Parks Blog

Tag: Species at Risk

  • Keeping tabs on turtles in Southeastern Ontario

    Over the years, Ontario Parks staff have created many blogs about turtles, their significance to the Ontario landscape, and why it’s important that we protect and support them. You may even be familiar with our Turtle Protection Project! With seven of the eight turtle species found in Ontario being species-at-risk under the Ontario Endangered Species Act,…

  • Fourth graders become species-at-risk superheroes!

    Parks alone are not enough to save species at risk. As we’ve continued our species-at-risk blog series this summer, we’ve been able to share stories of the amazing species that call parks home and the work being done to protect them. Now we want to introduce you to the newest team of superheroes taking up…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • (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…

  • "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!

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • From the abundant to the rare, parks protect them all

    Today’s post comes from Natural Heritage Education Supervisor Alistair MacKenzie at Pinery Provincial Park. The landscape of Ontario Parks is renowned for being strongholds for myriad species, both common and rare. A primary objective of Ontario Parks is the maintenance and restoration of ecological integrity, and the strengths of our protected areas are evident in the…

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