© 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 ...
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 ...
Blanding's turtle © Diana Troya
Many of us have seen turtles on the road in May and June – they look like dark, round speed bumps or tire pieces. Perhaps you have swerved your car around one, or stopped to help one safely across the road. Why are roads such a major threat to turtle survival and how can you ...
Laurel Creek Conservation Area © Carl Hiebert / Grand River Conservation Authority