Wayfarer Wilderness

06/28/2023

: Be on your next outdoor excursion! Don't let a change in weather, or unexpected circumstances ruin your trip. Pack the essentials: flashlight, fire-making kit, signaling device, extra food and water, extra clothing, navigation and communication devices, first aid kit, emergency shelter, pocket knife, and sun protection. Know how to use these items and be prepared for anything the wilderness throws your way!

06/12/2023

Be safe!

Going for a paddle? Always be by checking the weather forecast, completing a trip plan, wearing a lifejacket, and bringing a means of communication. Safety first on the water!

09/12/2022

Its a sea kayak trip to Blanche Island kind of day!

08/13/2022

THE OLD FRIENDSHIP OF BLUEBERRIES AND SWEET FERN:
In the time before refrigeration, Ojibwe folks kept their blueberry harvest fresh by lining their birchbark storage containers with a plant called sweet fern that often grows right alongside blueberry bushes!
The leaves of sweet fern produce a compound called gallic acid, which is a potent anti-microbial and keeps harmful bacteria like salmonella from growing on the berries.
It's name in the Ojibwe dialect I've learned is "giba`iganiminzh" meaning "it covers the berries" because of this usage and its contribution to keeping the precious staple food of minan (blueberries) fresh!

I don't use a birchbark container but I do pop a few sprigs of sweet fern into my gathering bag when out picking and then into my tupperware when storing berries to remember and utilize the gifts of this wonderful plant!

(Sweet fern can also be used as a medicinal tea to help the intestines and colon! And when added to a fire, the smoke will help keep away mosquitos and horse flies--in addition to smelling lovely!)

02/20/2022

This isn’t your typical snowbird; this species is a little tougher when it comes to their winter vacation. Snowy Owls spend their summers in the treeless Arctic tundra and migrate south to Canada, including Nova Scotia, and the Northern United States for the winter.

The Mi’kmaq word for owl is gu'gu'gwes, (pronounced guu guu gwes). Snowy Owls are iconic white birds with varying amounts of black and brown speckles. The females tend to have more speckles, giving them a salt and pepper look. Snowy Owls are large, about crow size, and have a smooth rounded head with no ear tufts.

In the winter, you can spot them on the ground in wide-open areas like shorelines, fields, barrens and airports. Have you seen a Snowy Owl this winter?

We are excited to be working with the Acadia First Nation Earth Keepers to connect you with the amazing wildlife that Kespukwitk, Southwest Nova Scotia, has to offer. Each week we are exploring a new species that call Nova Scotia home and share indigenous knowledge, local sightings, interesting facts and tips for spotting these species. In saying that we want to thank the Mi’kmaw people and Acadia First Nation Ecology Team for sharing this knowledge with us and our followers. We ask that everyone please keep in mind that the Mi’kmaq peoples are a diverse group, and their language reflects that complexity. What we share in our posts is only a tiny part of the much larger picture. We encourage everyone to keep pursuing more information as we move forward.

This photo was taken by Mark Dennis in Barrington Passage. Thank you for sharing with us!

02/13/2022

To the Mi’kmaq people, the Lynx or Wildcat is called Abugsign (pronounced ah-book-see-gan) while in Unima'kik (Cape Breton) the Bobcat is known as Tqoqwej (possibly pronounced dt-gwo-gwej.

Nova Scotia is home to two native cat species, although they usually live in separate parts of the province. The Canada Lynx (pictured left) lives mostly in the Cape Breton highlands while the Bobcat (right) is mainly found on the mainland. Both species are active throughout the year but are nocturnal, so you generally won’t see them during the day. Their diets are very similar, made up of mostly Snowshoe Hare, but they also eat small mammals, birds, deer and moose carcasses as well as the occasional porcupine.

Bobcats and Lynx look very similar, not surprising considering they are so closely related, but there are a few ways to tell them apart. The Lynx have long black fur tufts on their ears and shaggier fur around their faces. They also have larger feet and longer legs to help them travel in their snowier habitat. The Lynx’s tail is slightly shorter and has a solid black tip while the Bobcat has black stripes. Some say the Bobcat has a more house cat look, especially in its face, although we don’t recommend trying to pet these kitties!

We are excited to be working with the Acadia First Nation Earth Keepers to connect you with the amazing wildlife that Kespukwitk, Southwest Nova Scotia, has to offer. Each week we will be exploring a new species that call Nova Scotia home, and will share indigenous knowledge, local sightings, interesting facts and tips for spotting these species. We want to thank the Mi’kmaq people and Acadia First Nation Ecology Team for sharing this knowledge with us and our followers. We ask that everyone please keep in mind that the Mi’kmaq peoples are diverse and their language reflects that complexity. We encourage everyone to join in our journey of learning!

The Lynx photograph was captured in Cape Breton National Park by Allan MacMillan and the Bobcat photo was taken in Red River by iNaturalist user lesstemarie.

02/06/2022

We are excited to be working with the Acadia First Nation Earth Keepers to connect you with the amazing wildlife that Kespukwitk, southwest Nova Scotia, has to offer. Each week we will explore a new species that calls Nova Scotia home and share some local sightings, interesting facts and tips for spotting these species.

This week let’s start with a creature that most associate with spring! Many don't think of the Snowshoe Hare as a tough winter survivor, but these fluffy little creatures will give any predator a run for their money. Not only does their fur change colour in the winter from reddish brown to white, but they can jump 3 m and reach a top speed of 17 km/h, all while being practically silent in the snow. In the summer, you will catch them eating many types of fresh greens, but in the winter, they chow down on buds, twigs, bark and needles. The ears of the Snowshoe Hare are smaller than other hare and rabbit species, an adaptation to colder winters to prevent heat loss.

To the Mi’kmaq, the rabbit can be known as Apli'gmuj (pronouced ab.liːk.mutj). We want to thank the Mi’kmaq and Acadia First Nation Ecology Team for sharing this knowledge with us and our followers. We ask that everyone please keep in mind that the Mi’kmaq peoples are diverse and their language reflects that complexity. We encourage everyone to keep pursuing more information as we move forward.

This picture was captured in the Springhill region by iNaturalist user Ripsteve. Thank you Mekht for the photo.

09/22/2021

Mushroom season is upon us!

09/19/2021

Its a gorgeous day for a walk in the woods! Use iNaturalist while you’re out and help biodiversity scientists.

09/17/2021

Edible fall mushrooms!

Edible Fall mushrooms!

Credit: Learn Your Land (check them out on YouTube)

08/05/2021

Great news!

Changes to start Sunday and will reduce strain on emergency departments and walk-in clinics, Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia says.

07/21/2021

07/15/2021

05/12/2021

Take the time to notice what's around you when in the wilderness.

Plant blindess is the "inability to see or notice the plants in one's own environment," which leads to "the inability to recognize the importance of plants."

04/27/2021

Bruce Zawalsky, Author of Canadian Wilderness Survival and Wildlife Awareness Instructor explains how Bear Spray works in cold, inclement or poor weather and...