Lab Bird Cams Virtual Bird Watching at its Best! Click here!
What does the lynx say? This incredible video offers a rare glimpse of a Canada Lynx in its natural habitat.
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At the cottage: Do not feed the birds or any wild animals. Dispose of garbage often – municipal dumpsters or landfill and eliminate odours from garbage containers (freeze fish & meat or use secure, bear resistant containers is disposal is delayed. Keep the BBQ grill and drip tray clean. Feed pets indoors – not on deck or porch. Do not leave food out on tables or counter tops – not even if packaged. Do not leave candles, lotions, insect repellents or other fragrant products outside or near open windows or doors. While walking/hiking Take a whistle, air horn, bear spray,...
Read More...RATTLER LESSON – by Jim Bowden I was bitten by a rattlesnake earlier this summer. My experience is worth telling. There are lessons to be learned, or at least reinforced. Even for a healthy adult, getting to a hospital post haste can be incredibly important – far more important than I had realized before this incident – and having a “plan” in place can save a life. Also, I for one was truly impressed by how terrific the service was at our local hospitals for what was a life-threatening circumstance. We need these facilities, and we should be grateful to have them and their trained...
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The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is requesting legislation to allow a cormorant hunt commencing on March 15, 2020 that would run through the summer months. GBA believes the hunt poses a risk to public safety, does not appear to be supported by any scientific evidence, and sets bad precedents. Read more about the proposal here.
GBA joined Environmental Defence (ED) and the Ontario Rivers Alliance (ORA) in their submissions on Bill 132, Better for People, Smarter for Business Act which includes legislation that will reduce environmental protections on such matters as permits to take water, exposure to toxins, pollution enforcement, groundwater quality, and risks to human health. The ED submission and the ORA submission (GBA wrote separately to add our name to this) can be viewed here: - Environmental Defence Submission on Bill 132 Nov 2019 Ontario Rivers Alliance Submission on Bill 132 Nov 2019
Premier Doug Ford, along with Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure, and Norm Miller, MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, were in Parry Sound last week to announce a $200 million investment in rural community infrastructure. $5.8 million will be dispersed throughout 26 municipalities within Parry Sound-Muskoka. Although this is good news for our coastal municipalities, climate change activists protesting at the announcement made some valid points, some consistent with recent GBA submissions to the Ontario government. Read more about the announcement and the protest here. - Details of the funding and allocations for the Parry Sound-Muskoka area can be found here. Allocations for Manitoulin and North Channel areas can be found here. -
Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. From a month ago the water level on Lakes Superior is down 1 inch, Lake Erie, St Clair and Ontario are 6, 7, and 1 inches higher, respectively, and Lake Michigan-Huron is unchanged. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 18, 16, 8 & 9 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year, and 15, 37, 41, 32 & 19 inches, respectively above their long term January average. In a month’s time, the levels of Lakes Superior, Michigan Huron and St. Clair are expected to be down by 3, 1 and 4 inches, respectively, Lake Erie is expected to be unchanged and Lake Ontario is expected to increase by 4 inches. - Outflows from Lake Superior into the St
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.
Lyme Disease is spreading in Ontario. Black legged ticks carrying the disease have been found from Prince Edward County in eastern Ontario to Pinery Provincial Park in the southwest. We just spent time camping in Pinery and there were lots of ticks! To date the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit have NOT posted any advisories about the presence of Lyme Disease in the eastern Georgian Bay area. However, both health units have general information about Lyme Disease on their websites, so it is a local concern. It is prudent for all of us to avoid contact with the ticks that may spread this pernicious and difficult to treat disease. The Ontario government has useful information about Lyme Disease and how to avoid ticks. You can access it by
Ever wonder what you are supposed to do if you find a bear in your backyard? first off, don't get too close never chase the bear keep your garbage locked away and out of their smell zone What can you do? make some noise, a loud fog horn will do and get to safety and call the authorities Watch this video from CTV News - http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.1809657
BLACK BEARS (Ursus americanus) There are between 75,000 & 100,000 black bears living in Ontario. Black bears are an important component of the province's ecosystem as keystone species, predators of juvenile deer and moose, and competitors with other species. Black bears have one of the lowest rates of reproduction of any land mammal in North America. Female bears have a very late age of reproductive maturity, having their first litter when they are 5 to 7 years old. They bear only 2 to 3 cubs per litter and reproduce once every 2 years max. In 2009 (the latest published numbers); the Ministry of Natural Resources reported 6,200 black bears killed in the annual hunt in Ontario. As you return to your place around the Bay, pause to admire and understand the black bear giving them t
At the cottage: Do not feed the birds or any wild animals. Dispose of garbage often – municipal dumpsters or landfill and eliminate odours from garbage containers (freeze fish & meat or use secure, bear resistant containers is disposal is delayed. Keep the BBQ grill and drip tray clean. Feed pets indoors – not on deck or porch. Do not leave food out on tables or counter tops – not even if packaged. Do not leave candles, lotions, insect repellents or other fragrant products outside or near open windows or doors. While walking/hiking Take a whistle, air horn, bear spray, walking stick, cell phone. Make a noise while walking to let the bear know you’re there – bells, whistling, talking, singing. Be alert and aware of your surroun
RATTLER LESSON – by Jim Bowden I was bitten by a rattlesnake earlier this summer. My experience is worth telling. There are lessons to be learned, or at least reinforced. Even for a healthy adult, getting to a hospital post haste can be incredibly important – far more important than I had realized before this incident – and having a “plan” in place can save a life. Also, I for one was truly impressed by how terrific the service was at our local hospitals for what was a life-threatening circumstance. We need these facilities, and we should be grateful to have them and their trained staff. What Happened: I had been out for dinner at my brother’s and, ignoring the warnings of my long-deceased mother, walked back through the woods (it’s maybe a 400 yard walk) wearing
