Biology

2024 sees record warm temperatures, less sea ice cover in Gulf of St. Lawrence

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

2024 sees record warm temperatures, less sea ice cover in Gulf of St. Lawrence

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

MONT-JOLI - Last year, the Gulf of St. Lawrence recorded its highest maximum surface temperature and lowest seasonal volume of ice cover in decades, say researchers with the federal Fisheries Department.

Surface temperatures and ice cover are directly related to air temperature, said Peter Galbraith, a research scientist in physical oceanography at the agency's Maurice Lamontagne Institute in Mont-Joli, Que., northeast of Quebec City.

Last July, the surface temperature hit 16.7 C, a record since data started being recorded in 1981, and 2.4 C warmer than average. Between May and November, the warmest surface temperature was 11.6 C, also a record, and 1.6 C higher than average.

“So it was the warmest air temperature, which gave us the warmest sea surface temperature,” Galbraith said.

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Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

Boats make their way through the ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, March 25, 2006. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Boats make their way through the ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, March 25, 2006. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Toronto Zoo warns of extinctions if Ontario mining bill becomes law

Liam Casey, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Toronto Zoo warns of extinctions if Ontario mining bill becomes law

Liam Casey, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

TORONTO - Species could go extinct if Ontario passes a controversial mining bill that is set to transform its approach to endangered species and the environment, the Toronto Zoo warned the province.

Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, would strike a blow to the recovery of several species the institution has been trying to save, said Dolf DeJong, the zoo's CEO, at a committee hearing at Queen's Park on Thursday.

If and when the bill becomes law, DeJong wants the province to step up with funding so it can dramatically increase its biobank with Ontario species that could die off as a result of the legislation.

"We're concerned this act will result in the erosion of biodiversity and the loss of species at risk," DeJong said.

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Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

A Blanding's turtle is shown in this undated handout photo provided by the Toronto Zoo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Toronto Zoo
*MANDATORY CREDIT*

A Blanding's turtle is shown in this undated handout photo provided by the Toronto Zoo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Toronto Zoo
*MANDATORY CREDIT*

Publix recalls baby food pouches after testing finds elevated levels of lead

Jonel Aleccia, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Publix recalls baby food pouches after testing finds elevated levels of lead

Jonel Aleccia, The Associated Press 3 minute read Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

The supermarket chain Publix has recalled fruit and vegetable baby food sold in eight states because product testing found elevated levels of lead, according to federal health officials.

Publix recalled 4-ounce Greenwise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food pouches sold at more than 1,400 stores.

The pouches were produced by Bowman Andros, a French company with a manufacturing plant in Mount Jackson, Virginia, according to the company's website. Publix issued the voluntary recall on May 9, but it wasn't added to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recall list until late Thursday.

The potential contamination was flagged by officials in North Carolina, the state that first identified a 2023 lead poisoning outbreak linked to tainted applesauce pouches that sickened more than 500 U.S. children.

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Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

FILE - A Publix grocery store is seen, Aug. 9, 2023, in Neptune Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Long, File)

FILE - A Publix grocery store is seen, Aug. 9, 2023, in Neptune Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Long, File)

Picking buffaloberries and electric fences: how wildlife is being managed ahead of G7

Nick Murray, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Picking buffaloberries and electric fences: how wildlife is being managed ahead of G7

Nick Murray, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

OTTAWA - There surely won't be lions or tigers at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., next month, and officials are doing their best to keep bears away, too.

As many as 5,000 participants are set to descend on the area in a few weeks, and officials are already working to install security barriers and clear out the area of anything that might attract bears to keep both people, and the animals, safe.

Earlier this week more than 200 local kids began plucking buffaloberry bushes around Kananaskis in an effort to detract bears from venturing into the area.

The bright red berries are quite popular with bears.

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Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

A black bear is seen near Lake Louise, Alta., in June, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

A black bear is seen near Lake Louise, Alta., in June, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

‘Under a microscope’: Cottagers call for wildfire management plans after fatal fires

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

‘Under a microscope’: Cottagers call for wildfire management plans after fatal fires

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

WINNIPEG - Cottage owners and disaster prevention experts in Manitoba are urging governments to develop comprehensive wildfire management plans after a pair of devastating wildfires.

Close to 1,000 people were forced from their homes last week as a wildfire near the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet, spurred by dry, hot and windy conditions, burned nearby.

The quick-moving fire, which is currently being held, destroyed 28 homes and cottages and left two people dead.

"The whole emergency plan for every municipality should be under a microscope review right now," said Brad Wood, a Winnipeg firefighter whose cottage was destroyed.

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Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

This handout photo from Lianne Ross-Martin shows what was left of her cottage in the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet, Man., on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, after a wildfire destroyed homes on Wendigo Road, including Ross-Martin's. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Lianne Ross-Martin **MANDATORY CREDIT**

This handout photo from Lianne Ross-Martin shows what was left of her cottage in the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet, Man., on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, after a wildfire destroyed homes on Wendigo Road, including Ross-Martin's. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Lianne Ross-Martin **MANDATORY CREDIT**

Chasser, pour avoir la conscience tranquille

Daniel Bahuaud de La Liberté pour le Winnipeg Free Press 4 minute read Preview

Chasser, pour avoir la conscience tranquille

Daniel Bahuaud de La Liberté pour le Winnipeg Free Press 4 minute read Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017

Vanessa Ahing a été végétarienne pendant plus de quatre années. Par refus de l’industrie de la viande qui, à son avis, est cruelle et nuit à l’environnement. Pourtant, un bon steak lui manquait. Pour réconcilier conscience et palais, un choix nouveau s’imposait...

Un soir de septembre, 2013, Vanessa Ahing rentrait de la campagne, où elle avait abattu son premier chevreuil. Souvenir de l’enseignante de 31ans: “J’étais toute seule. J’avais suivi une formation de chasse pour femmes, organisée par la Manitoba Wildlife Foundation. Mon chevreuil, coupé en quarts, était dans un sac de hockey dans le coffre de ma Honda Civic. C’était mon premier animal. Je voulais vivre l’expérience complète de la chasse. Donc pas question pour moi d’aller chez un boucher. D’ailleurs, j’étais étudiante. Je n’avais pas le fric pour me payer un tel service.

“Je me demandais comment j’allais faire pour préparer cette viande. Je n’ai pas été élevée dans une famille de chasseurs, ou même de jardiniers. Mes parents n’étaient pas prêts à avoir un chevreuil chez eux. Et moi, je vivais dans un petit appartement pour célibataires au centre-ville de Winnipeg.

“Il était tard. Trop tard pour dépecer l’animal tout de suite. Alors, j’ai ouvert les fenêtres de mon appartement. Je me suis endormie dans mon sac de couchage. Le lendemain, j’ai tapé ‘Comment couper de la viande de chevreuil’ sur YouTube. Et je me suis mise à l’œuvre.”

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Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017

Daniel Bahuaud photo
Vanessa Ahing: ‘Je mange du chevreuil, de la bernache et du canard. C’est la viande la plus naturelle qui soit.’

Daniel Bahuaud photo
Vanessa Ahing: ‘Je mange du chevreuil, de la bernache et du canard. C’est la viande la plus naturelle qui soit.’