Cycle of Destruction and Renewal: Black-Backed Woodpecker Encounter in Whiteshell Provincial Park

Woodpecker with larvae (click to enlarge)

Earlier this summer, I was heartbroken as one of my favorite places in Canada, Jasper Town and Jasper National Park suffered devastating forest fires that destroyed a significant part of the town and some of the most beautiful, forested areas, all set against stunning mountain backdrops. Have you ever wondered how wildlife thrives after the devastation of forest fires? Burnt forests become sanctuaries for certain species, among them is the wood-boring beetles, which thrive underneath the burnt trees. These beetles are a crucial player in the forest’s regeneration. As this process continues another species thrives on and attains the full benefits, this is none other than the black-backed woodpecker, a bird that specializes in feeding on wood-boring beetles.