Category: Ecological Integrity
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Charismatic or non-charismatic…that is the question
Today’s post comes from Grundy Lake Provincial Park Senior Naturalist Hope Freeman. Have you ever heard the term “species at risk?” Maybe you have; maybe you haven’t. In case you haven’t, Ontario’s species at risk are species listed in the Species at Risk in Ontario List regulation under the Endangered Species Act, 2007. Species on…
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Bats: The mammal, the myth, the legend
Today’s post comes from Ashley Hanas, a bat technician with the Friends of Pinery Park. Bats are the only true flying mammal. There are currently over 1,400 species and bats encompass 20% of the mammalian species on earth (meaning 1 in 5 mammals are bats!). Bats are essential to the health of our environment, providing…
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(Don’t fear) The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Today’s post comes from Nicholas Ypelaar, former assistant Discovery coordinator at Awenda Provincial Park. “EW! SNAKES!” and/or accompanying fearful shrieks are phrases I’m all too familiar with. In defense of all those who have zero affinity to the limbless scaled reptiles of the world, I can understand it. My grandmother grew up in Goa, India, where…
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"Peent! Peent!" Here comes the Common Nighthawk
Today’s blog was written by former Discovery leader at Kettle Lakes Provincial Park and current birder and Senior Discovery Ranger at Rondeau Provincial Park, Sarah Wiebe. Meet the Common Nighthawk. This peculiar nightjar (medium-sized nocturnal bird) calls Ontario home during the summer months and can be seen all over the province, including cities and provincial parks!
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Are you an ethical wildlife photographer?
You’ve recently unwrapped the latest iphone or a shiny new digital camera, perhaps an SLR with some fancy lenses. Now you have itchy shutter fingers. You’re ready to point our camera at something spectacular and capture a beautiful memory forever. But where to go? Not to brag, but Ontario Parks are beautiful, iconic places. Covering nearly…
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Dinosaurs in parks: the Lake Sturgeon
Today’s post comes from Christian Therrien, past Northwest Zone senior assistant ecologist. Most agree all dinosaurs went extinct 66 million years ago. However, looking into species found in parks reveals that some dinosaurs have indeed persisted and can be seen today! From the Snapping Turtle to the Silver Lamprey, remnants from this forgotten time are…
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A ghost in the attic
Today’s blog comes to us from Sam Alison, former Ontario Parks Gray Ratsnake researcher at Murphys Point Provincial Park. I must admit, as a seven year old, I was a little nervous about spending the night at my great grandmother’s cottage. At the family reunion, I had heard all about the seemingly mythical creature that…
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Why social trails are damaging to provincial parks
Park-lovers are natural explorers, and we love our visitors’ passion for adventure. Sometimes, we see our visitors create their own shortcuts by cutting through sensitive habitat. This is otherwise known as creating a social trail. Social trails can have a wide range of damaging effects on protected areas, and we’d like to ask our visitors…