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Safety & Site Orientation

Beaverhill Bird Observatory

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Getting to The Beaverhill Bird Observatory

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Getting to The Beaverhill Bird Observatory

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Visitor Parking Lot

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Parking at BBO

Visitor Parking

Some of the trails from the visitor parking lot can be flooded, especially early in the season. Bring appropriate footwear!

If you park at Visitor Parking, you will have to hike 20 minutes into the lab using Harrier Highway and Warbler Way. Follow the signs for the BBO. �
There is often beaver activity on Harrier Highway, especially close to the viewpoint. This means that occasionally the trail may get temporarily blocked by downed trees. You can take a small detour through the forest to avoid that part of the trail, or if the stretch seems too long and/or you do not want to detour through the forest, you can use Accipiter Alley to walk to the lab. �
Parts of Harrier Highway, which parallels Lister Lake, also tend to flood depending on the time of the year. Rubber boots are a good idea, though be aware of potential beaver trenches spanning across the trail. Staff try to ensure beaver trenches are always well labeled, but beavers can potentially uproot/remove the signage with their activities. Always walk with care when walking through the flooded trails or hike beside the trail along the forest edge.�
In all cases, be outdoors smart!

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Parking at BBO

Volunteer Parking

Please only use this parking lot if you are signed up to volunteer for that day. If you aren’t volunteering, use the visitor parking lot!

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Emergency & Cellphone Coverage

Cell coverage is spotty in the natural area, if reliable signal is needed you can get it in the circled areas.

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At the Lab

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Remember to Sign In!

Please sign in using the tablet mounted on the wall inside the lab. This lets us know who is on site in case of an emergency, it lets us keep track of volunteer hours as well.

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While Banding is Occurring, Keep Doors Closed!

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Dinking Water and Rainwater

Drinking water is found in the blue jugs. The water that comes out of the tap is rainwater and not safe to drink. We use this for washing dishes. Please do not drink water from the tap!

Don’t drink from here!

Drink from here!

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Emergency Numbers & First Aid Kit

Emergency Numbers

First Aid Kit

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Fire Extinguishers

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Carrying Heavy Objects

Lift with your knees, not your back!

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Using a Ladder

Never use a ladder without another person present.

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Using an Axe

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Wildlife and Safety

The Beaverhill Natural Area is home to many animals, and generally they want to leave you alone! Make sure to give lots of space to any animal you encounter.

Species of wildlife you may encounter in the natural area include: deer, moose, coyotes, porcupine, skunks, foxes, weasels, flying squirrels, and the rare badger
These are wild animals, give them their space and let them continue with their day in peace.
If you encounter any wildlife, respect their space and slowly retreat out of the area or wait for them to move aside.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jitze1942/1751241022

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?sort=relevance&search=white+tailed+deer&title=Special:Search&profile=advanced&fulltext=1&advancedSearch-current=%7B%7D&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?sort=relevance&search=moose+forest&title=Special:Search&profile=advanced&fulltext=1&advancedSearch-current=%7B%7D&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1&searchToken=ek7snd7wdyc17ey91qfc01ppo#%2Fmedia%2FFile%3AMoose_in_forest.jpg

https://www.pikrepo.com/fbggs/male-cougar-in-a-tree-brown-big-cat-behind-leaves

https://www.flickr.com/photos/matlacha/12393526744/in/photolist-o3RUxb-dTmix6-fmC4LF-39ZNcx-jTb4HA-nCzJ3z-e45CQA-kDS837-iqJpd-d6oL4j-nCyQQL-G1Tic-6sz8cU-abu7rY-6zXaBT-arYBcP-kDS6Ru-fyfyYB-oAKg3L-4fsyGe-rks2DW-ozF67K-9CmtK4-nP7kEH-qMfezP-3EFepg-2vijEx-vv8B

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Wildlife and Safety

Cougars have never been sighted in the natural area, though they are sometimes seen in the county. Black Bears have been sighted twice in 40 years. If you do encounter a bear, make lots of noise and back away slowly. Carrying bear spray generally isn’t necessary in the natural area.

In all the years the BBO has been working in the Beaverhill Natural Area, (established in 1984. So as of 2020 – that is 36 years) we have not once, documented a cougar or a bear in the natural area. With that being said, every couple of years, a young cougar or black bear is spotted within Beaver County. These are normally just young animals, dispersing and searching for a new territory to occupy.

If you ever encounter a bear or cougar, stop, do not make eye contact but keep the animal in your peripherals and slowly walk back the way you came.

If a bear starts to approach you and is watching you with it’s ears pointed forward, as young bears can be curious, stop moving. Hold your ground, make eye contact and start waving your arms, yelling in a deep voice. You are going to scare off the bear and for 99% of them, that’s all you need to do! Act big and scary. ☺

Again, We have never documented a bear or cougar at the BBO, we just want to make sure our volunteers and staff are aware and knowledgeable of the safety risks.

