Hi, I’m Cat, and I’m a researcher with Ducks Unlimited Canada. I study wetlands and the animals that live in them—especially mallards! These familiar ducks are dabbling waterfowl, which means they feed in shallow wetlands by tipping their heads underwater while their tails stick up in the air. It’s pretty fun to watch!

Mallards rely on wetlands to raise their ducklings and find food. But in places like Saskatchewan’s Prairie Pothole Region, wetlands are under threat. That’s bad news—not just for ducks, but for all kinds of species. Wetlands clean water, prevent floods, store carbon, and support biodiversity. Losing them means losing some of nature’s best defenses.

The Prairie Pothole Region is also where much of our farming happens. So, we’re working together with farmers to figure out how to protect wetlands and ducks at the same time.

Our project is called Wetlands in Working Landscapes. My team and I are using cool high-tech tools like infrared drones and environmental DNA testing to collect information quickly and without disturbing animals. These tools let us find out things like what kinds of insects are in the water (a super important food source for ducklings!) and how clean the wetlands are, and this information then helps us determine how healthy the ecosystem is.

We’ll use this data to recommend smart solutions that help both Saskatchewan’s farmers and wildlife—like which wetlands to protect, and how to manage land so that everyone benefits.

By adopting a mallard, you’re joining our team of wetland heroes. You’re helping support our research, protect wetland habitats, and make sure that mallards have a safe place to splash, swim, and raise their ducklings. Thank you for helping us keep our wetlands—and our ducks—safe!

Check out the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Mallard Adoption Kit. Make a difference today!

Hi! I’m Patrick, a researcher at Dalhousie University, and I study marine life like the beluga whales. You might not think you need a microscope to do what I do (since belugas aren’t exactly tiny!), but I actually study them by looking at one of the tiniest creatures in the Arctic Ocean—phytoplankton! More on exactly how I do that coming up later. But first, let’s talk belugas!

Beluga whales are incredible animals. You might know them as the “canaries of the sea” because of their amazing sounds—whistles, chirps, squeaks, and clicks! They live in the chilly Arctic and subarctic waters around North America, and are easy to recognize thanks to their white color, round foreheads, and super social personalities. Belugas love to swim together in groups called pods, and they use sound to communicate, navigate, and find food in dark or murky waters.

But did you know that belugas rely on something so small, you need a microscope to see it?

That’s right—it’s phytoplankton! These tiny ocean organisms live near the water’s surface and are the base of the Arctic food web. They help feed all the animals, even big ones like belugas. In other words, without healthy phytoplankton, belugas—and lots of other sea creatures—could be in trouble.

That’s why I head way up to Jones Sound, Nunavut, to study how these microscopic creatures are changing as the Arctic warms. Climate change is causing big changes in the Arctic waters, like sea ice melting earlier in the season and ocean temperatures rising. I want to know how that affects phytoplankton, and what that means for the entire ecosystem—including beluga whales.

I use powerful microscopes and computers to identify different phytoplankton species and track how they’re shifting over time. It’s a bit like being a detective, but for ocean science! If we understand how the base of the food chain is changing, we can better predict how animals like belugas will be affected—and how we can help protect them.

When you adopt a beluga whale, you’re helping me upgrade the high-tech tools I use to do this work—tools that help me see, study, and understand the ocean’s tiniest superheroes. Your support helps us protect the entire Arctic ecosystem, starting from the bottom up. Thanks for being part of the team—and for helping belugas (and plankton!) thrive.

Check out the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Beluga Adoption Kit. Make a difference today!

Hi! I’m Emmanuelle, a researcher at Université du Québec à Rimouski, and I study snow buntings—an Arctic songbird that becomes a food source for foxes during the summer months. Arctic foxes are tiny but mighty predators, perfectly adapted for one of the harshest environments on Earth: the Arctic tundra. Their fluffy fur coats change color with the seasons, giving them awesome camouflage—snowy white in winter and brown or grey in summer. Their paws are covered in fur, which helps them walk on snow and ice, and they can even use their bushy tails like cozy blankets when they curl up to sleep.
These clever foxes have super sharp hearing that helps them track down prey moving beneath the snow. Their favorite foods are little rodents like lemmings and voles. Normally, rodent numbers go up and down in cycles—sometimes there are tons of them, and sometimes very few. Foxes follow the same pattern! When there are lots of rodents, foxes can have huge families—up to 10 pups in one litter! But when rodents are hard to find, fox parents struggle to find enough food, and very few pups survive. In those tough times, foxes turn to other foods, like bird eggs and small birds such as snow buntings.

