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
BREAKING B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton dead following prison attack
Convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who preyed on women he lured from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to his rural pig farm, has died.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
DND moving 1,000 employees out of Ottawa office building due to safety concerns
The Department of National Defence is moving approximately 1,000 employees out of an office building in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood, citing safety concerns for its employees.
Baby dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to woman who was in police custody
A newborn is dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to a woman in police custody.
Biden speaks after Donald Trump's conviction in hush money case
A day after a New York jury delivered a historic guilty verdict in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee held a press conference Friday where he spoke publicly about the conviction and his White House bid.
More counterfeit drugs seized, hot water boiler causes fire: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada recalled various items this week, including more unauthorized products, counterfeit drugs and bassinets.
Jennifer Lopez cancels summer tour: 'I am completely heartsick and devastated'
Jennifer Lopez has cancelled her 2024 North American tour, representatives for Live Nation confirmed to The Associated Press.
How did Ontario's bankrupt 'Crypto King' travel the world on Scene+ points?
Newly released documents suggest Ontario’s so-called ‘Crypto King’ paid for months of world travels with $13,000 worth of Scene+ points while bankrupt – but how?
Mediterranean diet helps women live much longer, a large new study finds
Women who closely followed a Mediterranean diet lived much longer than those who did not, according to a new study that followed more than 25,000 women for 25 years.