Episode 29: The Wildlife Research Station - The Early Years

Episode 29: The Wildlife Research Station - The Early Years

Park Superintendent Frank MacDougall was the force behind much of the early efforts to increase public awareness of the importance of ecology and to do so on a scientific basis.  After the success of the Harkness Laboratory for Fisheries, in 1944, he pushed for the establishment of a Wildlife Research Station that would focus on terrestrial i.e. land-based ecosystems. In this episode, I share the history of the early years of Algonquin Park’s Wildlife Research Station and provide some insight into the characters of the people who were directly involved.

In addition to my own research for my books, most of the content comes from a number of key sources including:

• Rory MacKay’s 2018 Algonquin Park A Place Like No Other
• Norm Quinn’s 2002 Algonquin Wildlife Lessons in Survival
• George Warecki’s recent books on J. R. Dymond (2019) and Douglas Pimlott (2021).
• George Garland’s 1989 Glimpses of Algonquin
• Various articles in The Best of the Raven newsletters Volumes 1 to 3 as well as those from 2010-2021 that are available on-line
• And of course the Wildlife Research Station official web site and selected published research papers and abstracts.

This episode’s musical interlude is another wonderful song from Ian Tamblyn called Woodsmoke and Oranges from his 2007 CD Superior: Spirit and Light.  Check out his webste www.iantamblyn.com to find more of his music.

Check out the Station website at www.Algonquinwrs.ca for information on publications and to support their ongoing research efforts.