Niki Wilson, Author at Highline Magazine

Two Biologists and a Boy: I Love the Latex Gloves

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Niki Wilson | 0 Comments

Geoff often unpacks his work backpack on the floor by his side of the bed. I don’t go over there unless I’m vacuuming, because what may look like random piles of textbooks, digital cameras, charger cords and, at times, large-gauge syringes is actually a secret system Geoff uses for keeping track of things he needs for the next few work…

Two Biologists and a Boy: Under Alar’s Spell

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Niki Wilson | 1 Comments

Dylan lays in front of a lichen-speckled grey rock, his head resting on an old canvas army bag. Spread around him are the contents of the bag: an old tin, a tattered black and white picture of Mount Columbia, a bone-covered jackknife, and a very old black and brass telescope. Behind him, Parkers Ridge is lit by thousands of fuzzy…

Two Biologists and a Boy: The Long Way Home

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Niki Wilson | 0 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, a young male elk ran us off the trail. It was the first time I’ve been threatened by an animal while hiking with my son Dylan, and the only time I’ve ever popped the safety off of my bear spray. It happened when Dylan and I were hiking with a friend, Tracy, and her daughter,…

Two Biologists and a Boy: Road Swimming

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Niki Wilson | 0 Comments

June in the Rockies was beyond rainy, but some people still found fun amidst the floods. Highline columnist, Niki Wilson, captures a particularly unique activity that only a kid, or kid-at-heart could enjoy. -Highline ”My nuts are freezing!” says Dylan as he strips down beside me. I know I am supposed to say something like the correct term is testicles,…

Two Biologists and a Boy: When an Animal Loses Her Young

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Niki Wilson | 4 Comments

I haven’t really seen my husband Geoff for about three days. With the snow low on the mountains animals are forced into the valley bottoms, where they’re running into people all over the place. These interactions are keeping Geoff – wildlife conflict specialist with Parks Canada - pretty busy. During a ten minute cross-over at breakfast this morning he told me…

Two Biologists and A Boy: Slowness in Spring

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Niki Wilson | 0 Comments

Spring. Green shoots of grass jut from beneath their matted, hay-like predecessors. A confused flicker jackhammers the top of a streetlight to entice a mate. From across the cul-de-sac comes Ted Baker, carrying a six-pack en route to meet Jimmy Sutton out on the back green space, three doors down. If that doesn’t confirm a shift in seasons, the fact…

Two Biologists and A Boy: Running the Elk

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Niki Wilson | 1 Comments

Dylan and his cousin, Drew, watch from the front step as Geoff grabs the elk stick - a hockey stick with multi-coloured plastic strips taped to the blade – and confidently moves toward the ornery bull elk. A member of Parks Canada’s wildlife conflict team, Geoff has a lot of experience with this sort of thing. It’s the fall rut,…

Two Biologists and a Boy: Hi, My Name is Giardia

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Niki Wilson | 0 Comments

“Hi, my name is Giardia, and I am a special disease that can make you very sick.” This is how the video begins. Perched in front of the camera is a blue, stuffed Giardia a friend sent me last year. It has become a part of Dylan’s stuffy collection, interacting regularly with Sushi, the squirrel monkey, and Sweet Pea, the…

Two Biologists and a Boy: Bee Safe

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Niki Wilson | 6 Comments

Based in Jasper, Niki Wilson and her husband, Geoff, love sharing their passion for nature and conservation with their son, Dylan. Having studied everything from mountain pine beetles to mammoths, she brings a unique view to science and motherhood, which she will share regularly in her column here on HighlineOnline.ca titled ”Two Biologists and a Boy.” – Highline My six-year…

Two Biologists and a Boy: I Love the Latex Gloves

Two Biologists and a Boy: Under Alar’s Spell

Two Biologists and a Boy: The Long Way Home

Two Biologists and a Boy: Road Swimming

Two Biologists and a Boy: When an Animal Loses Her Young

Two Biologists and A Boy: Slowness in Spring

Two Biologists and A Boy: Running the Elk

Two Biologists and a Boy: Hi, My Name is Giardia

Two Biologists and a Boy: Bee Safe

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