The official publication of Alberta Conservation Association UNCOVERING THE FACTS Millicent A Southern Conservation Site Getaway Out of the Ashes How Fires Transform our Forests Fall Feeding Frenzy in Bears FALL/WINTER 2010 www.ab-conservation.com One Great Place to Work. Great companies are built one employee at a time, each filling a single spot in a living, growing culture. When it works just right, the company emerges as a place like no other. Thank you to all Devon employees in Canada who live “The Devon Way” each and every day. Your contributions and commitment to our values have made this one great place to work. devonenergy.com FORTUNE 100 Best Commitment Runs Deep Companies to Work For® 2010 dvn_aca_ad_june.indd 1 2010/06/23 2:51:21 PM www.ab-conservation.com 19 Our Mission ACA conserves, protects and enhances fish, wildlife The Biggest Gainer and habitat for all Albertans to enjoy, value and use. Fall Feeding Frenzy in Bears Out of the Ashes... Millicent How Fires Transform our Forests 6 A Southern Site Getaway 22 alberta Conservation association Corporate Partners in Conservation Albian Sands Energy Inc. Battery Medic Inc. Pheasant Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. 24 View Canadian Western Bank Compton Petroleum Corporation CTV As Good as Gold Daishowa Marubeni International The Grizzly Truth Closing in on Conserving Devon Canada Corp. Uncovering the Facts The Golden Ranches 12 26 Jobsite Workwear Pacrim Hospitality Services Petro-Canada Penn West Energy Sherwood Park Toyota Suncor Energy Foundation Syncrude Total E & P Canada Ltd. Read more about our corporate partners at 16 28 www.ab-conservation.com. A Study Snapshot Conservation in Action To become a Corporate Partner in Conservation, Elk Populations in Southwestern Alberta Airdrie Hunting & Fishing Association contact Cindi Webster at 780-410-1983. Contact us to receive your free biannual subscription of Conservation Magazine: On the Cover E-mail [email protected] with “E-mail Subscription” in the subject line. "In early autumn, grizzly bears are often in their best Download electronic copies online at physical condition. This bear was photographed by the www.ab-conservation.com. roadside in Jasper National Park along the Icefield Phone: 780-410-1999 or call toll free: Parkway in mid-September. Most bears in Alberta enter 1-877-969-9091. their winter dens within four to six weeks of that time." Moving? Change of address? Stay in touch. Camera: Nikon F5 with a 500mm lens Be sure to contact us and keep your subscription Dr. Wayne Lynch up to date. Issues returned marked "undeliverable address" are deleted from our database! Conservation Magazine • FaLL/Winter 2010 3 From the Editor A balanced approach. hat was the direction given to the writer for The Grizzly Truth: Uncovering the Facts. After endless conversations with scientists, conservationists and stakeholders about the designation of the grizzly bear as Threatened, we had mountains of data, varying opinions and emotions to distill, so we could present tyou with an honest and accurate look at the situation surrounding Alberta’s most-talked-about species. In this issue we examine the status of the grizzly bear without dwelling on the overwhelming statistics. Our hope is to invoke discussions, inspire further reading and even greater – motivate change. The truth is that the Threatened designation doesn’t change anything for this majestic giant until we address land use and access challenges. Alberta’s total population as of April 1, 2010 was estimated to be 3,724,832, with an estimated population growth of between 4.7 to 7.6 million by 2050. Alberta’s wild species and spaces are getting crowded out as demands for more communities, roads, seismic lines, malls and urban sprawl ensue. To put it into perspective, a grizzly bear requires up to 4,500 square kilometres of habitat, which is equivalent to a little less than half of the size of Jasper National Park, or 6.7 times the size of the City of Edmonton. Alberta is 661,185 square kilometres. Albertans have some hard choices to make. Are you willing to alter your behaviour to aid in the recovery of the grizzly bear? We’d love to find out. Take the Grizzly Truth survey at www.ab-conservation.com. Survey results are live, so it’s the perfect opportunity to show the world who we are. Take a look at this photo of my nephews, Thomas and Lucas, and when you take the survey think of your own children or grandchildren…our future generations. And while this focus on the grizzly bear is timely, there are other species that we need to be concerned about too. Woodland caribou, bull trout and northern leopard frog are all facing similar access and development issues. Hearing a moose call or witnessing its warm breath hang in the crisp autumn air, watching ducks fly in V formation during the spring and fall migration, or catching that extraordinary glimpse of a grizzly bear...these are wonders to respect, conserve and treasure. — Editor-in-Chief, Lisa Monsees Population data courtesy of the Government of Alberta Finance and Enterprise. Letters to the Editor: Address letters to Conservation Magazine Editor by e-mail, fax or mail. Include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and length. 