Ontario Nature Blog

When the federal and provincial governments started to announce pandemic-related shutdowns in March, the first things that crossed my mind were the safety of my aging parents, and whether I could keep my job, work from home and provide childcare at the same time. It was shocking to watch how many news reports and Facebook posts were dedicated to… toilet paper. To be frank, ...

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There are some special areas in southern Ontario that undoubtedly merit protection but currently have none. The Matchedash Wildlands, which stretch from just east of the southern tip of Georgian Bay to Swift Rapids, north of Orillia, are one such place. In the words of Ron Reid, Carden Coordinator at the Couchiching Conservancy, “at the ...

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When the Government of Ontario announced the finalized Forest Sector Strategy last week, it begged the question – when a forestry strategy falls in the forest, does anybody hear? Despite the Province lining up a queue of logging companies and affiliates to state their resounding support, the Forest Sector Strategy received almost no mainstream media ...

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Stone Road Alvar Nature Reserve holds a special place in the hearts of Ontario Nature conservation staff and volunteers. Located on the remote Peele Island, this 42-hectare property is home to many rare and region-specific species including 44 provincially rare and 33 regionally rare plant species. The unique alvar habitat has flora adapted to the extreme heat, variations in moisture and rocky ...

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When I’ve gone camping in Ontario, the park office invariably has a sign outside warning park visitors of recent bear sightings. When I see these signs, I always think “alright, I didn’t see one last time, so I’ll probably get to finally see a bear this weekend…” My predictions haven’t materialized yet, but I keep ...

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