Our backyards hold many treasures, and everyday we walk by these tiny wonders. If you stopped to look, you might spot awesome creatures, and fascinating plants! Just visit your nearest garden, park, pond, or field. You’ll discover that these places are bursting with life, just waiting for these moments to be captured on camera!
Maybe one of these moments could make YOU a winner?
The Backyard Biologist contest is back! We asked YOU to help us pick two of the three themes for this contest, and now it’s time for you to go out and capture those moments!
Submit your best nature photo and you could take home one of this year’s FABULOUS prizes: a Canon Rebel R100 Camera!
Backyard Safari
In this category, you don’t need to go far from home. Many wonders are outside your door, in parks nearby, and everyday animals otherwise overlooked. What will you find? NOTE: no pets allowed!
Critter Closeups
There’s a miniature world right at your feet, under soil, rocks, and logs. Zoom in on some of these critters crucial to our ecosystem. Think Insects, arachnids, molluscs, annelids, mosses, fungi, lichens.
Water/Winter Worlds
From the largest of oceans to the tiniest of raindrops, water is a part of life. This category is all about water in any of its forms. Snap a picture that gives us a glimpse of the worlds that strive off it.
Winners for all to see!
The winner from each category will get 1 of 3 Canon Rebel R100 Cameras generously donated by Canon, BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! The winners will also get a framed piece of their photo using Canon’s Frame Lab print and framing service!
You can be just like Kenzie and her winning picture last year, standing along with Earth Ranger Michela, and Chief Owl Officer Sonic! She and the other contest winners were interviewed on their experience, be sure to check out what they have to say.
The contest closes January 31st, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET.
Get ready to swing! Can you put your binturong-like claws to the test and untangle this wild word scramble?
Here’s how to play:
Read the paragraph below and use it to unscramble the words.
It may look like some cat or bear mix, but it’s not! It’s a binturong! The binturong has a long tail that helps it balance when climbing trees. You can recognize a binturong from their peculiar smell, like popcorn. They are omnivore, eating fruits, leaves, and sometimes small animals. Even though they look a bit wild, they’re shy and prefer to stay hidden high up in the trees.
Think you got them all? Tap on the puzzle image to see its secret answer!
Today we’re launching ten brand new adoptable animals! When you adopt an animal through Earth Rangers, you’re supporting real-life wildlife conservation. Here’s how it works:
You purchase the wildlife adoption kit of your choice–we’ve got ten to choose from!
We send you an adorable plush animal, plus a wildlife adoption certificate, a trading card, and a poster packed with facts about your new furry friend.
The proceeds from your adoption kit support a scientist or conservationist who is doing important work to save animals.
Ready to meet this year’s adoptable animals – and the amazing scientists you’ll be supporting?
Beavers & Bumblebees
My name is Sarah Bayliff! I work for the Nature Conservancy of Canada as the BC Interior Program Manager, and I am currently in the Bunchgrass Hills Conservation Area, a vast landscape of native grasslands, forests, and wetlands south of Kamloops in British Columbia. I’m helping to protect this vital wildlife corridor, as well as the creatures that live there — including bumblebees and beavers!
Want to help out? You can sponsor my work by visiting the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or check out the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Beaver and Bumblebee Adoption Kits!
Cougars
Hey there, Earth Rangers! My name is Ashley Sahulka, and I’m a Stewardship Coordinator with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). I’m working with a team of conservationists in the Cypress Uplands, a region in the southern part of Saskatchewan that includes a range of habitats—from grasslands to forests—in Cypress Hills. This area is home to more than 1,000 plant and animal species, and has one of the highest densities of cougars anywhere in Canada!
You can support our work by visiting the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or checking out the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Cougar Adoption Kit.
Snowy Owls, Red Foxes & Flying Squirrels
Hello, Earth Rangers! I’m Megan Quinn, and I’m a researcher with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. I’m working with a team in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario, which is home to all different kinds of wildlife — including the snowy owl, the flying squirrel, and the red fox!
You can help us! Check out the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop to get your snowy owl, flying squirrel, and red fox Adoption Kits.
Caribou
Hello there! I’m Claudia Haas, a biologist with Wilfrid Laurier University. I work in the Northwest Territories, home to some of the last intact boreal forest in the world! These forests are important habitat for animals like caribou, along with many at-risk species.
Are you ready to join my team? Head to the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop — get your Caribou Adoption Kit and start making a difference today!
Grey Wolves
Hi, I’m Karl-Antoine Hogue and I’m a researcher with the University of Guelph. I’m working with The Land Guardians from the Van Tat Gwich’in community in Old Crow, Yukon. The boreal forest there is home to all kinds of animals, including grey wolves! My work with the Van Tat Gwich’in community will help us protect these animals and their homes.
But we could use your help! Check out the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Grey Wolf Adoption Kit.
Lynxes
Greetings, Earth Rangers! I’m Sandra Yaacoub, a researcher from Queen’s University. I’m working with a team in southwest Yukon. Here in the taiga (also known as the snow forest or boreal forest), we see a lot of wildlife, including lynxes!
Unfortunately, the lynxes’ habitat has been affected by spruce bark beetles, which have killed a lot of trees. You can help us restore the forests that lynxes call home! Visit the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or check out the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Lynx Adoption Kit!
Sea Turtles
Hi Earth Rangers! My name is Gerardo, and I’m 9 years old. I live in Nicaragua and am part of a really cool program called the Sea Turtle Protection Project.
Me and lots of other kids in my community are learning about and helping to save an amazing creature who really makes a splash – the sea turtle!
While you may not be able to come to Nicaragua, you can still join our team! Visit the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or check out the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Sea Turtle Adoption Kit and help save the sea turtles!
See the fresh tracks on this sandy shore? They belong to one of our newest adoptable animals! Our new slate of plush wildlife adoption kits is launching on September 9, and this tiny terrapin is among them!
This fence might seem ordinary, but it’s packed with links to our next adoptable animal! We’re revealing a brand-new lineup of plush wildlife adoption kits on September 9, and this elusive predator is part of the pack!’
Think you’ve got it? Leave your guess in the comments!
