Wood Buffalo Wildlife Research Institute

07/10/2026

05/24/2026

Join the Alberta Biodiversity Challenge, June 11–14!
It’s easy to participate in this provincewide citizen science BioBlitz:
1. Download the iNaturalist app.
2. Optional: Search for and join the regional project you want to participate in. You can find a list with handy links at naturalberta.ca/biodiversity-challenge. But you don’t have to be in a particular region to participate. Sightings from anywhere in Alberta count!
3. From Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, June 14, get out and snap pics of all the wonderful biodiversity in your area! Birds, mammals, plants, moss, lichen, mushrooms, insects — everything counts!
4. Upload your sightings to iNaturalist, and they’ll automatically be added to Alberta’s results!
Join nature enthusiasts across the province to show off our amazing biodiversity!

05/17/2026

Some of our resident Fort McMurray birds are already fledging young. This hatch year Canada Jay was found this week begging for food from its patiently waiting parent. Be on the look out for young birds if you are participating in the Spring Bird Count at the end of May.

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day 🧡

04/16/2026

Yesterday Big Brothers Big Sisters hosted us for their Full circle program at Elsie Yanik Catholic School, where Michelle, their land-based learning teacher, taught the children some common bird names in Cree! We also talked about the upcoming spring migration and created repurposed bird feeders. This will be Nancy's last school program with WBWRI and she is going to miss doing this important work.

04/07/2026

Last week, Big Brothers Big Sisters hosted us for their Big Circle program at Good Shepard school in Beacon Hill. We had a fantastic time! Students of the program were taught common landbird and waterfowl names in Cree and then we created repurposed bird feeders. We were able to share information about WBWRI's programs, wildlife within Fort Mac, and also engage the students in a fun craft!

03/13/2026

Interested in wildlife drawing or printmaking? We have the workshop for you. Come explore wildlife illustration with Knowledge Keeper Claire Antoine and some printmaking techniques with Nancy Ransom. This is a collaborative event with the arts council, the Nistawoyou Association Friendship Center, and WBWRI.
To sign up please check out the link in our profile.

03/12/2026

Yesterday we were invited to be a part of Big Brothers Big Sister's Full Circle Program. We talked about birds, their significance, and created bird feeders out of old water bottles!

Programming within the community is imperative, as it is inspiring to the next generation of naturalists. I'm glad I get to share my love of birds and nature with students. We had a very birdy time!

03/07/2026

Happy international womens' day to all women who have pursued a career in the wildlife sciences.

Field biology is muddy boots, early mornings, long hikes, heavy gear, unpredictable weather, and a lot of problem-solving. It’s incredibly rewarding work, but being a woman in this space can come with extra layers that often go unseen.

It can mean being underestimated when you show up to a field site.
It can mean constantly having to prove you’re capable of the same physical and technical work as your colleagues.
It can mean navigating safety concerns that others don’t always think about when you’re working in remote areas.

I'm proud to be a part of the women who are doing the work to break down these barriers. There is so much more work to do to make science a more inclusive space.

Today we celebrate the women who are still doing the work despite the challenges-- in labs, in the field, and in classrooms. Happy international womens' day 🧡🐦

03/03/2026

WBWRI is excited to share that we have been accepted by Nature Alberta as a member club!

Nature Alberta supports and connects nature organizations across the province, and we are now their northern-most member!

We are excited to see our programs continue to develop and compliment Nature Alberta's community of nature lovers.