© Lora Denis
World Turtle Day on May 23rd is dedicated to appreciating these extraordinary reptiles. It is also a good opportunity to highlight the need to protect these ancient species, as they are one of the most interesting and important groups of reptiles in Ontario. On this year’s World Turtle Day, we shed light on the significance ...
Thickson's Woods Nature Reserve
Spring migration in Thickson’s Woods starts with the lisps and whispers of golden-crowned kinglets flitting about in the leafless understory, and then — listen! — an endless, breathless song pumped out by the smallest set of lungs in the world, winter wren. Unless you have patience, persistence and a strong neck, don’t even try to ...
May 1, 2026–Grace McGrenere
Conservation News•Reptiles and Amphibians•Species at Risk•Water
Opinicon Lake © Carolyn Appotive CC BY 2.0
In 2022, Carleton University biologist, Grégory Bulté arrived at Opinicon Lake for his first day of field work for the season. Bulté has been studying and tracking northern map turtles since 2003, returning every spring to the lake. As he went to retrieve his camera from the hibernation site, he spotted a dead turtle. He ...
March 26, 2026–Luke Bondi
Conservation News•Campaigns and advocacy•Conservation Authorities•Habitat•Land-use planning•Wetlands
Male caribou © Christian Schroeder
Since 2018, Ontario’s nature protections have been repeatedly weakened. While a few stories such as the ongoing changes to Conservation Authorities or the Greenbelt scandal made headlines, dozens of major changes have flown under the radar, buried deep inside massive government bills. It has been a lot to track, even for us. Today, Ontario Nature ...
Sandbanks Provincial Park, West Lake © John Brebner
Like many regions across Ontario, West Lake in Prince Edward County is experiencing altered shorelines, habitat fragmentation, and growing development pressure. The 1,903-hectare lake is bordered by the largest freshwater baymouth barrier dune system in the world, found within Sandbanks Provincial Park. West Lake contains a large provincially significant wetland and is home to at ...
Laurel Creek Conservation Area © Carl Hiebert / Grand River Conservation Authority