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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Their primitive looks and menacing name have given the snapping turtle a bad reputation, but these gentle giants are too shy to bite your toes in the water. Although generally found close to shore, snapping turtles would rather swim away from you than have a confrontation. In fact the “snapping” is a protective measure they use on land when threatened because, unlike some turtles, they can’t retract their entire body inside their shell. Snapping turtles are the largest freshwater turtles in Canada, with individuals weighing up to 34 kg. Their carapace, or shell, is black or brown, and they have a long tail, but their most distinguishing feature is their hooked upper jaw. Snapping turtles are omnivorous, and play an important role in cleaning our waters by eating rotting fish,
Ticks are being found in abundance on the bodies of Canadian moose and researchers from the universities of New Brunswick and Laval are currently studying the tick infestation to see how it may be affecting the moose population. According to the scientists, warmer winters and less snow are making it easier for ticks to survive and their range is moving increasingly farther north. Moose calves are particularly susceptible to this influx of ticks as the parasites often render them anemic and unable to cope during the lean winter months. Although these ticks do not carry Lyme disease or other diseases that can be transmitted to humans, this climate change impact to our iconic moose is certainly alarming. Read more here.
The Great Lakes basin experienced much higher than average temperatures over the past week. Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. All the lakes are now lower than they were at this time last year. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie and Ontario are up 2, 0, 1, 2 and 4 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 7, 13, 15, 17 & 28 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair & Erie are 7, 22, 19, & 15 inches, respectively, above their long term April
GBA continues to liaise closely with the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) who have been helpful in providing us with updates and, in the past, resolving such issues as the valuations for small undevelopable islands. - Read the update on 2021 assessments from MPAC here: - As part of the Ontario Government’s Budget on March 24, the Minister of Finance announced the Province’s decision to once again postpone a province-wide property assessment update due to the pandemic. - Property assessments for the 2022 property tax year will continue to be based on January 1, 2016 current values. This means your property assessment remains the same as it was for the 2021 tax year, unless there have been changes to your property, for example: - A change to your prop
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
