Ant Keeping as a hobby is growing in popularity in Edmonton, with enthusiasts catching Ants to keep as pets. Local collectors, like Scot Ellacott, have up to 30 ant colonies in their basements. Most collectors focus on catching queen ants, as they are the life of the colony. Ants in Alberta have been relatively understudied, but there are more than 80 different species in the province. Ant enthusiasts are helping scientists learn more about ants by providing information on keeping and feeding them in captivity. However, there are concerns about the spread of disease and invasive species if ants are released into the wild. The company Canada Ant Colony only sells native ants or species with government approval and has an unconditional buy-back program.

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