Bragg Creek Went Wild With Brian Keating
On March 14th, an enthralled audience of over 270 listened to Brian’s travel stories and encounters with exotic and seemingly mundane wildlife from our backyard. Laughter and profound messages intertwined, supported by stunning photos and video. Many of Brian’s inspiring wild encounters were from right here, in our collective “backyard”– a clear indication that we live in a rich wildlife habitat.
Between self-deprecating anecdotes of being at the wrong place at the right time and at the right place at the right time, Brian shared tips on how to encounter wildlife without being intrusive and remaining safe. “The idea is to go to a place where few other humans are, stay quiet, discrete, still, alert, and see what happens. Take it all in, and soon, little details will come into focus, including wildlife or other aspects of nature such as plants, sounds, and light.” As he says, you need to be patient, persistent, plan well and have “dumb luck”.
Brian Keating lived most of his life in Calgary and worked for the Calgary Zoo, raising funds for conservation projects. He also taught at the University of Calgary’s anthropology department, explored over 60 countries on seven continents, delving into ocean depths with unbelievable creatures, visiting deserts and rich tropical forests, and in places where wildlife numbers are overwhelming. Today, he still travels, writes, and gives live presentations—his websites: www.goingwild.org and www.greatbignature.com.
Reflecting on his childhood, Brian noted that if kids spent more time outdoors instead of on screens, their health and appreciation for nature would improve. He urged the community to introduce youth to the outdoors.
Keating shared key messages with Bragg Creekers and nearby communities stating that “What you have here is of world class quality, but you can lose it in a flash. Please protect it while it still exists. Care for it and do what you must to conserve it.” Keating also noted the importance of Bear Smart programs and bear-proof bins, warning, “If you lose your bears, you lose the aura of what this place is about. This is why having a Bear Smart program and installing bear proof bins are so important.
Brian concluded by encouraging the audience to watch the recordings of the previous two presentations Bragg Creek Wild put on in the past year. Keating’s presentation was the third in a series of three which theme was “wildlife and people living in community”. Dr. Brad Stelfox’s presentation focused on “Understanding Human Impact on the Land”, and Guy Greenaway explained how we can protect the land. Both are available on Bragg Creek Wild’s website https://www.braggcreekwild.ca/our-videos.
Thank you, Brian, for inspiring our community.
IN OTHER NEWS
Bragg Creek Wild will soon survey the community on the need for a Garbage Bylaw to reduce wildlife-human conflicts and bear-related incidents in residential and commercial areas. Please watch for upcoming details on our website, social media and emails to our membership.
