© Lora Denis
Massasauga rattlesnake © Joe Crowley
I’ve been thinking about Samuel Beckett and Ontario rattlesnakes. There used to be two species in the province, the Massasauga and the timber. But for decades there’s only been one. In 1967, conservationist Barbara Froom said the timber rattler, “that was common in the Niagara Gorge region many years ago, is now extinct in Ontario.” ...
Boreal caribou © peupleloup CC BY-SA 2.0
The Government of Canada makes promises about protecting nature, but do you ever wonder how well they follow through? The Auditor General of Canada has a Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, and every year the commissioner publishes reports on how the government is performing on their stated objectives. These reports inform parliament of ...
Wolverine, Species at risk © Ninara CC BY 2.0
Have you ever wondered how different species adapt to survive the coldest months of the year? Animals have different mechanisms to stay warm and source food when options are scarce, but human-caused disturbances like habitat degradation and climate change pose additional challenges to species that are already at risk. COP 15 (also known as the ...
Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve © Noah Cole
Ontario’s conservation challenges are growing. Each year, more plants and animal are added to species at risk list, with climate change increasing the likelihood of extinction. However, conservation organizations, including Ontario Nature, are working to address the dual threats of climate change and biodiversity loss by protecting carbon stocks and supporting carbon sequestration. Over the ...
Piping plover, Lake Huron © Merri-Lee
The provincial election is less than two weeks away, with Ontarians set to go to the polls June 2. The next government has a major role to play in protection of our environment. Ontario is home to one-fifth of the world’s fresh water, has the world’s third largest wetland, 3,600 plant species, 70 Important Bird ...
Laurel Creek Conservation Area © Carl Hiebert / Grand River Conservation Authority