© Lora Denis
As a GIS Analyst, I spend a lot of my time making maps and exploring the Ontario landscape from behind a computer screen. That’s why I jumped at the opportunity to visit the Frontenac Arch and the Eastern Ontario region of the Canadian Shield with our Conservation Technician, Ryan Wolfe, this past fall. We went ...
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas (ORAA) at Ontario Nature. The ORAA has been a successful and influential citizen science project engaging thousands of participants across the province over the past decade. During this time, we have collected over 400,000 expert-vetted observations. These observations have impacted policy decisions and on-the-ground conservation across ...
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 ...
One of my first introductions to nature as a kid was observing tadpoles on the Toronto Islands and catching frogs at the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park. No outdoor adventure was complete without looking for and finding frogs.
Laurel Creek Conservation Area © Carl Hiebert / Grand River Conservation Authority