Early Successional Wildlife Monitoring Program

The early successional wildlife monitoring program at Horizon Oil Sands was implemented in 2014 to evaluate the return and use of reclaimed land by wildlife in comparison to natural analogues. Monitoring activities included systematic surveys of amphibians, small mammals, songbirds, and bats, as well as incidental wildlife observations across 14 plots. These efforts documented 137 species, including 28 mammals, 106 birds, and three amphibians, representing an increase from the previous year. Data revealed that wildlife use of the reclamation areas, burned reference sites, Horizon Lake, and mature forest sites was generally high, with some variation in species richness across habitats. Small mammal trapping demonstrated seasonal differences in abundance and diversity, while bat monitoring confirmed consistent presence of eight species, including several of conservation concern. Songbird point counts highlighted distinct community groupings influenced by vegetation succession, with reclamation areas dominated by grassland-associated sparrows, and sensitive or threatened species also being detected.

The results from the third year of monitoring indicate that reclaimed areas are providing functional habitats for a wide range of species, although differences remain compared to mature forests and natural reference sites. Recommendations include extending monitoring over a three- to five-year period to establish stronger baseline datasets and adding new sites, such as additional mature forest plots and cleared areas, for better comparison. Expanded use of autonomous recording units (ARUs), continuous water quality data loggers, and optimized deployment of remote cameras will strengthen the accuracy of long-term monitoring and improve the ability to assess habitat suitability. In addition, incorporating insect sampling, particularly beetles and spiders, is advised as these taxa are sensitive indicators of ecological change. Integration of Horizon’s dataset with regional monitoring programs through COSIA will help evaluate broader patterns of wildlife use across oil sands reclamation areas. Collectively, these steps will ensure that reclamation efforts can be evaluated effectively against ecological goals, regulatory requirements, and long-term sustainability objectives.