The Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS) provided more than $145,000 from its Wildlife Management Fund towards the Wildlife Analytics Lab at Lethbridge College. (Photo: Lethbridge College)

By Joel Mendelson

Lethbridge College launches its Wildlife Analytics Lab

Sep 12, 2023 | 12:11 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge College’s Centre for Technology, Environment and Design (CTED) has launched its Wildlife Analytics Lab (WAL), a new research initiative offering fee-for-service cementum analysis of wildlife teeth.

Cementum is the hard tissue that covers the roots of teeth. It is analyzed to determine the age, reproductive history, and even migratory patterns of wildlife species.

The Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS) provided more than $145,000 from its Wildlife Management Fund (WMF), which allowed the WAL to purchase new equipment, and hire a dedicated lab technician.

The scientific lead of WAL, and School of Environmental Sciences instructor Dr. Everett Hanna stated his excitement. “We also look forward to the opportunities the WAL will create for students and employees at Lethbridge College, growing our presence on the national and international research stages.”

Along with Dr. Hanna, the WAL team members are chemical manager Rhys Hakstol, logistics manager Jonathan Friesen, and lab technician Kelsey Gourlie.

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The group has already completed a preliminary comparative analysis for Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, and is receiving analysis contracts from agencies and researchers across the country to improve wildlife management decisions and conservation efforts.

CTED Dean Dr. Terry Kowalchuk said, “In addition to providing a unique service, this lab will also create training, research and employment opportunities for current students… It’s an innovative way to satisfy the work-integrated-learning focus of post-secondary.”

Collaborative research opportunities associated with the lab will also be available to other college employees. Anyone interested in learning more about the Wildlife Analytics Lab can visit the WAL website.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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