Category: Nature Knowledge
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5 marvelous moth facts
Today’s blog was written by Jessica Stillman, school outreach coordinator at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Moths are marvelous! While we may mock their desire to go towards the light, they lead interesting and diverse lives. With over 2,800 species of moths recorded in Ontario on iNaturalist, we wanted to shed some light on five moth facts…
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5 common moths and how to identify them
Today’s blog comes from Murphys Point Provincial Park Assistant Superintendent Mark Read. With an ever-increasing interest in some of the smaller wildlife found in our provincial parks, moths are quickly becoming the new park stars! In fact, when looking at Ontario Parks’ iNaturalist project, you can find five native species sitting right up there amongst…
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How to be a summer nature detective
In today’s post, Neys Provincial Park Discovery staff Jessie Pleasance helps us gain some identifying skills. Summer’s in full swing, so it’s time to brush up on your nature detective sleuthing skills!
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Why are snakes so misunderstood?
We often hear our visitors say how much they fear or hate snakes. Ophidiophobia, the name for an intense fear of snakes, is certainly a legitimate condition, and we do not judge anyone who struggles with it. Many of our own staff are working through this fear. No one chooses to have a phobia. The…
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What's a bioblitz?
When you first hear the word “bioblitz,” you might be a little confused. What does this strange word mean? When you break the word down into smaller pieces, it becomes much easier to understand: “bio” means “life” and “blitz” means a “sudden, energetic, and concerted effort, typically on a specific task.”
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Polar Bears and Prothonotary Warblers: species on the edge
Today’s post comes from our Discovery Specialist Dave Sproule. We are lucky to live in a province where nature has blessed us with many lakes, a variety of landscapes, and an incredible diversity of wildlife. However, some of the plants and animals that call Ontario home are at risk. Our provincial parks and conservation reserves play…
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It’s July — what are the bears up to?
Berries are finally ripening, and it is time for Black Bears in Ontario to start packing on the pounds. In July, breeding season ends and Black Bears get down to the serious business of consuming as much food as they can.
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The cat and the Mudbug: a guide to using iNaturalist
Cellphones have changed our lives in many ways. It seems like there’s an app available to cater to our every need, from baking to banking and all things in between. At Ontario Parks, we generally encourage green time over screen time, however there’s one app we believe every visitor should have on their phone.