An Anishinaabe community in northern Ontario is using camera traps to monitor declining moose and other wildlife populations, after concerns from Elders about disappearing species.
Amy Romer reports for The Narwhal.
In short:
- Magnetawan First Nation set up camera traps to track medium-to-large mammals after noticing a drop in moose populations.
- The project, which also involves other Indigenous communities, aims to understand wildlife behavior near highways and railways.
- Researchers created a guide to help other First Nations monitor wildlife using non-intrusive methods.
Key quote:
“We want to make sure that our future generations still have the knowledge and capability to go out and harvest the moose whenever they feel like it.”
— Terry Jones, Magnetawan First Nation
Why this matters:
Moose populations are rapidly declining due to climate change, logging and sport hunting, threatening cultural practices. Camera traps offer a non-invasive way to monitor and protect species for future generations.
