The Georgian Bay Biosphere's (GBB) incubation program preserved 1,728 eggs this year to help boost Ontario's at-risk turtle populations. Turtle nests are generally laid in soil that is easy to dig and provides proper moisture which makes roadside sand and gravel and appealing place to nest. GBB staff working with roadside construction crews to rescue vulnerable roadside turtle eggs which are then incubated at GBB's facility and released back to the roadside wetlands where they were collected. This turtle incubation program has collected approximately 9,000 vulnerable eggs from Blanding’s, Snapping, Painted, and Map Turtles over the last four years. All of the eight turtle species in Ontario are currently listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern by COSSARO (Committee

Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are down 2, 2, 4, 2 & 8 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are lower by 3 & 2 inches, respectively, and Lakes St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 0, 3 & 15 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 4, 11, 12 & 4 inches, respectively, above their long-term September average. All the lakes remain well below their September record highs, except for Superior which is only 10 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior &�

It's September and that means bears are starting to prepare for winter. Most bears are focused on finding as much food as possible to prepare for winter. The quest for calories means bears are active and foraging. As the wild food sources bears rely on become more scarce. Improper food disposal, untidy garbage cans, poorly cleaned BBQ’s, and bird feeders may provide just the feast hungry bears are looking for. Whether you are closing the cottage for the season or just between stays, here are some precautions you can take: Before leaving your cottage make sure to: remove your garbage take it home or drop it off at an approved waste disposal site on your way use a strong disinfectant to eliminate all odours from garbage and recycling containers and lids never disca

Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are down 0, 2, 2, 0 & 6 inches, respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron is lower by 3 inches, and Lakes Superior, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 1, 2, 4 & 15 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 4, 5, 13, 15 & 7 inches, respectively, above their long-term September average. All the lakes remain well below their September record highs, except for Superior which is only 8 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair,

Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to the biodiversity of Ontario's waters, wetlands and woodlands by displacing our native species and upsetting the delicate nature of our ecosystems. And they love hitching a ride on your boat! In 2022, rules came into effect in Ontario requiring boat owners to take “reasonable precautions to remove all aquatic plants, animals and algae from any boat, boat equipment, vehicle or trailer” before transporting a boat or  boating equipment overland. When getting ready to retrieve your boat this year, remember Clean, Drain and Dry to help keep invasives in check. Upon Retrieval of your boat: Clean As soon as the boat is removed from the water, visually inspect all equipment (watercraft, trailer and gear) for aquatic

Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 0, 1, 2, 0 & 5 inches, respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron and St Clair are lower by 2 & 1 inches, respectively, and Lakes Superior, Erie & Ontario are up 2, 3 & 15 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 6, 6, 12, 15 & 9 inches, respectively, above their long-term September average. All the lakes remain well below their September record highs, except for Superior which is only 7 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, M

With the increase in traffic on our waterways, one Muskoka cottager is encouraging swimmers and paddlers to be seen when out on the water to increase the safety of these activities and to cut down on marine fatalities. Martha Robinette, founder of ICU Safety Aware, is now selling florescent hats and stickers at local Muskoka retailers and online through her website www.icusafetyaware.com to raise awareness about high-visibility gear on the water. In a news article Robinette recounted her own close call when she was on her paddle board and saw a plane coming in. She didn't know if the pilot could see her on the water and described having a "deer-in-the headlight moment." Whereas children’s gear tends to be bright and vibrant colours, adult gear and items such as lifejackets and padd

Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, Erie & Ontario, are down 0, 1, 0 & 4 inches, respectively, and Lakes St Clair is up 1 inch. Lake Michigan-Huron is lower by 3 inches, and Lakes Superior, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 1, 4, 4 & 14 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 5, 6, 17, 17 & 10 inches, respectively, above their long-term September average. All the lakes remain well below their September record highs, except for Superior which is only 7 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, M

Boating from October through June offers a very different experience steeped in solitude and excellent fishing. It is a beautiful time to be on the water. But boating during this season also requires extra attention to detail and the ability to be self-sufficient given that there are fewer boaters around should you require assistance. Here are some helpful tips from the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) and the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters to make off-season boating safer for you. Check the weather forecast. The weather can change quickly and storms can be more violent. Fog is also more common. Ensure that your boat and engine are in good working order. Ethanol-based fuel can allow water contamination in the tank. The use of a fuel additive prevents water in the f

As nominated by Heather Sargeant  My Phragbuster Hero About 5 or 6 years ago, at an event jointly put on by the Georgian Bay Association, Georgian Bay Forever, and featuring Dr. Gilbert, an ecologist with Phragmites expertise , I first learned about invasive Phragmites and the harm it can have on wetlands. I decided to investigate if Phragmites was a threat in Woods Bay (my favourite area of Georgian Bay), and that’s when my journey tackling this plant began.  I wasn’t sure if a plant across from the family cottage was indeed the invasive type, and so I was nervous and queasy about leading people to help me cut it.  What if it was the native plant, and I’d taken all these people out to cut down something benign? One of my neighbors told me there was a hero on Georgian

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is asking motorists to look out for vulnerable turtles on our roadways. Road surfaces provide an attractive source of warmth for these cold-blooded reptiles, particularly in the spring and early summer. During this time, turtles are mating and nesting; in late summer and early fall, newly hatched turtles are travelling from their nests to nearby wetlands. The Nature Conservatory of Canada has an informative video and tips for safely moving turtles. Watch the video and read the tips here.

Here are some things to think about around Fire Safety at the cottage: Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are present and working. Have a list of local emergency numbers posted for all to see. Include all pertinent cottage location information.   Have the right fire extinguishers in the right places. Have an individual fire plan for evacuation. Make sure your plan has two escape routes. Respect local fire ratings. Have a fire pump and use it regularly to ensure it is in good working order. At the very least have a list of neighbours to call for assistance. Follow your association’s emergency plan if it exists. Make sure you have insurance. Make sure you understand what it covers and that it is adequate to rebuild and covers contents AND fire de

The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has just released a useful guide on how to how we can all reduce our environmental footprints. Being a Guardian of the Bay also means doing what we can to reduce our individual consumption of carbon based fuels. - Here is a very good fact sheet and here is a full presentation on this topic. -

What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? Cory Kozmik, Anthony Laforge, Samantha Noganosh, Chevaun Toulouse. We are the Lands and Resource Department for Magnetawan First Nation, in Britt, Ontario. - Source: Magnetawan First Nation Our connection to the Bay is the dense biodiversity that it hosts and the role its ecology plays in our lives, including the environment. It is also where ancestors of the Anishinabek Nation walked and practiced each day what it means to live with the land in reciprocity. The connection to the land and water is sacred to the Anishinaabe culture, and held very close to the communities that inhabit the area. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? We take great pride in being “Guardians” because it is our