SPECIES AT RISK IN ALBERTA Children s Activity Booklet
Table of Contents You Where you live A duck and where it lives Animals and Plants Species at Risk, Habitat & Threats Grizzly Bear Swift Fox Wood Bison Woodland Caribou Little Brown Bat Western Grebe Peregrine Falcon Barred Owl Northern Leopard Frog Monarch Butterfly Western Blue Flag How You Can Help 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 13 15 17 19 21 23 26 29 31 Edmonton and Area Land Trust Is a non-profit conservation organization that protects habitat for wildlife and preserves natural spaces for future generations. Visit our website, www.ealt.ca for more information. Children s Activity Booklet This booklet aims to inspire children to connect with Alberta s Species at Risk. Working through this book, you will learn facts about the animals and plants that are listed as endangered, threatened, and special concern. Each activity will help you learn about the animal or plant, its habitat, and facts about why they are a species at risk. Photography Front Page: top left, clockwise: Barred Owl by Dawne Colwell, Monarch Butterfly by Don Delaney, Peregrine Falcon by Don Delaney, Western Blue Flag by Justin Johnsen, Northern Leopard Frog by Douglas Wilhelm Harder, Wood Bison by Gerald Romanchuck. Back Page: top left, clockwise: Grizzly Bears by Dorothy Monteith, Swift Fox by Gerald Romanchuck, Woodland Caribou by Jim Winstead, Western Grebe by Dave Prescott.
This is you... Source: http://www.newcoloring.net/261/easy-spring-coloring-pages-boys-and-girls-for-free-2/ 1
This is where you live... Canada Alberta 2
This is a DUCK Ducks live in lakes, ponds and other types of wetlands. Lakes and ponds where ducks live are called a duck s habitat. Habitat is important for ducks, and all other types of animals, to have a place to live, eat, and nest. 3
There are different types of animals Mammals Birds Amphibians Reptiles Insects Fish And there are also Plants Colour the letters 4
We share our home with many plants and animals. Sometimes, these plants and animals need our help to save the places where they find food and shelter, so that they can survive. We study plants and animals that need our help. You will learn about animals and plants that are: ENDANGERED Endangered means that the animal or plant may disappear from earth if we do not help it. THREATENED Threatened means that the animal or plant may be Endangered soon if we do not help it. SPECIAL CONCERN Special Concern means that the animal or plant may be Threatened or Endangered if we are not careful. You will learn about each species habitat and threats to that species. HABITAT Habitat is where the plant or animal lives. THREATS Threats are things that are bad for the plant or animal and are the reasons why the species is listed as Special Concern, Threatened, or Endangered. 5
GRIZZLY BEAR is a MAMMAL that is THREATENED in Alberta. Source: http://www.bestcoloringpagesforkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/little-bear-coloring-pages.jpg 6
HABITAT: Grizzly bears live in the mountains, foothills, and boreal forests. They eat fish out of the river. Draw a fish for the bear to eat. THREATS: The greatest threat to the grizzly bear is the loss of habitat when people develop too many buildings and cut down trees in the bear s habitat. This also causes problems between people and grizzly bears. 7
SWIFT FOX is a MAMMAL that is ENDANGERED in Alberta. Source: http://www.supercoloring.com/pages/fox-23/ 8
HABITAT: The Swift Fox s habitat is mostly short and mixed-grass prairie regions. They live in dens surrounded by grass. Draw a den for the Swift Fox to live. THREATS: The main threat to the Swift Fox is loss of habitat from changing native grasslands into farmlands, making it difficult for Swift Foxes to find a good place to live. 9
WOOD BISON is a MAMMAL that is ENDANGERED in Alberta. Source: http://www.honkingdonkey.com/coloring-pages/wild-animals/05-bison-02.htm 10
HABITAT: Wood Bison graze on grasses and sedges found in the small prairies of the boreal forest in northern Alberta. Draw a picture of the Wood Bison s habitat. THREATS: In the 1800 s, the Wood Bison were hunted so much that very few were left. Since then, scientists and other people have helped the Wood Bison, so there are more of them living now. Today, the largest threat to Wood Bison is disease. The effects of climate change may also make it harder for the bison to find food or shelter. 11
Did you know Wood Bison and Plains Bison live in Elk Island National Park, just outside of Edmonton? Can you spot the differences between the Plains Bison and Wood Bison? Circle the differences you see and label each bison with its name. Bison Bison Here are some hints: - Wood Bison have a taller and squarer hump on their back - Plains Bison have a shorter neck - Wood Bison have a more pointed beard - Plains Bison have long, thick fur all the way down their front legs - Wood Bison are taller and bigger 12
WOODLAND CARIBOU is a MAMMAL that is THREATENED. Source http://www.supercoloring.com/pages/caribou/ 13
HABITAT: Woodland Caribou need large areas of old-growth forest to live and to find lichen to eat. Lichen is the main food for caribou. The box below shows what lichen looks like. Draw lots of lichen so the herd of Caribou has enough to eat. THREATS: Cutting down old-growth forest threatens Woodland Caribou because these forests have lots of lichen, which the caribou need to survive. Lichen need forests which have been growing more than 100 years, which is why it is important to conserve and protect forests. 14
LITTLE BROWN BAT is a MAMMAL that is ENDANGERED in Canada. HABITAT: In the winter, Little Brown Bats live in caves. In the summer, they live in holes in trees, or in buildings like a barn. THREATS: The greatest threat to Little Brown Bats is a fungus which makes them very sick. They are also sometimes hurt by cats, or people who don t want the bats living in their barns 15