4 Conservation Magazine • FaLL/Winter 2010 Conservation Magazine About Us... At Alberta Conservation Association, we feel most at home when we’re enjoying the natural wonders of our province. We immerse ourselves in Publisher: Alberta Conservation Association Alberta’s wild side while encouraging others to do the same – working to ensure Editor-in-Chief: Lisa Monsees, ACA these extraordinary outdoor opportunities are available not only for your future, Assistant Editor: Ariana Tourneur, ACA but also for the futures of generations to come. Editorial Committee: Trevor Council, Lance Engley, Colin Gosselin, Ken Kranrod, Robb Stavne Annually, ACA directs more than $10 million towards conservation efforts, Contributing Writers: Mark Boyce, Wes David, Lance delivering a wide variety of projects and services across the province that include www.ab-conservation.com Engley, Brad Fenson, Dr. Wayne Lynch, Marco Musiani, Nicole Nickel-Lane, Dale Paton, Justin A. Pitt, Liz Saunders, Wildlife, Fisheries, Land Management and Communications programs. By donating Shevenell Webb and securing land for conservation, our donors and partners work with us to create Photo/Illustration Credits: AHFA, Alptraum, ASRD, Emily lasting legacies. Our initiatives, scientific studies and passion for conservation help Court, Gordon Court, Wes David, Darren Dorge, Roger Hill, conserve wildlife, fish and habitats for all Albertans to enjoy. Mike Jokinen, David P. Lewis, Dr. Wayne Lynch, Verena J. Matthew, Lisa Monsees, Kelly Nelson, Warren Price Photography, Liz Saunders, Shevenell Webb, Mike Uchikura We are lucky to live and work in such a precious place, surrounded by natural Design: Don Myhre, ACA beauty and untamed character. Take advantage: be sure to enjoy some of the 250,000 acres of Conservation Sites and explore Alberta’s great outdoors as much President & CEO: Todd Zimmerling as you can. The breadth and beauty of our wild side is all around – let’s work Vice President: Ken Kranrod together to make sure it stays that way. ACA Board of Directors Executive: Keep conversations on conservation going...drop us a line, or visit us online and on twitter and facebook. Randy Collins, Chairman Alberta Fish & Game Association Because together, we are the wild side’s future. Patrick Long, Vice Chairman Wild Sheep Foundation Alberta Calvin Rakach, Secretary Public At Large, Eastern Region Dr. Lee Foote, Treasurer Public At Large, Academic Representative Brian Bildson, Past Chair Alberta Trappers' Association Directors: Tom Bateman - Southern Alberta Board Ice fish, Liaison, Alberta Hunter Education Instructors’ Association Dr. Mark Boyce - ACA University of Alberta Chair hunt, hike, in Fisheries and Wildlife 2010-2011 Guide to Outdoor Adventure Bob Byers - Alberta Professional Outfitters watch Society wildlife and Deryl Empson - Minister’s Representative over Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Sandra Foss - Nature Alberta photograph Colin Gosselin - Public At Large, Northeast Region your way Bob Haysom - Pheasants Forever Alberta Council MORE MAPS and more details on over Adam Norris - Public At Large, Northwest Region 250,000 acres of land for across HUNTING, FISHING Don Pike - Trout Unlimited Canada HIKING Jeff Smith - Public At Large, Southern Region Alberta Conservation Magazine – all for (ISSN 1488-6235) is the official biannual publication of Alberta Conservation Association. free! Charitable Registration Number: 88994 6141 RR0001 m www.ab-conservation.co For advertising sales information please contact: Find your wild side this fall Ken Kranrod: 780-410-1989 [email protected] and winter with the Cindi Webster: 780-410-1983 Guide to Outdoor Adventure! [email protected] Pick up your FREE copy at any of the locations listed at SUbMissiOnS: Guidelines for writers and photographers are available online www.ab-conservation.com/guide at www.ab-conservation.com. or call toll free 1-877-969-9091. Please submit proposals in writing. The magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or images provided for editorial consideration. Conservation Magazine • FaLL/Winter 2010 5 by Shevenell Webb, ACA of the Ashes… OutHow Fires Transform our Forests photo: Shevenell Webb 6 Conservation Magazine • FaLL/Winter 2010 “We forget fires are a natural process.” he blanket of ash finally settles, choking the charred pine trees and lifeless vegetation that still stand. Cloaking the highway, the The Fire Chronicles blackness is a constant and sad reminder of the burn. t Aboriginals and early settlers did just that – using fire to clear land to improve habitat for wildlife or grazing conditions for domestic livestock. But within the seemingly bleak depths of the forest, a different story is by Shevenell Webb, ACA In turn, big game populations flourished and hunting opportunities unfolding.