© Lora Denis
When I’ve gone camping in Ontario, the park office invariably has a sign outside warning park visitors of recent bear sightings. When I see these signs, I always think “alright, I didn’t see one last time, so I’ll probably get to finally see a bear this weekend…” My predictions haven’t materialized yet, but I keep ...
Double-crested cormorant © cuatrok77 CC BY-SA 2.0
Who equates the words “fall harvest” with the slaughter of inedible birds? The Government of Ontario, apparently. On July 30th it announced the introduction of a fall hunting season for double-crested cormorants, using these fine words: “Fall Harvest for Double-Crested Cormorants Introduced to Protect Local Ecosystems.” The ugly truth is that from September 15 to ...
Toronto area housing © Yoko Chiyoko CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
The Government of Ontario is set to amend yet again the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, one of the fastest growing regions in North America and home to more than 55 percent of Ontarians. The government already revised the plan last year. And that was done on the heels of a thorough public ...
Short-tailed shrew © Jasmine Veitch
Though not as flashy as the moose or black bear, smaller mammals, such as mice, voles, and chipmunks, play key roles in their habitat. Small mammals provide food for predators, they distribute seeds for plants, and their burrows can influence the flow of precipitation over the land. While these cute critters may not be large ...
A drove of feral hogs in Texas © Josh Henderson CC BY 2.0
Wild boar sightings in Ontario have risen in recent years despite the animals’ tendency to travel at dawn, dusk and night. Some of these sightings have been made near Ottawa and Kingston. Diane Saxe, Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner, has said that feral boars are heading north from the United States into eastern Ontario. There have also ...
Laurel Creek Conservation Area © Carl Hiebert / Grand River Conservation Authority