NSRCVS News - November 4, 2021

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November 4, 2021

Edmontosaurus is our river valley dinosaur
More fossils of Edmontosaurus have been found than any other dinosaur. It was first found in Alberta, but not in the city. It was named after the Edmonton Formation, the geologic layer of rocks that the fossil was first excavated from.

Edmontosaurus is now a source of hometown pride because fossils of this duckbill were found within the city limits at the local Edmontosaurus bone bed, which is a whole bunch of different skeletons, adult and juvenile jumbled together, all from this dinosaur.

Edmontosaurus is the classic duckbilled dinosaur, although it stands out as one of the largest. Most of the time, it walked around on all four legs, but its back legs were much bigger than its fore legs, so when it was running, it would rear back onto just its hind legs.

The key to the success of Edmontosaurus was its unmatched ability to chew. It not only had the big bill at the front of its mouth, which was used to crop off vegetation, but at the back of its mouth behind the bill, it had rows of tightly packed teeth which formed a single, broad grinding surface.

Dinosaurs were like modern sharks and crocodiles; in that they never ran out of teeth. New teeth were constantly growing in underneath the old teeth and would gradually replace them. Read more at https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/dino-of-the-week-edmontosaurus-1.3706757

Flying squirrels found in Edmonton river valley
Northern Flying Squirrels are found in Edmonton, especially in the river valley. These squirrels do not actually fly, they glide. They have an extra flap of skin, called a patagium, which extends from their front wrist to their hind wrist, on either side of their body. When they jump off a branch, they spread their limbs, opening their patagium like a parachute, and can glide up to 48m. They steer with their long, flat, rudder-like tail.

Flying squirrels are nocturnal, which is why they have large eyes, to allow more light in, to be able to see as they glide through the dark. They hide away during the day and become active about an hour after sunset.

Good tree cover is important to enable gliding between trees. Old trees and dead or dying trees are nesting sites for flying squirrels. Nesting sites are an important consideration in the protection of flying squirrel habitat. If you live in a forested area, you can help flying squirrels by building nesting boxes for them.

This squirrel eats seeds, nuts, fungi, lichen, fruits, buds, and insects. They must watch out for many predators including owls, martens, weasels, coyotes, and cats. Hear more at https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-17-edmonton-am/clip/15870591-this-week-community-critters-the-flying-squirrel

426,307 people already enrolled in online UofA Indigenous course
Indigenous Canada is a free University of Alberta course for anyone interested in acquiring a basic familiarity with Indigenous-nonindigenous relationships. The online course from the Faculty of Native Studies explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.

From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.

Topics for the 12 lessons include the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art, and its expressions.

To date, 426,307 people have already enrolled in the course. It is free to the public but can also be taken for a fee as part of a university degree. A third option, with a smaller fee, gives the participant a certificate. Learn more at https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html

Turkey Tail Mushroom
Turkey tails are one of the most common mushroom or fungi in Canada. They are found virtually anywhere there are dead hardwood logs. Its cap colours are quite variable with sharply contrasting concentric zones of colour. They typically grow in rows or overlapping shelves.

Turkey tails grows on dead, deciduous wood, in the wounds of living hardwood trees, and on conifers throughout Canada, the U.S., and in many countries worldwide.

In the northern hemisphere, turkey tail fruiting season is typically May through December. Although some may persist year-long depending on location and conditions, they are at their best in autumn and winter when they release their spores.

This fungi is not palatable due to its tough texture. but is used for medicinal purposes. When fresh it is best used as a tea. Collecting turkey tails and drying them out is recommended. Once dried they can still be used to make tea, add to other teas, used in soups and in other meals. Learn more, including a recipe for immune building coffee, at https://www.ediblewildfood.com/turkey-tail.aspx

Wolf Willow parking restrictions
Vilmarie writes “This No Parking Sign is total BS. I have been coming to this place since 2010. I park my car, do my 10-12 set of stairs then leave. Maximum 2 hours. Yes, it has gotten busier over the years, but isn't that the point of it all. It was created for people to come see the nature, the beauty of the river valley and to get in your exercise for the day.

In all the years I've been going to the stairs, I've never seen people intentionally leave their garbage. I've seen the odd mitten or hat left behind, most likely been accidentally dropped. See
https://globalnews.ca/news/8342220/west-edmonton-wolf-willow-parking-restriction/

Comment or contribution
If you have a comment, concern, or question, contact us at nsrivervalley@gmail.com Please also email us river valley photos or event information. Your friends, neighbours and colleagues can sign up for this newsletter on our web site.

Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712

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October 28, 2021

NSRVCS News - October 28, 2021

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October 28, 2021

Beaver abundant wherever aquatic habitats are found
Beavers are stocky rodents adapted for aquatic environments. They can make a home anywhere with enough trees and a permanent water supply, such as Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan river valley.

Beavers are primarily nocturnal, meaning most of their feeding and working happens at night. They are active 12 hours each night except on the coldest of winter nights. The phrase busy as a beaver is appropriate. Beavers do not have many predators and normally live up to ten years. It is against Alberta law to disturb or remove a den or lodge without a Damage Control Licence.

Their prominent tail is flattened dorsoventrally, scaled, and almost hairless. It is used as a prop while the beaver is sitting upright and as a rudder when swimming. Beavers also use their tail to warn others of danger by abruptly slapping the surface of the water.

The beaver’s large incisor teeth, bright orange on the front, grow continuously throughout its life. These incisors are beveled so that they are continuously sharpened as the beaver gnaws and chews while feeding, girdling, and cutting trees.

Beavers are not responsible for the stomach ailment, "beaver fever." Beaver fever is caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia and transmitted by drinking water that has been contaminated by an infected person or animal. The most common carriers of the parasite are people, pets, and livestock. Learn more at https://www.alberta.ca/beavers.aspx

Indigenous faces on the buildings in the legislative grounds
Over 9,000 years of complex history exist in the surroundings of what is now the Alberta Legislature. The territory was traditionally a gathering place for Indigenous Nations who came together to hunt and gather, trade, cement alliances, and perform important ceremonies. It was the site of Fort Edmonton and home of a bustling Métis community.

With this vibrant Indigenous history, it makes sense that symbols of Indigenous Peoples are included in buildings on the Legislature grounds. However, these representations had a much different meaning to the settlers of early twentieth century Edmonton.

Settlers believed that Indigenous Peoples could only be successful if they gave up their cultures and adopted the same methods as their white brethren. The so-called vanishing Indian was to be memorialized and encapsulated in the stones of the new Alberta Legislature.

The Indigenous men in the carvings are depicted as wearing headdresses and aging, or near death. These features symbolized the vanishing Indian made possible through Canadian assimilation. The inclusion of headdresses is particularly telling because until 1951, Indigenous Peoples required permission from an Indian Agent to wear headdresses and other regalia, while traditional ceremonies were prohibited. The headdresses represent a historical past.

With this history in mind, one can more fully understand the inclusion of Indigenous figures on the buildings. They serve as a stark reminder of Alberta’s oppressive colonial history and harmful stereotypes which faced, and still face, Indigenous Peoples. Inanimate carvings of Indigenous Peoples were permitted to display traditional and spiritually significant items while living people were restricted from practicing their cultures. Read more at https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2021/09/21/tokens-of-remembrance-indigenous-faces-in-edmontons-beaux-arts-architecture-1907-1930/

Waskahegan trail spans over 300 kms
This giant trail spans Edmonton and surrounding municipalities, includes public and private land, is maintained by volunteers, and has perfect day hikes for everyone.

Planning for the trail began in 1967 as a Canadian Centennial project under the leadership of Edmonton’s Oil Capital Kiwanis Club. In 1969, the Waskahegan Trail Association was created as a volunteer organization dedicated to building and maintaining the Waskahegan trail around Edmonton and neighboring east and south areas.

Thanks to the volunteer work of members, the generosity of landowners and the assistance of government and non-government organizations, the trail continues to grow. Presently it is 309 kilometres long. The association has amazing weekend guided walking tours that are scheduled on their website https://waskahegantrail.ca/

Beaver in the river valley
Elisabeth writes in response to last week’s letter “I am a biologist who has been interested in beaver since working in Gatineau park north of Ottawa. Beavers are very active in our river in Edmonton and in the Whitemud creek valley. I think in the river they generally build holes in the bank, which provides a warm home in winter. I saw a beaver lodge on the south side of the river last Monday, downstream of the footbridge from Gold Bar park to Rundle park. Paddling the river, canoeists frequently see beavers.”

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October 21, 2021

NSRVCS News - October 21, 2021

Guest User

October 21, 2021

New city council and our river valley
Campaign platforms and surveys give some indication about what Edmonton’s new city council thinks about river valley concerns and issues. Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition had a lengthy 10 question survey, which can be found on their web site, that five of the elected Councillors answered.

In response to Taproot Edmonton’s question “Do you think city council should have approved Epcor's E.L. Smith Solar Farm”, Mayor Sohi and ten Councillors said “No, I support solar power but that's the wrong location.” Only Sarah Hamilton, who voted in favour of the project, said yes, and no response was received from Karen Principe.

