Snowy owl labelled threatened by expert group — and humans are primarily to blame
The snowy owl, Quebec's majestic avian emblem and Harry Potter's iconic companion, is at risk of becoming endangered if action isn't taken to reverse the threats to its survival, an independent advisory panel has concluded.
This week, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) classified the species as threatened in the country.
While the expert group has made this designation, the governments of Canada and Quebec have yet to officially recognize this status.
The Ecomuseum Zoo in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., sounded the alarm this week, calling on the provincial government to act swiftly.
"Alarm bells should be ringing in Quebec," wrote the zoo in a statement sent to CBC.
David Rodrigue, the zoo's executive director, pointed to a range of factors behind the snowy owl's decline — many of them human-caused.
"We should all take it as a wake-up call and really start looking at what it really means to try and change the current trends in global warming," he said.
Snowy owls rely heavily on lemmings as a food source — a small rodent species also in decline, said Rodrigue.
Lemmings survive the winter by digging tunnels through the snow to feed on grasses and mosses. But with more rain events in the winter, the snow cover in the Arctic becomes more icy and solid, making it difficult for lemmings to dig.
This leads to malnourishment, population crashes and ultimately, impacts on snowy owl populations, whose numbers aren't recovering naturally due to the persistence of these environmental pressures, added Rodrigue.
And the owl doesn't just face problems up north.
Rodrigue noted that many of them migrate south in winter — reaching areas like Montreal and the South Shore — where they often die after eating rodents that have been poisoned by rodenticides used in agriculture.
"What's happening now is we're pulling out, so to speak, species one by one. And there is a point where ecosystems don't function anymore without a certain number of species in there," said Rodrigue, comparing the ecosystem to a game of Jenga.
"You can pull [pieces] out for a long time and [the tower] stands. But at one point, you pull one out, everything collapses. That's how we're linked."
Over 40% decline in population
COSEWIC is an independent advisory body to Canada's Environment and Climate Change Ministry (ECCC). It includes wildlife biology experts from government organizations, non-governmental groups, academia and the private sector.
Louise Blight, co-chair of COSEWIC's bird specialist sub-committee, said the designation was based on a population decline over three generations — which corresponds to around 24 years.
"Over that period of time, the snowy owl has been seen to decline by over 40 per cent. That means it meets the criteria for threatened," she said.
"Canadians and non-Canadians should be concerned about the status of snowy owls."
The committee has recommended that the federal government add the bird to Canada's list of threatened species. Blight identified several other threats contributing to the decline, including sea ice loss, electrocution and avian influenza.
To address the crisis, Blight suggests more responsible approaches to rodent control, environmentally friendly agricultural practices, avian flu mitigation efforts and action on climate change.
In a statement, the ECCC stated that the committee is expected to submit its assessment in the fall of 2025.
"Following this step, the minister must post a response statement to the Species at Risk Public Registry within 90 days. This initiates a consultation process," read the statement.
Hit by cars, caught in power lines
Guy Fitzgerald, a clinician at the Université de Montréal's birds of prey clinic who participated in the committee's discussions, said snowy owls are not used to human threats.
"We see lots of snowy owls hit by cars, they can hit power lines," he said, adding they hunt near roads and airports because small rodents are easier to catch where there's no vegetation.
One snowy owl was brought to his clinic after being rescued by a bird watcher. It had been tangled in a barbed wire fence, and one of its wings was severely injured.
"Its whole wing was amputated. It's a bird that will end its days in a refuge or a zoological institution," Fitzgerald said.
He noted that the clinic's goal is to release birds of prey back into the wild. In this case, it wasn't possible.He explained that snowy owls often don't see fences when flying low to hunt and that they're among the species that have been hit by gunshots over the past three decades, emphasizing the need for greater public education.
"We have to take care of them, but we have to consider them as an ecological service," he said, highlighting that snowy owls can help regulate other animal populations.
"More and more, we understand that the fragile equilibrium is dependent on the biodiversity."
Not enough data collected in Quebec
According to Rodrigue, there isn't enough data being collected on the snowy owl in Quebec and the national decline in the species likely reflects a similar trend within the province.
