Category: Nature Knowledge
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Slithering into fall: hibernation for Ontario’s reptiles
Today’s post was written by seasonal student Heather Van Den Diepstraten from Rondeau Provincial Park. It’s not just students and birds on the move this fall. As the cold weather approaches, reptiles are trekking across Rondeau Provincial Park in search of hibernacula (places in which wildlife overwinter). Researchers for Wildlife Preservation Canada are busy tracking the…
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The fastest animal in Bon Echo, Canada, and the world!
Today’s post comes from Mitch Kellar, a Discovery Leader at Bon Echo Provincial Park. Being a staff member at Bon Echo has given me a lot of incredible experiences: seeing the Mazinaw Rock at sunset, camping on Joeperry Lake, and a very memorable Kishkebus canoe trip, to name a few. Above all, my experiences with…
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Why do we leave dead trees in the forest?
Today’s post comes from Sheila Wiebe, a marketing and development specialist at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Provincial parks are all about protection. We protect significant natural ecosystems and habitats while offering many outstanding and sustainable recreational opportunities for the people of Ontario. This isn’t always an easy task. Invasive species have challenged our ecosystem management,…
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Finding a place in the sun for the Pitcher's Thistle
In today’s post, former Chief Park Naturalist Angela Gunn reflects on the at-risk Pitcher’s Thistle. Almost 20 years have passed since we mindfully took notice of the Pitcher’s Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) and added it to our provincial species-at-risk list. Standing up to a metre tall, the Pitcher’s Thistle casts its slender silvery profile against dune and…
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F.B.I.: the not-so-Secret Service of Ontario Parks
Today’s blog was written by Jessica Stillman, school outreach coordinator at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. When you visit a provincial park, you will likely interact with staff from several departments. From the gate staff who greet you to the maintenance crew that keep facilities clean, the park operates smoothly because everyone has a role to play…
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Spot the fall migrators
Take a moment this fall to appreciate the wonder of the fall migrations. A trip to a park this autumn will expose you to an incredible variety of wildlife.
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Fascinating fall fungi at Frontenac
From yeast fungi (responsible for leavening bread) to mold (we’ve all forgotten about food for just a little too long), the world of fungi is a large and fascinating one. But the role fungi play in our natural environment is perhaps one of the most important roles of all. Have you ever wondered how old…