Ontario Nature Blog

Who equates the words “fall harvest” with the slaughter of inedible birds? The Government of Ontario, apparently. On July 30th it announced the introduction of a fall hunting season for double-crested cormorants, using these fine words: “Fall Harvest for Double-Crested Cormorants Introduced to Protect Local Ecosystems.” The ugly truth is that from September 15 to ...

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Plant lovers are turning their focus from tending houseplants to giving outdoor gardens new life. In a year when so many of us are working from home, staring over the computer screen into our backyards, a little garden work is just what the doctor ordered.   While the houseplant trend rages on, another horticulture trend has been taking root. From home gardeners to growers to municipalities, people are starting to ...

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The COVID-19 virus outbreak inevitably taught us the importance of nature for our mental and emotional well-being. The lockdown months felt endless and had us yearning to get outside, yet many of us realized nature is present in our lives in many different forms, and it’s sometimes closer to us than we would have thought.  We wanted to celebrate ...

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This summer, many millions of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar, LDD) caterpillars have emerged across Ontario, causing ecological concern from North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie to Windsor and Ottawa. The species was introduced to eastern North America from Europe in the late 1800s through a failed attempt to harvest silk from LDD cocoons. These ...

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Bill 197 unravels environmental protections, including the following: Bill 197 made substantial amendments to the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA). As a result, no types of industrial or development projects will automatically be subject to an environmental assessment, a measure which is intended to ensure an upfront public examination of potential impacts before projects proceed. Instead, ...

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