Sophie and Harold collecting morphometric data for a wood turtle in Aylesford, Nova Scotia. Wood turtles are a species at risk, listed as threatened both provincially and federally. This data supports Clean Annapolis River Project’s Wood Turtle Monitoring and Stewardship program, and is also contributed to the provincial Species at Risk Database, to support recovery efforts.

Liam radio-tracking wood turtles in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. Through the Youth Leading Environmental Change program, students were taught how to conduct a variety of field activities related to Clean Annapolis River Project’s Wood Turtle Monitoring and Stewardship program. This included radio-telemetry, visual surveys and nesting surveys.

Students joined Fish Habitat Project leader Amber to learn how to conduct fish habitat suitability assessments. The team helped complete assessments on the Nictaux River System, in support of CARP’s restoration activities that focus on restoring habitat for Atlantic Salmon and Brook Trout.

Jayson and Simon placing egg mats. Sturgeon eggs are sticky, so these mats provide an artificial substrate that can be easily checked for eggs. We had the unexpected opportunity to conduct Atlantic sturgeon eggs surveys on the Annapolis River, in hopes of documenting critical habitat for this species at risk. We have not yet identified eggs, but we are glad to have these talented and energetic students trained and available to help us with continued efforts.