Resources Branch Water Quality Section Prepared by: John Minder Water Resource Technologist – Water Quality & Crystal Beaudry A/ Water Quality Technologist

Brittney Forsythe

Brittney Forsythe

She/Her - Visitor Services Coordinator

Brittney joined the Wildlife preserve in the summer of 2023. Growing up on Northern Vancouver Island, surrounded by the temperate rainforest, nature and animals have always been a part of her life. It exploded into a passion, when she started her dog walking business in 2017 and she began spending 6-7 days a week in the forest, rain or shine! This sparked an even deeper appreciation for the cyclical nature of the land and how all of the plants & animals work together symbiotically. She is forever ‘that girl’ on the hike, pointing out different rocks and plants, explaining their origin or what they could be used for medicinally. Brittney and her dog Cedar relocated to the Yukon to help care for 31 sled dogs. She is so excited to expand her local knowledge as a part of the Preserve team.

867-456-7400
 Brittney@yukonwildlife.ca

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Meet Archie

Meet Archie

Meet Archie

1 minute read – 

Say hello to a new member of the Preserve’s family, a red fox. This is Archie.

He came to the Preserve after being seized in B.C. by the Wildlife Branch of the British Columbia Provincial Government from an individual who did not have the appropriate permits for possession of wild animals for filming. 

Archie the red fox looks towards the camera while silver stands in the distance

On July 3rd, Archie flew up to the Yukon. He arrived here at the preserve and spent a month in quarantine in the rehabilitation centre. This is a necessary procedure to animal import and eventual collection integration. Archie was also neutered.

During his time in quarantine, our dedicated animal care staff took their time with Archie. He was understandibly shy and cautious at first, but eventually started to warm up to them.  

On August 6th Archie was introduced to our 3-legged silver fox – Silver – in the red fox habitat. As you can see from these photos, Archie was a little overweight when he arrived. We lovingly describe this as “a little Chonky.” Since being integrated into our Red Fox habitat, Archie has been getting much more excersixe and socialization with Silver, staff and guests alike. 

Throughout the summer, our manager of Education & Programming – Neil, along with our animal care staff, have been working with Archie and Silver. With this added enrichment, they have learned some new behaviors and are getting much more comfortable everyday. Archie, with this added movement is now looking how a fox his age should look.

Photo Credit Britt Forsythe

Welcome to the preserve Archie! We look forward to continuing to work with you and get to know you.

 

Photo Credit to Melissa Mark, unless otherwise stated.

Lindsay Caskenette

Lindsay Caskenette

Manager Visitor Services

Lindsay joined the Wildlife Preserve team March 2014. Originally from Ontario, she came to the Yukon in search of new adventures and new career challenges. Lindsay holds a degree in Environmental Studies with honours from Wilfrid Laurier University and brings with her a strong passion for sharing what nature, animals, and the environment can teach us.

867-456-7400
Lindsay@yukonwildlife.ca

Brittney Forsythe

Brittney Forsythe

She/Her - Visitor Services Coordinator

Brittney joined the Wildlife preserve in the summer of 2023. Growing up on Northern Vancouver Island, surrounded by the temperate rainforest, nature and animals have always been a part of her life. It exploded into a passion, when she started her dog walking business in 2017 and she began spending 6-7 days a week in the forest, rain or shine! This sparked an even deeper appreciation for the cyclical nature of the land and how all of the plants & animals work together symbiotically. She is forever ‘that girl’ on the hike, pointing out different rocks and plants, explaining their origin or what they could be used for medicinally. Brittney and her dog Cedar relocated to the Yukon to help care for 31 sled dogs. She is so excited to expand her local knowledge as a part of the Preserve team.

867-456-7400
 Brittney@yukonwildlife.ca

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JB the Moose

JB the Moose

JB the Moose

6 minute read

On August 15th 2024 the Preserve’s Animal Care team with the support of one of our veterinarians’, Dr. Julianna Campbell made the difficult decision to say goodbye to JB the moose. Her condition had declined rapidly over the last 6 weeks when our team noticed she was starting to look thin. She developed diarrhea which dramatically impacted her body condition. She had lost a significant amount of weight (she was estimated to be 200-300 lbs under her normal weight). Unfortunately in that time, physical exams and fecal / blood tests did not reveal the cause. Nor did she respond to attempted treatments. Despite enthusiastically eating browse, our Animal Care Team was seeing her increasingly displaying signs of distress or pain. She also now lacked the body condition to handle colder winter temperatures (and now the ability to regain the necessary body condition in the next couple of months). In order to mitigate her suffering we made the decision to euthanize her.