"It's fairly obvious, scientifically speaking, that it's already happening here," he said. Still, he noted that the snowy owl isn't even labelled as a species that is susceptible of being threatened or endangered in the province.
Following the committee's classification, Quebec's Environment Ministry told CBC it will evaluate the status of the species based on available data.
Rodrigue sees this designation as a perfect opportunity for the provincial government to move forward, and faster.
"That big rock that we live on … we're basically borrowing it from our children and we're going to have to give it back at some point," he said.
"We might as well make sure that we give it back in working condition."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gizmodo
10 hours ago
- Gizmodo
Cool Physics Feat Makes a Sphere Roll Down a Vertical Wall
Scientists have discovered that under the right conditions, a gummy bear-like ball can roll down a vertical wall all by itself—upending a core assumption in physics. If you place a rigid sphere on a similarly rigid inclined surface, gravity will cause it to roll down said surface. But what happens if the surface, or plane, is completely vertical? Researchers had previously assumed that, without an initial push, the sphere would simply drop straight to the ground without rolling. New research, however, has just redefined this belief—as well as long-held assumptions in the field of physics. University of Waterloo researchers have revealed the exact scenario necessary to make a sphere roll down a vertical plane without physical intervention. While this niche observation might seem detached from everyday life, it could have useful applications for exploring hard-to-reach areas such as pipes, caves, and even space. 'When we first saw it happening, we were frankly in disbelief,' Sushanta Mitra, executive director of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, said in a university statement. The researchers describe their discovery as a challenge to 'our basic understanding of physics.' They 'double-checked everything because it seemed to defy common sense. There was excitement in the lab when we confirmed it wasn't a fluke and that this was real vertical rolling.' Mitra and his colleagues unexpectedly caught the vertical rolling with high-speed cameras, and explained their discovery in a study published in April in the journal Soft Matter. In their experiment, the vertical rolling depended on a precise balance of softness—scientifically defined as elasticity—between a small sphere and a vertical cellphone-sized surface. When the spheres were too solid, they simply fell directly to the ground. On the other hand, when they were too soft, they either slid down without rolling, or stuck to the plane. But a sphere about as soft as a gummy bear spontaneously rolled down a vertical surface equivalent to a spongy mouse pad at a speed of about 0.039 inches (one millimeter) every two seconds, as described in the statement. 'The key is that as it rolls, the sphere slightly changes shape at the contact point,' Mitra explained. 'The front edge acts as a closing zipper, while the back edge acts like opening it. This asymmetry creates just enough torque, or grip, to maintain rolling without either sticking or completely falling off.' The team's findings could have practical implications for the creation of soft robots that can scale vertical walls to explore or monitor inaccessible infrastructure and natural environments both on and off Earth. 'This opens up a whole new way of thinking about movement on vertical surfaces,' Mitra continued. 'Currently, robots and vehicles are limited to horizontal or slightly inclined surfaces. This discovery could change that.'
