“Wildlife Woes: Lynx, Moose, and Bears Interfere with Wildfire Research”

LISTEN | Discover how lynx, moose, and bears disrupt the work of a wildfire researcher:

Quirks and Quarks9:38Discover how lynx, moose, and bears disrupt the work of a wildfire researcher

Lucas Brehaut had anticipated interest in his study but encountered unexpected challenges in the form of curious wildlife in the Newfoundland wilderness.

As a wildfire research scientist with the Canadian Forest Service, Brehaut focuses on the regeneration of Atlantic Canada forests post wildfires, a region experiencing an increase in forest fires despite its cooler and wetter climate compared to other parts of Canada.

Following a forest fire in south Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L., in 2022, Brehaut initiated a project to observe forest regrowth under climate change conditions, with rising temperatures as a key factor.

For this endeavor, Brehaut and his team transported 19 open-top chambers (OTCs) through the forest to monitor seedlings they had planted. OTCs serve as miniature greenhouses, raising temperatures by up to three degrees to simulate climate warming effects. Currently, Brehaut’s study is in its third year of a five-year duration.

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Despite expecting challenges like long treks through difficult terrains and harsh weather conditions in Newfoundland, Brehaut encountered an unexpected setback during a routine check-in in September 2023.