The Little Brown Bat needs your help! The Little Brown Bat needs a cave to live in the winter, and a different place to live in the summer. Draw the bat a winter home and a summer home 16
WESTERN GREBE is a BIRD that is THREATENED in Alberta. HABITAT: They nest in large lakes where water plants are available for nesting material. THREATS: Threats to Western Grebes include the loss of plants along the water s edge where they nest, recreational use of powerboats that might disturb their nests, water levels that are too high or too low which can also disturb their nests, strong winds, and predators eating their eggs. 17
Where are the Western Grebes? Can you spot the grebes? Circle all of the grebes you find in the pond. Hint: There are 5 grebes. 18
PEREGRINE FALCON is a BIRD that is THREATENED in Alberta. HABITAT: This bird can live in boreal forests, prairies, or even cities. THREATS: People disturbing Peregrine nests or using chemical pesticides near their nests can harm the falcons and their eggs. Some types of harmful chemicals near bird nests can harm their eggs and stop chicks from hatching. 19
The Peregrine Falcon needs your help! Did you know some Peregrine Falcons nest on the top of really tall buildings in Edmonton? Draw a tall building for the falcon to build a nest on. 20
BARRED OWL is a BIRD of SPECIAL CONCERN in Alberta. Source: http://www.supercoloring.com/pages/perched-barred-owl/ 21
HABITAT: Barred Owls like forests with all different kinds of trees. They nest in holes found in large trees. Draw a picture of a Barred Owl habitat. THREATS: Habitat loss from cutting down large trees is a threat to Barred Owls, because they will have a harder time finding food to eat and a place to nest. When trees are cut down, there is less habitat for all owls which increases the chance of a Barred Owl being eaten by its predator, the Great Horned Owl. 22
NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG is an AMPHIBIAN that is THREATENED in Alberta. 23
HABITAT: Northern Leopard Frogs live in shallow standing water, such as ponds and dugouts. The Northern Leopard Frog needs your help! Connect the dots to give the frog a place to live. THREATS: Weather can be a threat to Northern Leopard Frogs, especially when it is a dry year with very little rain. Other threats include diseases and not having enough places to live. 24
MONARCH BUTTERFLY is an INSECT that is of SPECIAL CONCERN in Canada. 25
HABITAT: Monarch Butterflies live around wild flowers. Their larvae only eat milkweed to live. Adult butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico for the winter. Draw some flowers for the butterfly to live on. THREATS: Some people remove milkweed on purpose, leaving less food for Monarch Butterfly larvae to eat. Other threats include bad weather conditions and the use of chemical pesticides in butterfly habitat. 26
The Monarch Butterfly needs your help! Solve the Migration Maze to help the butterfly make its way from Canada to Mexico for the winter. 27
WESTERN BLUE FLAG is a PLANT that is of SPECIAL CONCERN. 28
HABITAT: In Alberta, the Western Blue Flag grows on the southeastern side of the Rocky Mountains, in the foothills, and other open areas in the centre of the province. It is a type of iris, which is a plant that many people have in their flower gardens at their homes. Draw a picture of a Western Blue Flag habitat. THREATS: The greatest threats to Western Blue Flag are the loss of habitat and weeds taking over their habitat. 29
Western Blue Flag Word Search Find and circle all of the words hidden in the puzzle. Words can be found up, down, across or diagonally. W F H E V K Z O A L B E R T A E L D E N C E O R S T E M K R B L O I F A M B X S Y U S D R N G P F D I S B J F G E M K G D J Y T E N V K P O Z F L D K H Z E N I O C P G E O K M S C A I D P E D O A T G D X U R V R E D J L U R N E M R G D P R S P S A C D N U T R I E N T S E E O G Q U I P M O B D B K F O U C A H D Y W E U O A E Q D I M A L S A J P L O P F C N J T D C M R U E F H U U D K P B R Y W I O K C I E O J T N G N E I M G A E O L R F S G A Y W M K R F S I F B U E B C I L W U M L E A F E S I H E F L O W E R Y G A M F C D T O F O L I C B S A M R N P B T A R O N N E K A R N A E P H G R I S L E W J N F B E F H E E P H L R V N J E N R D J C R H S M T H L Z S A F E O P R R C V T E D I J E O C D A Y N J O B C K D H E I R I S C F E H E V E T B A D G J O A P E N T F J B E D J D U T E O H R R B X WESTERN BLUE FLAG NUTRIENTS SOIL WATER SUNSHINE SPECIAL CONCERN PLANT FLOWER IRIS ALBERTA PETAL LEAF STEM SEED MEADOW 30
HOW CAN WE HELP TO CONSERVE SPECIES AT RISK? Take action to reduce your own environmental impacts. Here are some examples: Reduce, reuse, and recycle Walk or ride your bike instead of riding in the car when possible Conserve water by taking short showers and turn the water off while you brush your teeth Conserve power by turning the lights and TV off when you are not in the room Learn to recognize Species at Risk. Learn about the threats and share your knowledge with family and friends. Volunteer or donate to organizations that help protect Species at Risk and the places where they live. Report sightings of a Species at Risk by contacting: Alberta Environment and Parks at 310-3773 or ESRD.info-Centre@gov.ab.ca * Make note of the location where you saw the species, and if possible, take a photo. This book is an adaptation of the booklet Species at Risk in Alberta: Identification and Information Guide Edmonton and Area Land Trust (2013). Thank you to Laura Linares for developing the building blocks of this booklet for a class project through the Community Service Learning program at the University of Alberta. Grateful thanks to the booklet designer Robert Chamberlain for volunteering his time and expertise to make this booklet truly magnificent. 31
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