Quarterly Publication of the Yukon Wildlife Preserve Operating Society

In this Issue...

2 Season’s Greetings!

3 A Short Stay

“The Good Stuff”

4 Whitehorse Photography Club

6 Fall/Winter School Programs

Artful Evolution

7 ‘Definitely a Fox’ Update

8 Ski Trails

Winter 2014Volume 9, Issue 3

WinterEdition

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Volume 9, Issue 3

I just can’t quite fathom where the time goes? As you can well imagine, the last three months have been a blur of activity and achievements.

In September Jake joined me in attending the annual AGM & Conference for Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums held in Moncton, New Brunswick. This was Jake’s first CAZA Conference so we thought it would be good that he present a paper to the delegates. Jake’s presentation on “Heritage and First Nations in Zoo Education” was a big hit with the crowd.

Other exciting news stemming from CAZA is that: 1) the Yukon has officially been awarded the 2016 AGM & Annual Conference so we will all get the chance to host our national colleagues in September 2016; and 2) shortly after returning from the conference we were notified that I (Greg) was successful in attaining a seat on the National CAZA Board of Directors. I am proud to be representing Yukon on this national Board!

In November I attended the Bald Eagle Festival in Haines and presented a review of the Yukon Wildlife Preserve to festival delegates. This was yet another good opportunity to build on our great relationship with the American Bald Eagle Foundation – and an opportunity for me personally to financially support them via their live auction!

Most recently, the Board and all staff participated in a 2nd Strategic Planning session – led by facilitator Lyn Hartley. This all-day planning session was designed

to focus on the elements we will require in the development of a new 10 year Master Plan. While great progress was made, it became obvious that additional planning days will be required to nail-down our objectives for a new long-term plan. We will continue the process most likely in the spring.

We are hoping for at least a little more snow so that we can open our set ski tracks for the Christmas break. Ski trail maintenance has never been better thanks to our President and ski trail volunteer Jim Boyde who has been dragging tires and trying to set a base that will last the whole season. Thanks Jim!

Wishing everyone all the best for a very festive yet safe holiday season with family and friends.

From the Executive Director...Season’s Greetings

Above: Guest and favourite uncle of the Preserve, Peter Karsten brought an outside perspective to strategic planning.

Cover Photos: Top: Justine Benjamin releases a Great Grey Owl. Bottom Left: The Learning Centre hosted lots of students this winter. Bottom Right: A Mountain Goat billy on the move.

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Winter 2014

Clockwise from top right: Justine with the Great Grey Owl; an x-ray showing the broken clavicle and scapula; a Pine Grosbeak launches to freedom; a tundra and a trumpeter swan wait for a ride.

This fall we received a concussed Pine Grosbeak that had spent time in the Department of Environment’s “drunk tank”. A series of seed and berry eating birds were allegedly hitting “the good stuff” - fermented Mountain Ash berries - a little to hard. It’s possible this led to these same birds hitting the bad stuff - windows - a little too hard.

We’re also speculating that as an ornamental species in Yukon, Mountain Ash

is often planted close to windows. The proximity of a food source to windows can be an important contributor to increase collisions.

Either way, we’re glad this grosbeak gets a second chance!

It’s amazing how quickly some animals recover and move on from the Preserve’s Wildlife Research and Rehabilitation Centre. Song birds suffering from concussions can spend as little as 48 hours, while a Great Grey Owl with multiple fractures can be just 4 short weeks. In the owl’s case, it was a broken clavicle (wish bone) and scapula (shoulder blade). Because those bones can’t be set, they just need enough time for swelling and pain to subside and scar tissue to form around and stabilize the breaks.

However, sometimes it’s not the injury that stops the bird from

leaving. We have a tundra and a trumpeter swan who are in good shape, but their injuries caused them to miss migration. Releasing them here

would be a death sentence. They’ll remain here with us

until we can arrange an alternative migration. In this case, migration will consist of an Air North flight to warmer climes!

Rehabilitation...

“The Good Stuff”

A Short Stay

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Volume 9, Issue 3

First Snowfall

In October 2014, the Whitehorse Photography Club with guest Peter Mather conducted a wildlife photogra-phy workshop at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. The 20 photographers were treated to behind the scenes access and one of the season’s first snowfalls,

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Winter 2014

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Volume 9, Issue 3

This winter the Preserve introduced a fall/winter school programming session. Thanks to the support of the Department of Education, we offered school programming at no charge to Yukon students.

Educators Dylan Cunningham and Kaitlyn Dorosz developed and delivered programs for grades K/1, 2, 7 and 9. We estimate that ~325 students participated in November and December.

An innovative addition are “Adventure Backpacks”. These allow teachers to self-guide their

class. This allows schools to send two classes at a time (making the most of valuable busing resources).