JB- Moose First Day May 26th, 2014 - Justine Benjamin

JB the moose. Summer 2024. Photo credit: Melissa Mark

The morning of the 15th, after she was immobilized the euthanizing drugs were administered and she passed away quickly and easily. Our Animal Care Team conducted a necropsy which includes a physical exam of the internal body systems as well as taking a series of tissue samples that will be sent out for testing. The goal is to understand the root cause of her sudden decline in health. Very preliminary necropsy results show hemorrhaging / ulcers in one of her stomachs and intestines, but understanding why will be more challenging. Once we have more information and a better understanding of what happened, we’ll share more information. Testing of samples can take several weeks, so we won’t know right away.

female, moose, snow, YWP - Whitehorse - Yukon JB the rehabilitated moose. Jake Paleczny

JB the moose. Winter 2016. Photo credit: Jake Paleczny

JB was well known to many visitors over the years. She was generally calm mannered and smaller than the other female moose, Jesse, who was 2 years younger than JB. Jesse has been known to have a lot more attitude and dominant behaviour.

JB- Moose First Day May 26th, 2014 - Justine Benjamin

JB arrived as an orphaned moose in spring 2014. Orphaned moose are notoriously difficult to hand raise and we hadn’t received an orphaned moose in many, many years. Under Dr. Maria Hallock, the Animal Care Team threw themselves at the situation – feeding every 3 hours at first, spending nights with her, etc.

JB- Moose First Day May 26th, 2014 - Justine Benjamin

JB the moose First Day. She arrived May 26th, 2014. Photo credit: Justine Benjamin

In a near-tragic twist, JB broke her leg. Although it might have been the end for any other moose, Maria put a cast on JB’s leg. Because JB was growing so quickly the cast had to be cut off and redone just 2 weeks later, but eventually the cast came off. 

The Animal Care Team put in a huge effort that spring. Among others, Dr. Julianna was at the YWP as a summer student in 2014 and was part of the team that bottle raised JB.

Another person on the team that year was Justine Benjamin. Justine spent more time than anybody else with the young moose, right through to when she was moved into the main habitat in February 2015. 

Because of that special connection and dedication from Justine, Maria proposed we name the moose JB. Justine is now a part of our Board of Directors and Chair of the Animal Care Committee.

At that time we didn’t have a laser therapy machine (for reducing inflammation) but All Paws Vet Clinic and their team continued their support of the moose, bringing out their machine for regular treatments. Further, we received support for a local physio therapist, Natasha Bilodeau after the brace was off to help continue the healing and recovery.  Normally we’d be starting to decrease our time spent with a calf, but with the cast leg she continued to need a lot of support. 

Later in the winter she was introduced into the main habitat with our bull moose. Years later as Jesse joined the group, the three of them roamed the 40 acre moose habitat. 

• • •

The following is an article created in our original newsletter, the Preserve Post in Spring 2015. 

• • •

The Yukon Wildlife Preserve is a zoological institution and a non-profit charity dedicated to connecting our visitors with the natural world. As ambassadors of the Yukon Wildlife Preserve’s animals, lands, and operations, the operating society proudly maintains populations of 10 species of Yukon wildlife in large natural habitats. The society also conducts educational programming and funds a wildlife rehabilitation program for Yukon’s injured and orphaned wildlife. The facilities and the level of care provided to the Preserve’s animals successfully meets the stringent criteria of Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums, to which the Yukon Wildlife Preserve is a long-time member.

Lindsay Caskenette

Lindsay Caskenette

Manager Visitor Services

Lindsay joined the Wildlife Preserve team March 2014. Originally from Ontario, she came to the Yukon in search of new adventures and new career challenges. Lindsay holds a degree in Environmental Studies with honours from Wilfrid Laurier University and brings with her a strong passion for sharing what nature, animals, and the environment can teach us.

867-456-7400
Lindsay@yukonwildlife.ca

Jake Paleczny

Jake Paleczny

He/Him - Executive Director/ CEO

Jake Paleczny is passionate about interpretation and education. He gained his interpretative expertise from a decade of work in Ontario’s provincial parks in addition to a Masters in Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. His interests also extend into the artistic realm, with a Bachelor of Music from the University of Western Ontario and extensive experience in galleries and museums.

867-456-7313
jake@yukonwildlife.ca

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Bonaparte’s Gull Release

Bonaparte’s Gull Release

Bonaparte’s Gull Release

4 minute read – 

A Bonaparte’s gull was brought into the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve after it was found flightless on the side of the road. The bird has no significant injuries, some feather damage and was likely concussed. A short time in the centre to recover, eat fish and get strong meant a successful release of the animal to Tàa’an Män — Lake Laberge on the traditional territory of the Ta’an Kwach’an Council.

Lindsay Caskenette

Lindsay Caskenette

Manager Visitor Services

Lindsay joined the Wildlife Preserve team March 2014. Originally from Ontario, she came to the Yukon in search of new adventures and new career challenges. Lindsay holds a degree in Environmental Studies with honours from Wilfrid Laurier University and brings with her a strong passion for sharing what nature, animals, and the environment can teach us.

867-456-7400
Lindsay@yukonwildlife.ca

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