Les rongeurs sociaux

A major presence in Yellowknife, the raven can be seen and heard throughout the city; cunning and sociable by nature, it has learned to cohabit with humans.

On the banks of the Winnipeg River, scientists are trying to meet a major challenge: they are studying its life cycle and seeding the river to restore the lake sturgeon to its rightful place in the ecosystem. A true living fossil that can live for more than 100 years, this species nearly became extinct.

The caves near Lake St. George in the Interlake region contain the largest colony of bats in Manitoba (approximately 50,000) and are being monitored. In this episode, we learn about the life cycle of the bat, its habitat, feeding and hibernation.

The wolf, survivor of systematic extermination campaigns, is the predator of big game such as moose and deer. Its role in the ecosystem is important. However, this species is evolving: crossbreeding with other species has occurred as a result of the reduction in its range and hybrid species have appeared.

Unlike other wild animals, this omnivorous mammal has survived well in Canada thanks to its remarkable ability to adapt to human activities and the laws that protect it.

This proud-looking deer is to the Canadian boreal forest what the bison is to the prairies and the caribou to the tundra. The disappearance of its main predators, victims of human activity, contributes to the growth of its population. We can even talk about overpopulation in its case.

The salamander is an excellent indicator of the health of an ecosystem. This episode illustrates the interdependence of species living in an ecosystem and allows us to better understand the life cycle and metamorphosis of this sometimes cannibalistic insectivore!

On Hornby Island in British Columbia, the opossum, introduced here by humans in 1980, has become so well established that the overpopulation of the species is beginning to seriously threaten the biological balance of the region. This omnivore may become a threat to the island's biodiversity.

In and around Winnipeg's concrete, glass and steel downtown core, small animals are coping quite well with their city life.

This Delta Marsh at Lake Manitoba is part of the legacy left by the retreating glaciers where residents range from microscopic protozoa to moose. This episode introduces us to a rich and remarkable biodiversity and helps us understand the fundamental role of these wetlands in all seasons.

A prehistoric creature that millions of years have changed little, the dragonfly damsel spends most of her life underwater where she successively takes the strangest forms. Follow her through all her metamorphoses: from the disturbing aquatic nymph to the fearsome aerial hunter. Worst enemy of the mosquito, best friend of the outdoor…

Falconiformes (hawks, owls, eagles and falcons) are all exceptional hunters and have few predators, except for humans. Pesticide use, deforestation and building construction are all threats to birds of prey.