When Tara Stephens, Calgary Zoo Conservation Population Ecologist, offered me a pair of snake guards – leg protection from rattlesnake bites – and explained precautions needed to avoid the plague – yes, that plague – I wondered if I shouldn’t be writing about spas instead of nature tours in Saskatchewan’s Grasslands National Park. But each summer Parks Canada and the Calgary Zoological Society offer a few intrepid travellers the chance to be a prairie dog researcher and I wanted to see if I had the chops to be a squirrel scientist, even temporarily.
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How can you become a squirrel scientist on your vacation?
Have you ever wondered what it would like to be a scientist?
Parks Canada offers people educational tourism opportunities. It’s not for everyone but if you can carry a backpack, don’t mind strong winds, bugs or the possibility of seeing snakes, you will have a front-row seat on conservation science.

Have you ever seen a prairie dog? Do you know what behaviours these charming creatures have in common with people? Learn more in my video