Today’s post comes from our friends at the Invasive Species Centre. Ontario is home to wonderful lakes, rivers, and streams. Unfortunately, some of these waterways are home to aquatic invasive species such as Zebra or Quagga Mussels. These species can be spread from one waterbody to another through watercraft that have not been properly cleaned, drained, … The post Be an invasive species fighter! Clean, drain, dry your boat appeared first on Parks Blog ..read more

Today’s post comes from Nick Lacombe, fisheries biologist at Algonquin Provincial Park. For me, springtime in Algonquin means trout fishing. Many others share this feeling, as about 70% of backcountry campers fish for trout during their spring trips. Lakes containing Brook and Lake Trout are found throughout the Algonquin backcountry, with the best lakes often … The post Help us maintain the Algonquin trout fishing tradition appeared first on Parks Blog ..read more

Today’s post comes from Program Development Intern Vincent La Tassa at the Invasive Species Centre.  Ontario is home to a significant number of majestic oak trees, many of which take root in our provincial parks. They provide us with shade, beauty, and a sense of connection with nature. The sprawling canopies of these mighty oaks … The post What YOU need to know to keep oak wilt out of Ontario Parks! appeared first on Parks Blog ..read more

Biodiversity is a big word for the variety of life on Earth. Biodiversity is you — and every other living thing on the planet. We see biodiversity every day, but it’s more than bugs and animals and trees. It’s about how everything is connected. If we lose one piece of biodiversity, the rest is affected. … The post Why is biodiversity important? appeared first on Parks Blog ..read more

Today’s post comes from Cara Freitag, a park naturalist at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. One of the most interesting stories that a small, shrubby, low-growing plant can tell is that of Sleeping Giant’s arctic disjunct species. They survived a journey of over 850 km: that’s almost infinity for small plants like the Encrusted Saxifrage. Travelling … The post Orphaned by the Ice Age appeared first on Parks Blog ..read more

Today’s blog comes to us from Park Naturalist Sarah Lamond at Algonquin Provincial Park. Picture it: a warm July day at Algonquin. You’re basking in the day’s rays and exploring an interpretive trail. It’s all picture perfect until you hear that telltale buzz and feel an all-too-familiar pain on your scalp. The Deer Flies have arrived. … The post The fascinating world of dragonflies and their importance to ecosystems appeared first on Parks Blog ..read more

We know a lot of our visitors are interested in exploring our parks, and maybe taking a piece of it home with them. We’ve noticed an increase in popularity of foraging, but remember: foraging for any plant or fungal species is prohibited in provincial parks. Edible species in parks Parks are home to many plants … The post The effects of foraging at Ontario Parks appeared first on Parks Blog ..read more

Today’s post comes from Ashley Hanas, a bat technician with the Friends of Pinery Park. Bats are the only true flying mammal. There are currently over 1,400 species and bats encompass 20% of the mammalian species on earth (meaning 1 in 5 mammals are bats!). Bats are essential to the health of our environment, providing … The post Bats: The mammal, the myth, the legend appeared first on Parks Blog ..read more

The songbirds are returning and bringing spring with them! Catch a bird-banding demonstration, take in a nature photography workshop, or sign on for a bird-themed hike with our park naturalists. If you love songbirds, you won’t want to miss the Ontario Parks spring birding festivals: Festival of Flight — May 4-19 Rondeau Provincial Park Visit the park … The post Spring birding festivals appeared first on Parks Blog ..read more

Today’s blog was written by Pilar Manorome, a park planner in Protected Areas Section at Ontario Parks. As a kid, I was always fascinated by the natural world around me and was very fortunate to grow up in Norfolk County. It was a place where I could step out my door and have a wide array … The post Opening doors with Ontario Parks appeared first on Parks Blog ..read more