Tag: ecological integrity

  • 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…

  • Life after loss: the importance of moose antlers

    Today’s post comes from Jazmin Gall, Acting Assistant Discovery Leader at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. Moose are, without a doubt, a magnificent sight to see. Having the opportunity to see one while camping is a memory that can last a lifetime. It’s something that never gets old. Despite their size, moose can sometimes be…

  • The scoop on dog poop: why all scat is not the same

    Part of being a good pet owner and park visitor is cleaning up after your dog. “Stoop and scoop” is a phrase all pet owners have heard for decades, yet park staff are often asked: “why do I need to pick up after my dog when wildlife poop does not need to be picked up?”…

  • Our 2022 Turtle Protection Project results: a reason to "shell"ebrate!

    We’ve got some “egg-citing” news! In 2022, we went on a mission to protect Ontario’s at-risk turtles. It was a huge success! In fact, at one park, we had our first Painted Turtle hatchling emerge from a nest in ten years! And it wouldn’t have been possible without our “turtley” awesome donors and the Turtle…

  • Turtles: the ultimate survivors

    In today’s post, Discovery Leader Olivia Bennett discusses turtles’ impact on Grundy Lake Provincial Park — and vice versa! When I first started working at Grundy Lake, I was talking turtles with our park superintendent when someone asked, “Why do you care so much about turtles here?” The answer is simple: while the park boasts a…

  • The dos and don'ts of using live bait in provincial parks

    Ontario is home to more than 250,000 lakes, thousands of kilometres of streams and rivers, and more than 150 species of fish. There are endless fishing opportunities at Ontario Parks, and dropping a line is a great way to connect with and learn about nature. From Lake Trout to Brook Trout, Walleye to Northern Pike,…

  • Help us fill Breeding Bird Atlas gaps!

    In today’s post, Ontario Parks Northeast Zone Ecologist Anna Sheppard is asking for your helping hands (actually, eyes. And ears.) Planning to visit any of these northwestern parks this summer? Aaron Provincial Park Blue Lake Provincial Park Lake Superior Provincial Park Neys Provincial Park Silver Falls Provincial Park Woodland Caribou Provincial Park If so, and…

  • The effects of foraging at Ontario Parks

    We know a lot of our visitors are interested in exploring our parks, and maybe taking a piece of it home with them. We’ve noticed an increase in popularity of foraging, but remember: foraging for any plant or fungal species is prohibited in provincial parks.

  • The fascinating world of dragonflies and their importance to ecosystems

    Today’s blog comes to us from Algonquin Provincial Park Naturalist Sarah Lamond. Picture it: a warm July day at Algonquin. You’re basking in the day’s rays and exploring an interpretive trail. It’s all picture perfect until you hear that telltale buzz and feel an all-too-familiar pain on your scalp. The Deer Flies have arrived. Swatting at…

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