Preserve Post - Winter 2014

Quarterly Publication of the Yukon Wildlife Preserve Operating Society
Volume 9, Issue 3
Winter 2014
In this Issue...
2 Season’s Greetings!
3 A Short Stay
“The Good Stuff”
4 Whitehorse
Photography Club
6 Fall/Winter School
Programs
Artful Evolution
7 ‘Definitely a Fox’
Update
8 Ski Trails
Winter
Edition

From the Executive Director...
Season’s Greetings
I just can’t quite fathom where the time goes? As you
can well imagine, the last three months have been a
blur of activity and achievements.
In September Jake joined me in attending the annual
AGM & Conference for Canada’s Accredited Zoos and
Aquariums held in Moncton, New Brunswick. This
was Jake’s first CAZA Conference so we thought it
would be good that he present a paper to the delegates.
Jake’s presentation on “Heritage and First Nations in
Zoo Education” was a big hit with the crowd.
In November I attended the Bald Eagle Festival in
Haines and presented a review of the Yukon Wildlife
Preserve to festival delegates. This was yet another
good opportunity to build on our great relationship
with the American Bald Eagle Foundation – and an
opportunity for me personally to financially support
them via their live auction!
Most recently, the Board and all staff participated in a
2nd Strategic Planning session – led by facilitator Lyn
Hartley. This all-day planning session was designed
to focus on the elements we will require in the
development of a new 10 year Master Plan.
While great progress was made, it became
obvious that additional planning days will be
required to nail-down our objectives for a new
long-term plan. We will continue the process
most likely in the spring.
We are hoping for at least a little more snow
so that we can open our set ski tracks for the
Christmas break. Ski trail maintenance has
never been better thanks to our President and
ski trail volunteer Jim Boyde who has been
dragging tires and trying to set a base that will
last the whole season. Thanks Jim!
Above: Guest and favourite uncle of the Preserve, Peter Karsten
brought an outside perspective to strategic planning.
Other exciting news stemming from CAZA is that: 1)
the Yukon has officially been awarded the 2016 AGM
& Annual Conference so we will all get the chance to
host our national colleagues in September 2016; and
2) shortly after returning from the conference we were
notified that I (Greg) was successful in attaining a seat
on the National CAZA Board of Directors. I am proud
to be representing Yukon on this national Board!
Wishing everyone all the best for a very festive yet safe
holiday season with family and friends.
Cover Photos: Top: Justine Benjamin releases a Great Grey Owl.
Bottom Left: The Learning Centre hosted lots of students this
winter. Bottom Right: A Mountain Goat billy on the move.
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Volume 9, Issue 3

A Short Stay
It’s amazing how quickly some
animals recover and move on
from the Preserve’s Wildlife
Research and Rehabilitation
Centre. Song birds suffering
from concussions can spend as
little as 48 hours, while a Great
Grey Owl with multiple fractures
can be just 4 short weeks. In
the owl’s case, it was a broken
clavicle (wish bone) and scapula
(shoulder blade). Because those
bones can’t be set, they just need
enough time for swelling and
pain to subside and scar tissue
to form around and stabilize the
breaks.
However, sometimes it’s not the
injury that stops the bird from
leaving. We have
a tundra and a
trumpeter swan who
are in good shape, but
their injuries caused them to miss
migration. Releasing them here
would be a death sentence.
They’ll remain here with us
“The Good Stuff”
This fall we received a
concussed Pine Grosbeak
that had spent time in the
Department of Environment’s
“drunk tank”. A series of
seed and berry eating birds
were allegedly hitting “the
good stuff” - fermented
Mountain Ash berries - a
little to hard. It’s possible
this led to these same
birds hitting the bad stuff -
windows - a little too hard.
We’re also speculating that
as an ornamental species
in Yukon, Mountain Ash
Rehabilitation...
until we can arrange an alternative
migration. In this case, migration
will consist of an Air North flight
to warmer climes!
is often planted close to windows.
The proximity of a food source
to windows can be an important
contributor to increase collisions.
Either way, we’re glad this grosbeak
gets a second chance!
Winter 2014
Clockwise from top right: Justine with the Great Grey Owl; an x-ray showing the
broken clavicle and scapula; a Pine Grosbeak launches to freedom; a tundra and
a trumpeter swan wait for a ride.
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First Snowfall
In October 2014, the Whitehorse Photography Club
with guest Peter Mather conducted a wildlife photography
workshop at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. The 20 photographers were treated
to behind the scenes access and one of the season’s first snowfalls,
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Volume 9, Issue 3