Another notable addition is a new set of atlatls and throwers. We are using the atlatls to connect animal biology to human stories.

Education...Fall/Winter School Programs

Artful Evolution is the exhibition Whitehorse-based artist and Yukon Wildlife Preserve interpreter, Misha Donohoe. The exhibition will showcase beautiful images of Yukon plants and insects rendered

in ultra fine brushwork. “I created the works in the style of 17th – 19th century botanical illustrations, but I also wanted to magnify them so that people could appreciate all the exquisite details!”

Part art show, part science exhibition, Artful Evolution will appeal to nature-enthusiasts, scientists and fine art-lovers.

“Artists are inspired by all kinds of things. For me, it’s science.” Misha is an avid reader of science books and journals and when she learns something interesting it tends to emerge as an

art-piece. “There is no limit to how technical or scientific you can get, but I like the idea that learning should be fun and inspiring.”

Misha taught the art-nature camp at Yukon Wildlife Preserve in August 2014 and is applying some of the same interpretation principles to the exhibition. There will be an interactive art piece for kids and adults to contribute to. “I may have been honing my art skills for many years, but everyone can create something beautiful and meaningful when they give themselves permission. I can’t wait to see how this part of the exhibition turns out!”

Artful Evolution will launch at Arts Underground along with a group exhibition from The Association Francophone Yukonnaise on January 9th 2015 (5 – 7pm).

Artful Evolution

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Winter 2014

Construction on a new home for our famous fox draws nearer everyday. Director of Operations, Randy Hallock, ensured he sunk the posts for the new habitat before the ground froze. Canada World Youth stepped in to help out, painting poles to blend in with the pale green of the surrounding Aspen trunks. They also helped to unroll and

hang hundreds of feet of chain link fencing.That’s when Operations Assistants Daniel, Justine and Logan began stretching the fencing. They needed to transform it from a loose skin into taught, precise barriers. This was finicky work, requiring precision and cold fingers. Working with bolts and nuts often needed

a bare hand - even at cold temperatures. Staff used magnets at the end of every day to collect fumbled nuts out of the snow.

Lindsay is working on plans for a grand opening in the new year.

Yukon Wildlife Preserve

Full-time Staff

Board of Directors

Greg Meredith, Executive DirectorRandy Hallock, Operations DirectorDr. Maria Hallock, CuratorJake Paleczny, Director of Programming

& EducationLindsay Caskenette, Manager of Visitor

ServicesDaniel Jolkowski, Animal Care &

Operations AssistantJustine Benjamin, Animal Care &

Operations Assistant

Jim Boyde, PresidentW.J. (Bill) Klassen, Vice-PresidentDave Mossop, Past PresidentNona Ilieva, TreasurerAlexandra de Jong Westman, Chair of

Animal Care CommitteeMichael Kokiw, Director at LargeRanj Pillai, Director at LargeSharon A. Katz, Director at LargeAllan Koprowsky, Non-voting Member -

Environment YukonDarrell March, Non-voting Member -

Environment YukonBlake Rogers, Non-voting Member

Hayley WoodMisha DonohoeMaureen PetersonAlina Dragomir

Garry NjootliKaitlyn DoroszJoanne MaisoneuveDylan Cunningham

Winter Staff

Left: Daniel stretches the fence taught. Below: Cold hands on cold metal is a reality.

‘Definitely a Fox’ Update

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Volume 9, Issue 3

CreditsWriting: Jake Paleczny, Greg Meredith, Misha Donohoe.Photos and illustrations: Jake Paleczny, Justine Benjamin, Misha Donohoe, Whitehorse Photography Club (credited on individual images).

Printed on 100% Recycled Paper

When to VisitWinter Hours 10:30am to 4:00pm: Friday - SundayGuided Bus Tours at 12pm & 2pm

Special Holiday HoursOpen daily: Dec. 26th to Jan. 4th

10:30am to 4:00pm: Friday to SundayGuided Bus Tours at 12pm & 2pm

Call 456-7300 to reserve a seat in advance.

Walk or cross country ski anytime while open!

Curious about the latest news? Visit facebook.com/yukonwildlife or call 456-7300.

Who am I?

Ski Trails

Despite a slow start to the ski season, lot’s of work has already gone into the Preserv’es ski trails. In mid-Oc-tober, a team from Canada World Youth came out to lend a hand. They helped to cut and haul encroaching brush off the trails.

We’ve also made a few changes to the trails by rerouting to avoid the most challenging areas, making for an easier, more enjoyable day at the Preserve!

At the time of writing (mid-December), rock skis are still recom-mended, but one more good snowfall and the trails will be in great shape.

Above: Justine Benjamin captures early sunset on some of the longest days of the year.