Spring has sprung at Ontario Parks!
The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and the days of snow and sleet are (hopefully!) behind us. As the snow melts, enjoy the sensory delights of spring in our provincial parks as we see and hear signs of warm weather to come.
You know it’s spring in Ontario Parks when…
Black Bears live across Ontario in forested areas where they can find enough food, shelter, and denning sites. Our provincial parks are their home, and over 90% of our parks are in bear country.
A safe bear sighting during one of your adventures with Ontario Parks can be a lasting memory. Educating yourself about bears before your visit is important and the mark of a responsible park visitor.
We want to share space with bears, keeping our human visitors and all our wildlife residents safe.
If you’re planning a visit, here are some important safety tips about Black Bears:
It’s International Day of Forests!
Ontario Parks protects a collection of breathtakingly beautiful forests from across the province. Each will be brimming with signs of life as the snow melts and temperatures warm.
Let’s take a look at five unique forests you can visit this spring.
The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and splashes of beautiful colour are beginning to pop up in parks.
Spring wildflowers bloom for only a short amount of time, and we’ve got our sights set on spotting as many as we can!
Here are five beautiful ephemerals you may find on your spring adventures:
This spring, we’ve got our eyes set on something grand…
…finding the rainbow!
The deep green boreal forest of Kettle Lakes Provincial Park contains 22 beautiful little lakes. Of these lakes, 20 are actually called “kettle lakes” by geographers.
So what is a “kettle lake?”
To answer that question, we first must look at how kettles are formed.
Today’s blog was written by Justin Sallans, Discovery ranger at Grundy Lake Provincial Park.
As someone who has always loved nature, working as a Discovery ranger at Grundy Lake Provincial Park was the perfect choice for me.
Not only did I get to live and work in the park, but I also had the opportunity to share knowledge I had gained through my post-secondary studies.
Continue reading My summer as a Discovery ranger at Grundy Lake
Today’s blog was written by Jessica Stillman, Discovery program project coordinator.
What is ferocious like a lion, fast like a tiger, or hibernates like a bear?
These three amazing insects!
Antlions, tiger beetles, and Woolly Bear Caterpillars might not be the first things that pop into your mind when you think of a furry or ferocious predator, but believe me, these small critters are mighty impressive!
Protected areas are fascinating places.
If you’re lucky, during your visit you may spot a wide variety of wildlife who call these parks home.
However, you may not always see healthy animals.
In these natural spaces, you could see animals that look sick, injured, or orphaned. We know you want to help wildlife, but helping wildlife means keeping your hands off! Continue reading Hands off park wildlife!
Today’s blog was written by Michelle Polley, a Master’s student conducting research at Pinery Provincial Park where she formerly worked as a Discovery ranger.
I had never been lucky enough to camp at a provincial park. So when I started my first summer on the Discovery team at Pinery Provincial Park, I didn’t know what a naturalist’s job entailed.
I also didn’t know how that summer contract would affect the trajectory of my life.
Looking back, my experience brought me skills and experiences that led me down a path to develop my career and interests.