Winter 2014
5

Education...
Fall/Winter School Programs
This winter the Preserve introduced
a fall/winter school programming
session. Thanks to the support of
the Department of Education, we
offered school programming at no
charge to Yukon students.
Educators Dylan Cunningham
and Kaitlyn Dorosz developed and
delivered programs for grades K/1,
2, 7 and 9. We estimate that ~325
students participated in November
and December.
An innovative addition are
“Adventure Backpacks”. These
allow teachers to self-guide their
class. This
allows
schools to
send two
classes at a
time (making
the most
of valuable
busing
resources).
Another notable addition
is a new set of atlatls and
throwers. We are using
the atlatls to connect
animal biology to human
stories.
Artful Evolution
Artful Evolution is the exhibition
Whitehorse-based artist and Yukon
Wildlife Preserve interpreter,
Misha Donohoe. The exhibition
will showcase beautiful images of
Yukon plants and insects rendered
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in ultra fine brushwork. “I created
the works in the style of 17th – 19th
century botanical illustrations, but
I also wanted to magnify them so
that people could appreciate all the
exquisite details!”
Part art show, part
science exhibition,
Artful Evolution
will appeal to
nature-enthusiasts,
scientists and fine
art-lovers.
“Artists are inspired
by all kinds of
things. For me, it’s
science.” Misha is
an avid reader of
science books and
journals and when
she learns something
interesting it tends
to emerge as an
art-piece. “There is no limit to how
technical or scientific you can get,
but I like the idea that learning
should be fun and inspiring.”
Misha taught the art-nature
camp at Yukon Wildlife Preserve
in August 2014 and is applying
some of the same interpretation
principles to the exhibition. There
will be an interactive art piece for
kids and adults to contribute to.
“I may have been honing my art
skills for many years, but everyone
can create something beautiful
and meaningful when they give
themselves permission. I can’t
wait to see how this part of the
exhibition turns out!”
Artful Evolution will launch at Arts
Underground along with a group
exhibition from The Association
Francophone Yukonnaise on
January 9 th 2015 (5 Volume – 7pm). 9, Issue 3

‘Definitely a Fox’ Update
Construction on a new home
for our famous fox draws
nearer everyday. Director of
Operations, Randy Hallock,
ensured he sunk the posts
for the new habitat before the
ground froze. Canada World
Youth stepped in to help out,
painting poles to blend in
with the pale green of the
surrounding Aspen trunks.
They also helped to unroll and
hang hundreds of feet of chain
link fencing.
That’s when Operations
Assistants Daniel, Justine
and Logan began stretching
the fencing. They needed to
transform it from a loose
skin into taught, precise
barriers. This was finicky
work, requiring precision and
cold fingers. Working with
bolts and nuts often needed
a bare hand - even at cold
temperatures. Staff used
magnets at the end of every
day to collect fumbled nuts
out of the snow.
Lindsay is working on plans
for a grand opening in the
new year.
Left: Daniel stretches the
fence taught. Below: Cold
hands on cold metal is a
reality.
Yukon
Wildlife
Preserve
Full-time Staff
Greg Meredith, Executive Director
Randy Hallock, Operations Director
Dr. Maria Hallock, Curator
Jake Paleczny, Director of Programming
& Education
Lindsay Caskenette, Manager of Visitor
Services
Daniel Jolkowski, Animal Care &
Operations Assistant
Justine Benjamin, Animal Care &
Operations Assistant
Board of Directors
Jim Boyde, President
W.J. (Bill) Klassen, Vice-President
Dave Mossop, Past President
Nona Ilieva, Treasurer
Alexandra de Jong Westman, Chair of
Animal Care Committee
Michael Kokiw, Director at Large
Ranj Pillai, Director at Large
Sharon A. Katz, Director at Large
Allan Koprowsky, Non-voting Member -
Environment Yukon
Darrell March, Non-voting Member -
Environment Yukon
Blake Rogers, Non-voting Member
Winter Staff
Hayley Wood
Misha Donohoe
Maureen Peterson
Alina Dragomir
Winter 2014
Garry Njootli
Kaitlyn Dorosz
Joanne Maisoneuve
Dylan Cunningham
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Above: Justine Benjamin captures early sunset on some of the longest days of the year.
Ski Trails
Despite a slow start to the ski season, lot’s of work has
already gone into the Preserv’es ski trails. In mid-October,
a team from Canada World Youth came out to
lend a hand. They helped to cut and haul encroaching
brush off the trails.
We’ve also made a few
changes to the trails by
rerouting to avoid the
most challenging areas,
making for an easier,
more enjoyable day at
the Preserve!
At the time of writing
(mid-December), rock
skis are still recommended,
but one more
good snowfall and the
trails will be in great
shape.
When to Visit
Winter Hours
10:30am to 4:00pm: Friday - Sunday
Guided Bus Tours at 12pm & 2pm
Special Holiday Hours
Open daily: Dec. 26 th to Jan. 4 th
10:30am to 4:00pm: Friday to Sunday
Guided Bus Tours at 12pm & 2pm
Who
am I?
Call 456-7300 to reserve a seat in advance.
Walk or cross country ski anytime while open!
Credits
Writing: Jake Paleczny, Greg Meredith, Misha Donohoe.
Photos and illustrations: Jake Paleczny, Justine Benjamin,
Misha Donohoe, Whitehorse Photography Club (credited on
individual images).
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Curious about the latest news? Visit facebook.
com/yukonwildlife or call 456-7300.
Printed on 100% Recycled Paper
Volume 9, Issue 3