Fund finds focus

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The most recent issue of the World Wildlife fund Canada's Species at Risk bulletin, called "Focus on the Prairies," identifies a couple of dozen species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and plants that have populations at risk on the prairies. Only one is extinct - the passenger pigeon - but four have been wiped out on the prairies that exist elsewhere, while the rest are categorized as endangered, threatened or vulnerable. WWF is campaigning to have programs put in place to rescue the prairie populations, where possible, including the endangered burrowing owl. Saskatchewan's private land owners can get subsidies if they're willing to install nest boxes for the owls; the WWF wants to see a similar program put in place in Alberta. To receive a copy of the bulletin, write to WWF Canada, 90 Eglinton Avenue E., Suite 504, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Z7. (RJH)