The Canadian Field-Naturalist

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Dwayne Lepitzki — 2026-03-23

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Dwayne Lepitzki — 2026-03-23

Previously undocumented scent-marking behaviour of three North American mesocarnivores

Janet Pesaturo — 2026-01-28

Scent-marking, in which animals leave olfactory signals for transmission to other individuals, is a common form of animal communication. Documentation of such behaviour enables interpretation of wildlife sign and facilitates the study of animal ecology, biology, behaviour, and habitat use. We describe previously undocumented examples of scent-marking in three mesocarnivores: North American Badger (Taxidea taxus), Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis), and Raccoon (Procyon lotor). We deployed video camera traps at unoccupied badger burrows in the Colorado Desert, USA, along wildlife trails and at a latrine in Yukon, Canada, and in the mixed pine and oak forest of Massachusetts, USA. Badgers scent-marked unoccupied burrows six times by placing hindquarters in the burrow entrance, raising the tail, pausing for several seconds, and departing, which is previously undocumented behaviour. We documented seven instances of lynx pedal scraping along wildlife trails and at the latrine, in which lynx alternately dragged each hind foot along the ground. We found a single description of lynx pedal scraping in the literature, but it occurred during an agonistic interaction between two competing males. Raccoons pedal scraped nine times at three sites. They alternately rubbed each hind foot against the substrate, a behaviour that we did not find described elsewhere. Understanding these behaviours, including where, when, and why they occur, will provide insight into the ecology and biology of these species, with possible implications for research, conservation, and management.

Use of high-elevation coniferous scrub by breeding Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) in western Newfoundland

Chirathi Wijekulathilake — 2026-02-13

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) is an abundant passerine of dense vegetation, most commonly associated with wetlands across its pan-North American distribution. It has been reported using dry habitats in more southern areas; however, habitat use in the boreal portion of its range is poorly understood. Historical observations of this species occupying coniferous scrub in Newfoundland suggest plasticity in breeding habitat near its northern range limit. To verify the probable breeding of Common Yellowthroat in dry, high-elevation (450–532 m above sea level), diminutive (0.5–1.0 m tall) coniferous scrub, we analyzed audio recordings from seven autonomous recording units deployed on plateaus in the Anguille Mountains portion of the Long Range Mountains of southwestern Newfoundland from late May to late July 2024. We detected males singing on territory almost daily from late May through mid-July at all seven sites, suggesting probable breeding. Therefore, we conclude that dry conifer scrub serves as breeding habitat for Common Yellowthroat in Newfoundland, adding to the list of described habitats occupied by this species. Our findings, which are descriptive in nature, reinforce the need for more comprehensive assessments of habitat use and breeding success across the boreal portion of the species’ range.

Kenkéknem (Ursus americanus, American Black Bear) foraging habits at a ski area in Skwelkwék’welt, south-central Secwepemcúl’ecw

Olivier Bélanger-Jumeau — 2026-03-08

We used scat analysis to study the foraging habits of kenkéknem (Ursus americanus, American Black Bear) at Sun Peaks Ski Resort in Skwelkwék’welt, south-central Secwepemcúl’ecw, from May to late August 2023. The 20 scats (three in May, 10 in June, four in July, and three in August) showed the bears consumed largely green vegetation in the spring (1 May–21 June), scwicwéye (ants, primarily wood-nesting species) in early summer (22 June–31 July), and máts̓pe7 (wasps) and berries in late summer (1–30 August). Some vertebrate predation on voles (Microtus spp.) and other rodents was found. The most common vegetation in scats in spring was xwixwyúy̓sten (Equisetum spp., horsetail), which grows well in wet disturbed environments, such as the edge of ski trails. Wood-nesting ant species provided an important food source for bears in early and late summer. Given the importance of ants to the summer diet of bears, we recommend forest management in Skwelkwék’welt consider the importance of woody debris in providing suitable ant habitat.

Minutes of the 146th Annual Business Meeting (ABM) of the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club, 8 January 2025, 7:30 p.m.

