© Lora Denis
* Update on January 11, 2019 We regret to say that our Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas App has been hacked and personal information (name, email and password) was posted online. We believe that the reptile and amphibian data has not been compromised. Our team is working hard to rectify this breach and ensure nothing ...
Snapping turtle © Scott Gillingwater
Ontario Nature celebrates the nature volunteers who have their boots in the bogs, eyes on wildlife, fingers on keyboards and much more! Our guest blogger this week, Susan Irving, shares a tale from her time spent volunteering with Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre… I am longtime volunteer at Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in Napanee. My preferred ...
Spotted salamander © Tricia Stinnissen
Spotted salamanders spend the majority of their time underground and out of sight. However, every spring they emerge to breed and lay eggs in the low lying areas of forests that fill up with water, which are called vernal pools. Spotted salamander eggs are easy to identify because they often have a bright green glow. ...
This spring a snapping turtle found in Hamilton’s Cootes Paradise was confirmed to have been infected with ranavirus. This potentially devastating virus has killed numerous amphibians, but this is the first time a Canadian reptile has been infected. What causes ranavirus and how is it transmitted? Ranavirus is an infectious DNA virus known to infect ...
Snapping turtle © James Paterson
With spring’s arrival, reptiles are beginning to emerge in Ontario. But have you ever wondered what they do during our cold, snowy winters? Reptiles don’t migrate, so what do they do instead? Reptiles are ectotherms, which means their body temperature is determined by their environment. When the outside temperature cools, so do they. This has ...
Laurel Creek Conservation Area © Carl Hiebert / Grand River Conservation Authority