© Lora Denis
Wartyback, snuffbox, round pigtoe, pocketbook… no, we haven’t gone crazy. These are just a few of the 41 wild and weird freshwater mussel species found in Ontario. Hidden at the bottom of rivers and lakes and nestled under a layer of sand, these native molluscs often go unnoticed. But don’t let their odd names and ...
July 11, 2017–Guest blogger
How To•Reptiles and Amphibians•Species at Risk•Stewardship and restoration
Seven of Ontario’s eight turtle species are provincially at risk. By helping a turtle cross the road, you contribute to their conservation. But what if you spot a turtle that’s injured, or possibly dead? Check out our Q & A to help you take action during your travels.
Pinery Provincial Park © Christopher Woo CC BY 2.0
In 2010, Canada and the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity committed to protecting at least 17 per cent of the world’s lands and inland waters by 2020. With the percentage of protected areas in Ontario currently at just over 10 percent, it’s time for an all-out effort to meet the target. Here’s why: ...
Sydenham River © David Coulson
The Sydenham River Nature Reserve is Ontario Nature’s first riverine reserve. Acquired in December 2016, the property is located within the Carolinian Life Zone that stretches from Windsor to Toronto. It is an area that includes some of the most significant habitats and threatened plant and animal species in Ontario.
As I walked through the forest on a warm spring afternoon, I saw a dark creature flutter by. It was a mourning cloak butterfly! As I looked around, I saw more butterflies. A skittish eastern comma was feeding on sap from a sugar maple, while another sunned itself on the ground below the leafless canopy. ...
Laurel Creek Conservation Area © Carl Hiebert / Grand River Conservation Authority