It is International Biodiversity Day on May 22 and Parks Canada staff and volunteers have been literally up to their knees (sometimes deeper!) in Jasper’s wetlands this spring, checking on the health of our aquatic biodiversity.
Early spring is the best time of year to find out how our amphibian populations are doing. It is the only time of year you will hear the mating calls of frogs or toads, and find egg masses in the ponds. The calls and eggs allow us to identify what amphibians are present in the 62 sites that were surveyed this year. Adults do not stay in the water, making them difficult to find while tadpoles are difficult to identify. Each site is visited three times over a three-week period by different teams of surveyors.
Did you know that in Jasper, we have wood frogs, spotted frogs, western toad and long-toed salamander? The boreal chorus frog’s call was also heard in the past, but there have been no confirmed observations in more recent years.
Parks Canada’s extensive monitoring program, including the amphibian surveys, provides information necessary for assessing the health of the park’s ecosystems and ensuring that ecological integrity goals are being met. Understanding where amphibians are found in Jasper and observing any changes in their distribution contributes to measuring the health of our aquatic ecosystems. Happy International Biodiversity Day!
Signs of respect: Interpretive panels at historic homestead sites
Parks Canada is creating interpretive panels for five historic homestead sites in Jasper National Park to share the stories of aboriginal families who homesteaded in the Jasper Valley prior to the park’s creation in 1907.
The panel initiative will meet Parks Canada’s commitment to the Upper Athabasca Valley Elders Council to mark the homestead sites. Panels will go up at the Adam Joachim, William Moberly, Adolphus Moberly and Isadore Findlay homestead sites. The existing signage at the John Moberly site will also be replaced.
Parks Canada has been working on projects that acknowledge the early 20th century families that homesteaded along the Athabasca River to share their story and help connect Canadians with this history.
Don’t forget your resident pass
It is not too late to collect your 2015/16 resident passes from the Parks Canada Administration Office (located in the train station building). The office is open from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch noon to 1 p.m.).
To pick up your pass, have the following items ready:
1. If your vehicle is registered in Jasper:
Valid vehicle registration
2. If it is registered outside of Jasper:
Valid vehicle registration: can be registered anywhere
Proof of employment: name of the employer, most recent pay stub and/or staff ID
Street address in Jasper: street address (not mailbox)
The following items may also be required:
Proof of residency
Statutory Declaration
Please ensure your pass is displayed prominently in your vehicle at all times.
Parks Canada
Special to the Fitzhugh