But life in the Arctic is changing quickly and snow buntings are becoming harder to find. Their numbers have dropped a lot in the past 45 years, and scientists think it’s because the climate is getting warmer.

That’s where my research comes in! I travel to the northern tip of Ellesmere Island to study how climate change might be making it harder for snow buntings to survive. For example, higher temperatures may cause them to overheat while feeding their babies—meaning they bring less food back to the nest, and fewer chicks survive.

By learning more about what’s happening with snow buntings, we can better understand how animals like Arctic foxes might be affected—and find ways to help both species thrive.

When you adopt an Arctic fox, you’re helping support this important research. Your adoption helps me put together all the data I’ve collected as I work toward earning my Master’s degree—and helps protect some of the toughest animals in the Arctic. Thanks for joining the mission and standing up for Arctic wildlife!

Check out the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Arctic Fox Adoption Kit. Make a difference today!

Hi! I’m Reyd, a researcher from Carleton University. I study walruses and the ecosystems they rely on in the icy waters of Nunavut —and I’m excited to share my project with you!

Walruses are incredible Arctic animals. Weighing up to 3,700 pounds, these blubbery giants might look slow and sleepy on land, but in the water, they’re graceful swimmers with strong flippers and the ability to hold their breath for over 30 minutes! They use their sensitive whiskers to feel along the ocean floor, searching for tasty clams, worms, and other ocean snacks. And those famous tusks? They’re not just for show—walruses use them to help haul themselves out of the water and onto sea ice or rocky shores, and sometimes even to compete for space in their massive, noisy walrus groups.

But even though walruses are built to survive the harsh Arctic, their world is changing. As industrial activity in the Arctic grows, so does the risk of pollution. One of the biggest concerns is oil contamination. Even small amounts of oil in the environment can cause big problems for wildlife, including marine mammals like walruses and the seabirds that share their habitat.

That’s why I’m working with the communities of Nain and Postville, Labrador to better understand how these contaminants affect the Arctic food web. Local youth are helping with the research as citizen scientists, monitoring wildlife and collecting data on the health of the environment. The more we learn, the better we can protect this fragile ecosystem and amazing animals like the walrus.

When you adopt a walrus, you’re not just helping me continue this important research, you’re also helping inspire the next generation of Arctic conservation heroes! Your support means I can travel to Nunatsiavut to lead fieldwork and host hands-on science training for youth in the community.

Together, we’re learning how to protect the walrus and all the creatures who call the Arctic home. Thanks for being part of the team!

Check out the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Walrus Adoption Kit. Make a difference today!

Hi! I’m Kristyn, a biologist from the Ontario Conservation Accelerator (OCA). Yeah, I guess that’s kind of a long name – but it’s easy to break down! We’re all about making conservation happen faster in Ontario, where we try to make sure that we keep enough space for animals and ecosystems while still using our natural areas to build more homes, roads, and cities. My job is kind of like putting together a big nature puzzle: I look for pieces of land that are close to parks and protected areas, and then see if we can protect these too – that way, we make even bigger and better connected habitats for the animals we love, like the red fox, river otter, and snowy owl
The Red Fox
With its fluffy tail and keen senses, the red fox is one of Ontario’s most adaptable and recognizable wild animals. From quiet forests to grassy fields, these clever creatures roam far and wide in search of food and shelter. But as habitats become more fragmented, red foxes face new challenges finding safe places to live. That’s where your help comes in!
The River Otter
Playful and curious, the river otter is a master of Ontario’s waterways. Gliding through lakes, rivers, and wetlands, these agile swimmers rely on clean, connected habitats to hunt, play, and raise their young. Sadly, pollution, habitat loss, and fragmented waterways are making it harder for otters to survive — but you can help turn the tide!

The Snowy Owl
With their striking white plumage and piercing yellow eyes, snowy owls are one of the most iconic birds to visit Ontario. These Arctic travelers rely on wide-open landscapes to rest and hunt during the winter months. But as natural habitats shrink and change, snowy owls need our help to keep their stopover sites safe.
That’s why Earth Rangers is teaming up with the Ontario Conservation Accelerator to protect and connect the wild spaces that these awesome animals call home. This project is identifying the most important areas to protect in Ontario — from wetlands and forests to grasslands and shorelines — and working with partners to ensure they stay wild forever.
By adopting a red fox, river otter, or snowy owl, you’re helping fund this important work. Every adoption supports efforts to secure safe, connected habitats that give wildlife room to roam, find food, and adapt to our changing world. Together, we can create a future where these amazing creatures — and all of Ontario’s wildlife — can thrive in healthy, connected ecosystems!
Check out the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Adoption Kit. Make a difference today!