Category: Nature Knowledge
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The scavenger hunt for survival
Today’s post comes from Anna Scuhr, a naturalist with Lake Superior Provincial Park. The arrival of snow and ice transforms the rugged landscape of Lake Superior Provincial Park into a stunningly beautiful, albeit unforgiving place to live. As temperatures drop, the park can accumulate up to six feet of snow in the interior. The snow…
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The science of snow
Today’s post comes from Brianne Brothers, a zone ecologist from our southwestern parks. Ah, snow. A substance that truly embodies what it means to be Canadian. While many of us struggle with the idea of enjoying something that inflicts hard physical labour and white-knuckled driving, it truly is clean, fresh, and beautiful. In that light,…
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How 6 species at Ontario Parks survive the winter
Today’s post was written by Connor Oke, past marketing intern at Ontario Parks, using information provided by Assistant Superintendent Mark Read at Murphys Point Provincial Park. If Canada is known for one thing, it’s for our long, cold winters. Wild animals rely on evolution and natural adaptations to survive until spring. The strategies they’ve developed are varied…
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Should we beware the Fisher… or the Fisher fiction?
In today’s post, Awenda Provincial Park‘s Chief Park Naturalist Tim Tully tackles (not literally) a terrifying beast. Pick a negative adjective and it has likely been leveled at the Fisher. There are few predators in North America which suffer from a worse reputation than this mid-sized member of the weasel family. Fishers come with the…
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How do chipmunks prepare for and live through winter?
Today’s post comes from Gabriel Argenti, a Discovery Student at Rondeau Provincial Park. As winter approaches, most wildlife undergoes seasonal changes or new habits. Some animals prepare for the cold by storing food away, going into hibernation, eating to gain weight, growing a thicker coat. Others migrate south to warmer climates to wait out the…
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Woodpeckers 101
Today’s post comes from Barb Rees, our Discovery Program and Marketing Specialist in the Northwest Zone of Ontario Parks. Winter is a great time to watch for woodpeckers. Why? Simply because there are less leaves on trees making most birds more visible. Typically, there are also more birdfeeders placed out in the winter than the summer…
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How to identify snowflakes
Did you know snowflakes come in all shapes and sizes? Snowflake identification is a fun and easy way to get kids outdoors in the winter, and spark an interest in science. Why not turn your next winter adventure into a lesson on snowflake identification?
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The amazing journey of Ontario’s provincial tree
What is it about White Pine? No other tree species in Ontario seems to inspire as much reverence and passion. The history of White Pine is deeply intertwined with the history of people in Ontario. It has been an important species for Indigenous people for millennia, played a huge role in establishing Ontario’s cities, and…