Jakob Mueller — 2026-03-08

Annual Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club Committee Reports for 2024

Eleanor Zurbrigg — 2026-03-08

The Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club Awards for 2024, presented April 2025

Eleanor Zurbrigg — 2026-03-08

News and Comment

Amanda Martin — 2026-03-08

"A Field Guide to Urban Plants: Common Species of Pavements, Walls & Waste Ground" by Alexandra-Maria Klein and Julia Krohmer, translated by Iain Macmillan, 2025 [book review]

Tony Gaston — 2026-03-08

Double Review: "Climate Justice: What Rich Nations Owe the World—and the Future" by Cass R. Sunstein, 2025;
and "The Carbon Tax Question: Clarifying Canada’s Most Consequential Policy Debate" by Thomas F. Pedersen, 2024 [book review]

Robin Collins — 2026-03-08

"My Head for a Tree: the Extraordinary Story of the Bishnoi, Guardians of Nature" by Martin Goodman, preface by Ram Niwas Bishnoi Budhnagar, foreword by Peter Wohlleben, 2025 [book review]

Randy Lauff — 2026-03-08

"Novel Ecologies: Nature Remade and the Illusions of Tech" by Allison Carruth, 2025 [book review]

Joel Gibson — 2026-03-08

"Insectopolis: a Natural History" by Peter Kuper, 2025 [book review]

Heather Cray — 2026-03-08

"Bird Talk: Hilariously Accurate Ways to Identify Birds by the Sounds They Make" by Becca Rowland, 2025 [book review]

Heather Cray — 2026-03-08

"The Ellesmere Wolves: Behavior and Ecology in the High Arctic" by L. David Mech, Morgan Anderson, and H. Dean Cluff, 2025 [book review]

Jonathan Way — 2026-03-08

New Titles

Jessica Sims — 2026-03-08

A tribute to John Gilhen 1941–2025

Donald McAlpine — 2026-03-08

Caching faeces of other species: evidence of heterospecific coprophagy by Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris)?

Thomas Jung — 2026-01-28

Some species collect and consume the faeces of other species. However, evidence of such heterospecific coprophagy is rarely documented for wild mammals and has not been reported for Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris). We observed 14 Collared Pika haypiles (food caches) in northwestern Canada that contained faecal pellets of Hoary Marmot (Marmota caligata). Our observations were from two study areas ~700 km apart, suggesting that this behaviour may be widespread. We did not observe Collared Pikas consuming Hoary Marmot pellets, and they may collect them for other, unknown reasons, including as curios. Regardless, our observations are of value because they represent evidence of possible heterospecific coprophagy in Collared Pikas, which can potentially contribute to our understanding of their nutritional strategy.

Discovery of novel Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) occurrences in New Brunswick, Canada

Joshua Christiansen — 2026-01-28

Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) has the broadest geographic distribution of any North American plethodontid. However, in New Brunswick, Canada, its known distribution has previously been limited to a single site in Fundy National Park, where the species was first confirmed in 1983, its presence verified until at least 2012, and where it is still presumed to occur. Recently, during a series of general amphibian surveys and opportunistic observations, novel occurrences of this species were discovered. Specifically, we observed eight individuals at two sites in the town of Riverview, 59 km northeast of the Fundy National Park site. Our discovery expands knowledge of the species in New Brunswick and the northern limit of its distribution. The Riverview sites are relatively disturbed (e.g., high human foot traffic, all-terrain vehicle use, some incidental tree harvest, invasive plant species, infrastructure development, and litter). The Riverview High School forest site is isolated from other forested areas by paved roads. There are major differences between these sites and where the species has previously been observed in New Brunswick: the Fundy National Park site is relatively undisturbed and surrounded by extensive forest. This suggests that populations of this species in New Brunswick can persist in marginal, patchy, anthropogenically-disturbed habitat, which has implications for conservation and management.

Desiccated turtles found in dense European common Reed (Phragmites australis subsp. australis) and hybrid Blue Cattail (Typha ×glauca) habitat at Point Pelee National Park, Ontario

Meghan Ward — 2026-02-17

Invasive wetland plants can alter hydrology and vegetation structure, with potential consequences for wildlife. During vegetation surveys at Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada, I observed two cases of turtle desiccation in dense stands of invasive European common Reed (Phragmites australis subsp. australis) and invasive hybrid Blue Cattail (Typha ×glauca). In 2022, a juvenile Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) was found desiccated on a thick, dry mat of hybrid Blue Cattail. In 2024, a juvenile Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) was found desiccated in a dense European common Reed patch similarly lacking surface water. These observations suggest that dense, hydrologically isolated patches of invasive wetland vegetation may pose a risk to turtles’ survival during hot, dry periods, possibly by limiting access to open water or cooler microhabitats.

Record number of Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) overwintering in a building at the northern limit of their range in eastern Canada

Donald McAlpine — 2026-02-17

Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) is believed to overwinter typically in heated buildings at the northern limit of its range, often singly and generally fewer than 12 per building, as well as in underground environments. As the species is a relatively recent arrival in Maritime Canada, little information is available on its natural history in the region. Here we report a case from New Brunswick, where it appears that at least 122 Big Brown Bats overwintered together in the attic of a brick building constructed in 1947. Exit from this winter hibernaculum occurred abruptly, with a peak in mid-March and a secondary, but lower, peak in mid-April.