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Marc Garneau left lasting legacy on Earth and in space, former colleagues say
MONTREAL — Canadian scientists working on asteroid missions, exploring the universe through the James Webb Space Telescope or helping to put rovers on Mars say they can in some way thank Marc Garneau, who left an enduring legacy both as an astronaut and head of the country's space agency. While best-known in later years as a federal cabinet minister, Garneau, who died this week at 76, was also a Navy officer, a systems engineer, and an astronaut with a lifelong passion for science, according to his friends and colleagues. In 1984, he made history as the first Canadian in space when he served as a payload specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. He returned to space twice more, in 1996 and 2000, before serving as the president of the Canadian Space Agency from 2001 to 2005. "All his life was devoted to public service," said Gilles Leclerc, an ex-CSA official who worked with him. "And he was really a role model to all the Canadian astronauts who came after him." As CSA president, Garneau laid the building blocks for the space exploration program that would bring together other initiatives previously developed separately, Leclerc said. He was also "ahead of his time" when it came to being conscious of the environment and understanding the importance of applying space technology for practical uses such as satellite communications. "During his tenure, he really wanted us to focus more on science: astronomy, planetary science, lunar exploration," Leclerc said in a phone interview. "So all these things that now we see, all these missions that Canada participated in, like a mission to the asteroids, two missions to Mars, the James Webb Space had a real strong influence in shaping the future of the space program for a long time." On Friday, CSA President Lisa Campbell paid tribute to Garneau, who she called a "cherished member of the space agency family." "We remain deeply grateful for his extraordinary public service and enduring contributions to Canada and the world, from making history as the first Canadian in space to guiding the Canadian Space Agency as its president," she said at an event at the agency's Montreal-area headquarters. "his integrity, his generosity of spirit touches everyone who had the privilege of working with him." Flags at government buildings in Montreal have been lowered to half-mast in tribute. Garneau would carry his love of science — as well as his significant technical knowledge — into his next role as a politician, according to his former chief of staff and close personal friend. Marc Roy said Garneau decided to run for office out of a desire to give back after his successful space career. Garneau often spoke about how seeing the Earth from above "changed his perspective on many things," including conflicts and environmental protections, Roy said. "So many things that unfortunately divide us as humans that become so irrelevant when you look at our world from abroad," Roy said in a phone interview. "And that desire to want to contribute at an even higher level, at a different, at a policy level, at a governance level is what inspired him to run for federal politics." Garneau was elected as MP in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount in 2008 after failing to win another Montreal-area seat in 2006. Roy said Garneau's scientific background shone through most clearly as Transport minister, when he was able to instantly grasp technical briefings on ships, planes and trains. Above all, his history as a naval officer and astronaut gave him a laser focus on safety, Roy said, in a role that would see Garneau introduce measures including the safer skies initiative, and the oceans protection plan to monitor ship traffic, oil spills and wildlife. Roy said Garneau often spoke about the weight of the portfolio, "wanting to ensure that he did it to the best of his ability, that he truly understood every decision that he was taking and every decision that was possible for him to make in order to ensure the safety of the traveling public and the safety overall of our trade and transportation corridors." Roy said Garneau brought a scientist's analytic, "Spock-like" demeanor to his roles. But he said some of the issues Garneau championed most passionately were social causes, including serving as a joint chair of the special joint committee on medical assistance in dying. And, despite his considerable intelligence, Roy said Garneau remained humble. "He had a very rare quality in a politician, from his very debut until the very last day before he retired as member of Parliament, which was: he listened more than he talked," Roy said. He said his friend was diagnosed only months ago with two cancers: leukemia and lymphoma, and died after a battle that was "brave but short." Roy said his friend's time since retirement was spent enjoying time with his wife, Pam, and his children, and completing work on his autobiography, "A Most Extraordinary Ride: Space, Politics and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream." Roy said the book gave Garneau closure. "He wanted to tell the story that, 'I'm just like everybody else and I failed and I've screwed up and I pulled up my socks and I learned from my mistakes and I moved on,'" Roy said. "And that was very important for him to tell that story, and I'm just so fortunate that he had the time to do that." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2025. Morgan Lowrie and Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Antarctic treaty under stress as member countries gather in Italy
