Lethbridge College unveils new Wildlife Analytics Lab, first of its kind in Canada
Lethbridge College’s newest lab addition is putting the focus on animal teeth.
Those at the Centre for Technology, Environment and Design (CTED) say the Wildlife Analytics Lab (WAL) fills a need provincially and nationally.
"The wildlife analytics lab is the first of its kind in Canada and is starting off focusing on cementum analysis, which is tactical jargon for looking inside teeth, to determine the age of animals," said Dr. Everett Hanna, an environmental sciences instructor at the college.
The lab analyzes animal cementum, the hard tissue covering the roots in teeth, through a series of tests and processes.
This data, once retrieved, can not only help determine an animal’s age but also its migratory patterns and assist with disease management.
"Thousands of teeth are collected annually across Canada and typically sent to the United States for analysis because there was no previous service provider in Canada," said Hanna.
This data, once retrieved, can not only help determine an animal’s age but also its migratory patterns and assist with disease management.
"We're now offering an opportunity for Canadian researchers and agencies, and others around the world, to send teeth to us for our lab to process those samples that otherwise would've had to go to the United States for example."
The teeth come from a variety of mammals, including deer, coyotes, wolves and even bears.
The lab comes thanks to $145,000 in funding and gifts from the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS) who say there's a huge demand for this type of reliable research.
"We had some resources available and we thought this was a great project for Alberta," said APOS’s President, Corey Jarvis.
"It's a great opportunity to incorporate education as well as meeting the scientific needs of Alberta and wildlife management in particular."
The lab is already receiving contracts from agencies and researchers to help improve conservation efforts across Canada.
"We’re getting interest from people from Nunavut to British Columbia to Alberta and all the way out to Newfoundland where people are collecting these teeth from all mammals that are out there that we have an interest in managing that have cementum for us to do aging for them," Hanna told CTV News.
On top of being a self-sustaining, fee-for-service lab, students will also be able to use it as part of their studies and training.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.