Wildlife monitoring project led by U of S team in Saskatoon
A research team at the University of Saskatchewan has strapped 34 cameras to trees across Saskatoon to document the wildlife moving through the city. Led by Ryan Brook, associate professor at the U of S College of Agriculture and Bio Resources, the project is part of the Urban Wildlife Information Network, making Saskatoon one of only two Canadian cities in the network alongside Edmonton.
The cameras will run continuously for several years, capturing images of whatever animals pass by. Brook is particularly interested in tracking invasive wild boar, a species he has researched extensively and believes may eventually move into Saskatoon from surrounding areas. Beyond that, the data will allow researchers to compare wildlife patterns across dozens of cities, asking broader questions about how animals respond to urban features like golf courses and cemeteries.
The team plans to share images on social media and involve schools and the public in the project over the coming winter.
