Tuesday 8 December 2015

EcoSask News, December 8, 2015

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Upcoming Events
Green Drinks Saskatoon, Dec. 11
Green Drinks Saskatoon will be meeting at 5:30 pm, Dec. 11, at the Capitol Music Club.

Regina Christmas Bird Counts 
Nature Regina will be hosting the following Christmas bird counts:
Dec. 19 – Craven (includes Lumsden)
Dec. 27 – Regina
Jan. 2 – Balgonie (includes White City and Pilot Butte)

Drop-In at the Zoo, Dec. 29-30
The Saskatoon Zoo Society is hosting a drop-in interpretation program for kids from 1-3 pm, Dec. 29 & 30.

Christmas Bird Count for Kids, Jan. 2/3
The Christmas Bird Count for Kids will be held on Jan. 2 in Saskatoon and Jan. 3 in Regina.

Saskatoon Young Naturalists
Jan. 3, 11 am – Snowshoeing
Jan. 23, 1-3 pm – Tracks and Scats
Feb. 6, 1-2:30 pm – Chickadee Pishing
Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment.

Wascana Junior Naturalists (Regina) 
Children ages 9-13 are invited to register for the spring session of the Wascana Junior Naturalists. Only 20 spots are available for each session.

Invasive Species Conference, Jan. 30 (Regina)
The Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan is holding its annual general meeting and conference on Jan. 30, 2016. The theme of the conference is invasive species.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

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News
Wolf Cull 
The Government of Saskatchewan is opening up wolf hunting in selected areas on Dec. 15. Ostensibly, it’s to prevent livestock predation, but many ranchers and scientists believe it’s the wrong approach. Rancher Gord Vaadeland, CPAWS-SK, says,“Wolf culling is more likely to increase predation on livestock than it is to reduce it. The science is pretty clear on this. According to the largest study ever done on wolf culling and its impact on livestock predation rates, for every wolf that is culled through this type of program, predation of livestock rises on average by 5 to 6 percent."

Plastic-Free Campus Manual
The PLAN Plastic-Free Campus Manual is available online and includes tips on conducting a plastic audit, identifying alternatives to single-use plastics, and making plastic-free a positive experience.

Building a Successful Green Energy Plan
In a lengthy article, Chris Turner reviews the successes and failures of Ontario’s green energy plan, pointing to the need for community involvement and corporate support.

Care For and Enjoy 
Stewardship – ripping out weeds, building trails – takes time and investment and builds a closer link to nature than simply participating in outdoor activities 

Eating Our Future 
Every mouthful we eat shapes the world. We’re environmental activists three times a day [16-minute TEDx talk]

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

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