(Ottawa)—Nature Canada is delighted about the release of Margaret Atwood’s first graphic novel ANGEL CATBIRD published by Dark Horse Comics. ANGEL CATBIRD is a humorous, action-driven, superhero adventure—with a serious side too. The novel is being published in tandem with the Keep Cats Safe and Save Bird Lives campaign, led by Nature Canada.

The novel tells the story of a combination cat-owl-human superhero who looks like an angel – “a walking, flying carnivore’s dilemma” (from Atwood’s introduction). It is a collaboration between Atwood and acclaimed artist Johnnie Christmas (Sheltered) and colorist Tamra Bonvillain (Doom Patrol).

“Nature Canada is honoured to be working with Margaret Atwood to raise awareness about the dangers of allowing cats to roam unsupervised,” says Eleanor Fast, Executive Director for Nature Canada. “Free-roaming cats are at considerable danger from collisions with cars, fights with wildlife and other cats, and other threats, and cats are responsible for an estimated 200 million bird deaths a year in Canada. ANGEL CATBIRD highlights these issues in a humorous and engaging way, it is a fabulous graphic novel,” adds Fast.

The Keep Cats Safe and Save Bird Lives campaign asks cat owners to visit catsandbirds.ca and join a growing movement of people who keep their cats supervised at all times, either inside or outside, and sign a simple pledge on behalf of their cat. The website also includes many resources to help cat-owners make the change.

“Angel Catbird is a manifestation of a collision between my comic-reading-and-writing self, the bird blood on my hands from the cats I have loved in my life and my interest in the world of bird conservation,” says Margaret Atwood. “I have been a long-time supporter of Nature Canada and they built the science and conservation side of this campaign.”

Nature Canada is also very excited to announce Margaret Atwood will be the guest speaker at its upcoming Nature Ball, also featuring Ball Patron Sophie Grégoire Trudeau who will become the 100th member of Nature Canada’s Women for Nature initiative.

ANGEL CATBIRD is the latest politically charged book by Atwood, who was recently named the recipient of the 2016 PEN Pinter Prize for her political and environmental activism.

For more information about Nature Canada’s Keep Cats Safe and Save Bird Lives campaign visit catsandbirds.ca. Keep Cats Safe and Save Bird Lives is supported financially by: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fuller Landau LLP, Indigo, Pets Plus Us, The Crabtree Foundation, The Gosling Foundation, The McLean Foundation, The Walrus and Toronto Life.

See Cat Myths: Tips for Media.

Images for media are available at catsandbirds.ca/images-for-media/ on September 1, 2016 at 6 am.

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For further Nature Canada media assistance please contact:
Janet Weichel McKenzie
613-808-4642
jweichelmckenze@gmail.com

For further ANGEL CATBIRD media assistance (Canada) please contact:
Ashley Dunn
P 416-364-4449 / C 416-859-9584
adunn@penguinrandomhouse.com

For further ANGEL CATBIRD media assistance (U.S.) please contact:
David Hyde
917-803-6684
david.hyde@superfanpromotions.com

About Nature Canada
Nature Canada is Canadian nature conservation charity. Over the past 75 years, Nature Canada has helped protect over 63 million acres of parks and wildlife areas in Canada and countless species that depend on this habitat. Today, Nature Canada represents a network comprised of over 45,000 members and supporters and more than 350 nature organizations across the country and with affiliates in every province.