Frightfully Misunderstood: Busting Myths About Nature’s “Scary” Species

By Nature Conservancy of Canada - Atlantic Region

From “creepy crawlies” to the big “bad” wolf, discover how some of nature’s misunderstood species play essential roles in helping ecosystems thrive.

Turn your fear into fascination at this free, myth-busting virtual event as we uncover the hidden truths about some of Canada’s most misunderstood species.

Discover how bats help put food on your plate, how wolves and bears help keep entire ecosystems thriving, and how insects and other small creatures, often overlooked but essential to healthy ecosystems, play a surprisingly big role in our lives. You’ll also discover how NCC’s work protects the landscapes these species depend on.

Register now and you will also receive our digital Canadian wildlife ID guide with tips for spotting, identifying and better understanding some of the “frightful” species you may encounter – yours to keep after the event. 

Bring your questions and your curiosity and get ready to see these species in a whole new light — and maybe even become their newest fans!

Live translation available in French.

Interested, but can’t attend live? A recording will be shared with all registrants after the event.

Speakers:

Katrina Wilcox

• I’m Katrina, a biologist and Stewardship Coordinator with the Nature Conservancy of Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Growing up on a family farm and spending time backcountry canoeing sparked my fascination with wildlife. Since then, my work has taken me across the country, from studying small mammals in BC and Alberta and bats in Manitoba’s boreal forest to researching seabirds in Atlantic Canada, where I completed my Master’s degree.
• In my role with NCC, I work to conserve and steward important natural areas and the species that depend on them. I’m looking forward to sharing insights into the reptiles and amphibians found on our conservation lands across the Prairies, and why these species are so important to prairie ecosystems.

Dana Green, PhD.

• Dr. Dana Green is a researcher, instructor, and science communicator with a special focus on bats! She has been working with bats for over a decade, and brings her love of the night flying creatures to classrooms and social media feeds. Dr. Green studies migratory bats of North America, actively researching and publishing her findings, while also working as an instructor at the University of Northern British Columbia. After losing a part of her vision, she adopted the handle ‘@eyepatchbiologist’ and creates videos about the amazing diversity of bats and highlights life as a wildlife biologist.

Dara Ojo

• Dara Ojo is a Nigerian-Canadian nature photographer, conservation storyteller, and author whose work reveals the extraordinary world of insects and other small organisms that often go unnoticed. His photography has been featured by National Geographic, PBS, BBC, CNN, Canadian Geographic, The Guardian, Parks Canada, and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Through striking close-up imagery and storytelling, Dara aims to change how people see and value some of the smallest and most important lives on our planet. His first book, Tiny Titans: The Silent Keepers of Our Ecosystem, will be published by Rocky Mountain Books in November 2026. Facebook and Instagram: @explorewithdara

Tim Irvin

• Tim’s big plan was to become a wildlife biologist. After two degrees in ecology and numerous field biology contracts studying everything from lynx, songbirds, marten, squirrels, amphibians, and more, he was offered a job guiding grizzly bear tours in a fjord in British Columbia. That’s when the original plan began to fall apart. Tim got distracted by the toothy wildlife and the breathtaking beauty of the Great Bear Rainforest. Quite simply, the allure of the guiding life was too much to ignore. Now, instead of collecting and crunching data as a biologist, Tim communicates science and shares his passion for wildlife as a guide. Tim can be found online at www.timirvin.com and on Instagram @timothy.irvin.