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© Lora Denis
April 21, 2016–Smera Sukumar (On maternity leave)
Community Science•Nature Reserves•Reptiles and Amphibians•Wetlands
Red-backed salamander © Joe Crowley
After a warm winter and chilly start to spring, I joined my Ontario Nature co-workers at Altberg Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Reserve for a good old-fashioned salamander sleuthing event, our first of the season. The Altberg reserve is a tranquil property that has great trails and several vernal pools that are home to a variety of ...
Malcolm Bluff Shores Nature Reserve hike
The following are interim guidelines applicable to all nature reserves until such time as Management Plans are developed for nature reserves. It is understood that Management Plans will set out permitted and non-permitted activities taking into account the specific goals, attributes and circumstances of each nature reserve. Permitted Activities The following uses are permitted: Nature ...
Friday October 23 marked Ontario Nature’s annual garlic mustard pull at our Lost Bay Nature Reserve near Gananoque. With the help of several Queen’s University students and volunteers from Willing Workers on Organic Farms, we filled three garbage bags with these stubborn plants that are threatening to invade the reserve. Garlic mustard is an invasive ...
Guided hike, Manitouwadge © Mallory Vanier
One of the most challenging aspects of outreach is capturing and maintaining your audience’s attention. This is especially true when your audience is a group of high school students who are attending an obligatory event. The challenge is well-worth it, however, when you succeed in turning teens on to something new.
Field work can be fun and rewarding, but it does have its challenges. My colleagues and I have endured many unfortunate events while traipsing about the wilder parts of Ontario. Bug bites, falling trees, unplanned pond and cave entries, thunderstorms, borderline hypothermia, skunk sprays and pulled groins are just some of the troubles we have ...
Laurel Creek Conservation Area © Carl Hiebert / Grand River Conservation Authority