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Wildlife and Safety

Moose are the most dangerous animal you are likely to encounter at the BBO. If you encounter one (especially a mother with a calf), back away and leave the area.

Moose are often found living in the Natural Area. A Mother Moose is the most dangerous animal you may encounter at the BBO.

If you come across a mother moose and her calf, give them lots of space and leave the area slowly, backing up in the direction that you came from.
If you see the mother moose square up to face you and she has her ears back, she is not happy and could be considering if she wants to charge. DO NOT make eye contact. Keep your gaze low while watching her in your peripherals and slowly back away in the direction you came from.

In 36 years, we have not once had an incident with a mother moose and a human at the BBO. Just be smart and give them their space.

https://denver.cbslocal.com/2019/10/11/death-mother-moose-lake-city-sparks-investigation/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jitze1942/1751241022

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?sort=relevance&search=white+tailed+deer&title=Special:Search&profile=advanced&fulltext=1&advancedSearch-current=%7B%7D&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?sort=relevance&search=moose+forest&title=Special:Search&profile=advanced&fulltext=1&advancedSearch-current=%7B%7D&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1&searchToken=ek7snd7wdyc17ey91qfc01ppo#%2Fmedia%2FFile%3AMoose_in_forest.jpg

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Health and Wellness

Bees and wasps are common in the natural area. Please let staff know if you are allergic! Ground nests are also common, so be careful where you step if you aren’t on a trail.

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Health and Wellness

The Beaverhill Natural contains apocalyptic numbers of mosquitoes, prepare appropriately! Please note that if you are handling birds that you are not permitted to wear bug spray. There are bug jackets and head nets available at the lab if you do not have your own.

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Health and Wellness

Ticks are extremely uncommon but possible in the Beaverhill Natural Area. This means Lyme Disease is a remote possibility. If you are bit by a tick, please collect it so it can be tested.

Ticks are becoming more frequent a problem in the province of Alberta ever year and lyme disease carrying ticks are moving north with the warming temperature.

While we’ve never had a tick at the BBO, they have been documented in Camrose, which is only 1 hour south, and we expect ticks to be moving into our natural area within the next year or so.

Here is how to avoid ticks:

Tuck in your clothing (pants tucked into socks, shirt tuck into pants)
Wear light coloured clothing
Spray insect repellent on your lower pants and boots.
Avoid walking in long grasses – Not practical or feasible for most of the work we do at the BBO
Check yourself daily for ticks after being out at the BBO.

How to remove ticks:

Remove ticks within 24 to 36 hours to avoid Lyme disease.
Do not apply jelly, matches, cigarettes, or dish soap to the tick. This may accelerate the infection.
Using tweezers, gently grasp tick’s head and mouth as close to your skin as possible.
While avoiding squeezing the tick, slowly pull the tick out of your skin without leaving any parts in the skin behind.
Put the tick in a plastic bag, label with the date, and store in your freezer for a couple of weeks (incase you need to test it for lyme disease)
Wash area with soap and water once the tick has been removed.
If you are not confident in removing tick, seek medical help.
Monitor the bite area I the upcoming days for signs of a target inflation ( A read dot with a red ring around it) – This is a sign that the tick was carrying lyme disease and you need to seek medical treatment ASAP!

For more information, check out Alberta Government’s guidelines: https://www.alberta.ca/lyme-disease-tick-surveillance.aspx

We have never documented lyme disease at the BBO but it is good to be aware of the possible threats.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=tick&title=Special:Search&go=Go&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1#/media/File:Castor_Bean_Tick_biting.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lyme_Disease_Rash_on_5_year_old.jpg

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Health and Wellness

Remember to stay hydrated!

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Dress for the Outdoors

Weather conditions at the BBO can change rapidly, so it’s best to dress in layers.

Staff and volunteers often continue working during all types of weather
Be sure you bring all outdoor gear required depending on the time of year: rain jacket, sweater, wide-brim hat, ect
In the early mornings and evenings it can get very cold, so always bring extra layers to keep yourself warm.
During the daytime, temperature can surpass above 30 degree Celsius in the summer. To prevent heat stroke, and dehydration, wear light colored clothing, a hat, and drink lots of water.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:YR_A_Cold_Taskinas_Trek_(24952187262).jpg

https://www.facebook.com/BeaverhillBirdObservatory/photos/a.1064645996952894/1064651270285700/?type=3&theater

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Bushwalking_in_the_rain_at_Kosciuszko_National_Park.jpg

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Visitors at BBO

The BBO is open to the public year-round, you are likely to encounter visitors while you are here.

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Hunters

Hunters are sometimes present in the natural area.

Only game birds may be hunted.

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Questions? �Just Ask!��Contact Information:�Jana Teefy, Head Biologist�biologist@beaverhillbirds.com��Jon Van Arragon, Assistant Biologist�assistant.biologist@beaverhillbirds.com