EcoWest News, April 21, 2026

Welcome to EcoWest News, a weekly round-up of news and resources that you can put to use in addressing environmental issues and protecting the wild in your community.

Biodiversity

Strychnine has been approved to kill Richardson’s ground squirrels on the Prairies. Strychnine doesn’t discriminate and poses a risk to other birds and animals both directly and through secondary poisoning through the food chain. Ryan Brook, USask, has prepared a series of maps to show how the area where use of strychnine has been approved overlaps with swift fox and burrowing owl habitat as well as national park boundaries. [The Fur-Bearers, Ryan Brook]

There have been media reports about a wolf “luring” an off-leash dog to its death, but do wolves actually lure dogs? “When a dog runs toward wildlife – particularly apex predators like wolves – they are very likely perceived as a direct threat or intrusion. From the wolf’s perspective, a fast-approaching dog can resemble a competing canid or a danger to their pack or territory, triggering an immediate defensive reaction.” [The Fur Bearers]

The Manitoba and federal governments plan to protect 50,000 sq km of national and provincial parks in the Seal River watershed. The proposal is open for public feedback until June 2. [The Narwhal, Parks Canada survey]

Water

Dutch housing corporations are adopting rainwater storage in garden fences, reducing pressure during downpours and preserving water for times of drought. [The Guardian]

Energy

Small local energy projects in the West Kootenays would offer a stable local power source and an economic opportunity but are hindered by policies and pricing. [CBC]

A peer-reviewed report using Denmark as a case study has found that renewable energy is 53% cheaper than nuclear power. [PV Magazine]

Noise Pollution

Paris has successfully cut noise pollution by encouraging cycling, installing automated noise cameras, and applying anti-noise coatings on major roadways, but it’s still too loud for wild birds to communicate at their natural sound frequencies. Birds will revert to their natural frequencies if given the opportunity. [The Conversation]

A new BC company is reducing underwater noise that disturbs marine wildlife by operating an electric ferry. They also hope to avoid striking whales by installing a “multispectral camera that constantly rotates 360 degrees and can instantly identify objects, debris, people and animals”. [CBC]

Agriculture

A mix of grassy and treed borders around crops can make a big difference in providing habitat for pollinators. [Alberta Native Bee Council]

Making a Difference

Two Canadian companies are leading the way in saving, storing, and reusing construction materials. A deconstruction depot in Toronto offers everything from lights to lumber, while a house under construction in Burnaby is testing whether using as much reclaimed materials as possible can meet the rigorous demands of the Passive House building standard. [Passive House Canada]

News & Resources

The Canadian Peatland Data Portal offers a single entry point to discover data, connect with data holders, and support more informed watershed decision-making. [UWaterloo]

The Guardian will be publishing a free fortnightly newsletter on sport and climate, outlining how sport is changing as well as how sports fans are responding. [The Guardian]

DIY

DarkSky’s Home Outdoor Lighting Assessment provides a practical guide for evaluating the lights around your home and making simple improvements. The goal is to choose quality lighting that improves safety and visibility while protecting the nighttime environment. [DarkSky]

Nature’s Wonders

In nocturnal animals, the tapetum lucidum, a reflective layer in the back of the eye, reflects light back through the retina and stimulates photoreceptors a second time, doubling visual sensitivity. [Cool Green Science]

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/42717905281

EcoFriendly West informs and encourages initiatives that support Western Canada’s natural environment through its online publication and the Nature Companion website/app. Like us on Facebook, follow us on BlueSky, X, and Mastodon, or subscribe by email.