Mayor Sohi promised to ensure Indigenous traditional knowledge informs the preservation and restoration of our natural spaces, including the area around Rossdale and any development that might occur in that area. He also committed to advocate for the full Big Island-Woodbend area in southwest Edmonton to be protected through provincial action in collaboration with the Enoch Cree Nation.

Sohi pledged to work with key partners, including Indigenous communities and regional municipalities, to engage the federal government in creating an urban national park in Edmonton. He said, “The designation of our river valley as a national park will allow us to access federal funds for its protection and elevate our valley’s deserved national reputation.” Read Mayor Sohi’s Embracing Our Natural Environment commitment at https://sohi.ca/policy-embracing-our-natural-environment/

Will wild pigs enter Edmonton’s river valley
Parks Canada has confirmed that wild pigs, which tear up landscapes and eat everything from roots to bird eggs to deer, are present in Elk Island National Park, the only fully fenced national park, located about 40 km east of Edmonton.

According to University of Saskatchewan researcher Ryan Brook, it is only a matter of time before we start seeing the animals, which are a hybrid of domestic pigs and European wild boar, move into cities and towns. A Government of Alberta January 2021 map shows confirmed boar sightings in municipalities and counties adjacent to Edmonton’s western, northern, and eastern boundaries.

There are no native pig species in Canada. Wild boar were imported to Canada in the 1980s and 1990s to be raised on farms but they escaped into the wild and have adapted for forest, wetland, and riverbank habitats

They are large, up to 300 kg, very furry, and make pigloos in the snow to stay warm during the winter season. Pigloos are made by the pigs mounding cattails and burrowing deep into the snow caught by the cattails, creating tunnels within it, and using the snow as insulation.

Wild pigs are reproducing quickly and expanding their range extensively. Their combination of wild and domestic traits, including their high tolerance for cold and ability to birth large litters, “may have bred super pigs,” says Ryan Brook. More at https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-wild-pigs-breached-park-boundary-1.6207379

Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park
The Indigenous Peoples Experience is a new exhibit that opened this summer at Fort Edmonton Park. It is part of a $165 million enhancement project at the river valley park that includes new streetcar tracks and new attractions added to the midway.

The exhibit is an immersive and comprehensive exhibit. It explores the rich and beautiful cultures of First Nations and Métis Peoples while encouraging visitors to seek out the truths as lived by Indigenous Peoples before and after Canada became a country.

Considering September 30 marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, now is the perfect time to take a walk through the different parts of this exhibit, which include an outdoor hike, a short film about residential schools, a museum detailing the history of Indigenous peoples in Alberta, and a shop with local Indigenous vendors.

The event is open every weekend from noon to 4 p.m. until December, and tickets cost $20 per adult. More at https://www.fortedmontonpark.ca/learn/blog/post/the-indigenous-peoples-experience

Porcupine can swim because of its hollow quills
Porcupines are creatures who slowly, quietly wander our river valley. When the lighting is right, a porcupine's yellow guard hairs give the illusion of a glow all around them. Their quills are hollow, reducing their weight, and making them buoyant swimmers!

This animal's quills are their only defense. It hunches its back with all the quills standing up and lash its tail as the threat approaches. When the predator gets hit by the porcupine’s tail, the barbed quills stick in the predator’s skin and come out of the porcupine.

Historically, First Nations people used porcupine quills to decorate clothing and other objects. Porcupines were also an important source of food. Because of their herbivorous habits, they're usually found in vegetated riparian habitats like mature forests along rivers.

Porcupines keep forests healthy by eating mistletoe, a parasite of trees, and thinning out dense stands of saplings. They climb trees to forage for food. In the summer they eat leaves of trees, shrubs, and plants. In the winter they eat inner tree bark, buds, twigs, and evergreen needles.

Sometimes porcupines chew on leather, bones, and antlers for salt, and to hone their incisors teeth, which can grow 1.5 mm weekly. They are not very social and spend most of their time alone. However, they may share a den in the winter and sometimes forage for food in groups. More at https://www.ealt.ca/species-spotlight-list/porcupine

Beaver in the river valley
Alice writes “I have a naturalist question that might be of interest to other readers: Walking along the trails close to the river edge in the Buena Vista Park area, I have seen a number of trees that seem to have been gnawed on by beavers, a couple were still standing with the distinctive tooth mark chiselling. Surely beaver aren’t trying to dam the North Saskatchewan. Are there in fact any beaver in our river valley? What would they be up to here?”