For 65 years, an international treaty forged at the height of the Cold War has governed Antarctica. But with rising geopolitical tensions, consensus is increasingly hard to find. "Up until just a few years ago, we talked about the Antarctic Treaty as a framework for peace and stability in the Antarctic region, and the Arctic as a place of relative stability," said David Hik, chief scientist at Polar Knowledge Canada, an agency focused on strengthening polar science and technology in Canada. "Now, both of those assumptions are being challenged." Fifty-eight countries, including Canada, are signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, which preserves the continent for scientific exploration and peace, and bans military and mining activity. But only half the signatories can vote on treaty business. Canada wants to secure voting rights as a so-called consultative party, and will make its case again at the Antarctic Treaty meeting in Milan, Italy, later this month. But there have been barriers to this. "Canada's claim to be a consultative party has been blocked, first and foremost, by Russia," said Klaus Dodds, a political biographer and Antarctic expert at Royal Holloway, University of London. "And the reason is, Russia wants its ally Belarus to be made a consultative party alongside Canada." WATCH | Who owns Antarctica? It's preserved for peace and science, for now: In March, a first-ever all-Canadian expedition sailed to Antarctica on HMCS Margaret Brooke, with 15 polar scientists hosted by the Canadian Navy. The Canadian Antarctic Research Expedition (CARE) 2025 mission conducted weeks of research and visited multiple countries' research stations on the continent, in part to raise Canada's profile at the southern pole. CBC News got exclusive access to the expedition. To capture the voyage CBC's international climate correspondent Susan Ormiston, producer Jill English and videographer Sam Martin spent a month aboard the Margaret Brooke broadcasting live via satellite, sending news of the voyage back to Canada. WATCH | How CBC's international climate team reported from a Navy ship in Antarctica: The polar regions are changing faster than other parts of the world, due to climate change. Antarctica's ancient glaciers are receding and sea ice reached near-record lows this year, both of which contribute to rising global sea levels. "The Antarctic ice sheet contains enormous amounts of fresh water, and as the ice sheet thins and melts in places, calves at faster rates, that's going to affect global sea level change," said Thomas James, chief scientist on the CARE 2025 mission. "What happens in Antarctica doesn't stay in Antarctica," he added. The southern ocean is a huge carbon sink and helps regulate the global climate. But warming ocean waters may disrupt those patterns, said Brent Else, co-scientific director at MEOPAR, which supports ocean research and training at Canadian universities. "As oceans warm as circulation patterns change, it's expected that ocean carbon sink will slow down over time. And the polar regions are the areas where those carbon sinks are most important," he said aboard HMCS Margaret Brooke. WATCH | Antarctic treasure — searching for climate clues in the Southern Ocean: Canada is a polar nation and, with rising concerns over sovereignty in the Arctic, the government is boosting military presence in the north. "Canada is, and forever will be, an Arctic nation, and we can never take our sovereignty and security in the region for granted," Prime Minister Mark Carney said on a visit to Iqaluit in March. A year ago, the Royal Canadian Navy began to plan a deployment to Antarctica to support scientific exploration and enhance its knowledge of geopolitical pressures at the southern pole. "We can see climate change in the North, we can see what China and Russia have been doing in and around the Canadian North, [and thinking] I wonder what's going on in the South Pole, and [can we] get the perspective and experience of the South American navies that are down here all the time," Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee told CBC News in an exclusive interview. The idea, he said, was to "do some science, and see if we can figure out things that can help us better protect and defend our own North." Topshee believes there are security concerns in Antarctica that threaten its stability. "I am concerned that the whole agreement that we would not [militarize and mine Antarctica] … would, could change. And I don't think that's in our interest to allow that to change easily." WATCH | Do polar security concerns extend to Antarctica? The Canadian Navy says yes: To voyage across the Antarctic Circle, HMCS Margaret Brooke sailed into some extreme weather and ice-clogged channels. As an Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV), it is designed to break through new ice up to a metre thick. But with rapidly changing weather patterns, the ice moves and shifts, so that an open channel one day can be clogged with ice the next. An ice specialist from the Canadian Coast Guard, Donavan Tremblay, and an officer with the Chilean Navy, Javier Idiaquez, travelled with the Margaret Brooke crew to help chart a safe path. Even so, there were unexpected blockages, and navigating at night presented even more challenges. En route to Rothera Point beyond the Antarctic Circle, as the weather deteriorated and the ice encroached, Cmdr. Teri Share had to make a decision about whether to proceed. "It was a heightened level, absolutely," Share told CBC News from the captain's quarters on the Margaret Brooke. "We can take all the precautions that we can take. We can use all of the information that is provided to us. But still, there comes a point that it's on me as the commanding officer to say yes or no." In the end, Share made the call to push further south, with the crew threading the vessel through icebergs and sheet ice to reach Rothera Point, the ship's final destination, and the most southerly point the Canadian Navy had ever travelled. "It feels like just yesterday you and I were on the bridge, and you were asking me what [is the Navy] going to be doing down there, and what was I excited about," Share told the CBC's Susan Ormiston. "It's gone by really quickly," Share said, reflecting on the historic mission. WATCH | Blocked by ice in Antarctica, how the Royal Canadian Navy broke through: Watch full episodes of The National on CBC Gem, the CBC's streaming service.
