Invasive species are exotic organisms which enter a locality and then dominate/out-compete native species. Many of these invaders have been established for several decades, with the majority of us unable to even recognize them because we are accustomed to their presence. One of these species is the gypsy moth which was introduced into the United States around 1869 from Europe. Since then it has established populations in Canada and is now considered one of the most destructive invasive species in North America.1

Gypsy moth larvae often cause significant damages to native tree species through excessive defoliation (they eat all the leaves off a tree).  These damages sometimes kill trees and can result in significant economic impacts in agriculture and forestry. Like any organism gypsy moths have favourite foods and tend to target certain species of trees more than others! Their favourite food appears to be oak, with their other favourites being aspens and birches in the northern regions; however they can be found on many other deciduous trees, including maples, and even coniferous species, like pines, in more southern regions.2 Gypsy moth outbreaks occur every 7-10 years and 2021 is predicted to be an outbreak year.2

How are gypsy moths expanding their range?

Unlike male gypsy moths, females are unable to fly, meaning that they are unable to spread their eggs over vast distances .3 The main cause of their expanding range is people unknowingly carrying the eggs (for example by bringing wood out of one forest and into another) to a new location, or by eggs spreading through wind dispersal.3 The Land Between is the northern frontier for expansion of the gypsy moth up into Algonquin park and beyond (Figure1).  In fact, egg mass surveys conducted in Ontario have shown that Aurora, Midhurst, Peterborough, Bancroft and Kemptville are likely to see high rates of defoliation in 2021.2 Thus, it is extremely important to control the gypsy moth populations in these areas.

Due to the large negative effects that gypsy moths have on forests it is important that their populations are monitored and subdued. The appropriate management/eradication practices for Gypsy moths changes depending on their life stage (Table 1, Figure 2).

Remember to never transfer wood between locations, and keep an eye out for any caterpillars trying to hitch a free ride! If you find gypsy moths anywhere please report it on EDDMapS (Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System) and remove them if possible. To learn more about gypsy moths and what cities like Toronto are doing watch this video.

Written by: Fallon Hayes, Education and Communications Specialist

Works Cited

1. Liebhold, Andrew M., Joel A. Halverson, and Gregory A. Elmes. “Gypsy moth invasion in North America: a quantitative analysis.” Journal of biogeography (1992): 513-520.
2. https://www.ontario.ca/page/gypsy-moth
3. Sharov, Alexei A., and Andrew M. Liebhold. “Model of slowing the spread of gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) with a barrier zone.” Ecological applications 8.4 (1998): 1170-1179.
4. Nealis, Vince. “Still invasive after all these years: keeping gypsy moth out of British Columbia.” The Forestry Chronicle 85.4 (2009): 593-603.
5. BioForest Technologies Inc. (2006). Assessment of gypsy moth populations and potential impacts within the city of Mississauga and recommendations for management. 1-62
6. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/reports-publications/pesticides-pest-management/fact-sheets-other-resources/bacillus-thuringiensis-subspecies-kurstaki.html
7. Liebhold, Andrew M., Joseph S. Elkinton, and William E. Wallner. “Effect of burlap bands on between-tree movement of late-instar gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae).” Environmental Entomology 15.2 (1986): 373-379.
8. Sun, Baojing, Bryan Edward Cooper Bogdanski, and Brian Van Hezewijk. The Economic Feasibiliity of the Gypsy Moth Eradication Program in British Columbia. Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 2019.

At The Land Between we have wonderful staff members and volunteers who dedicate their time to protecting the region’s turtles. Today I am going to give you a sneak peek into what a day in the life of a field technician looks like. It’s different every day, and the name of the survey game is flexibility!

What We Do:

Conservation technicians work in pairs 5 days a week and conduct road surveys and wetland surveys. Essentially, we are looking for turtles, frogs, and snakes. “Ewww” for most people, but fun for us because we are very dedicated to this work. For road surveys, we drive slowly along roads with high turtle mortality rates. When we are driving and come across a wetland, we will safely pull over and walk along that wetland looking for turtles, frogs, and snakes.

Start time:

Our survey schedule depends on weather and temperature. If it’s not raining, we start around 4:30. If it is a rainy morning then we will head out at 8 am and if it continues to rain throughout the day, we take a late afternoon break and then go out surveying again. Sometimes we have been out until 2 am with nesting turtles. These are very long days for us, but we know the work is important so we do it gladly.  If the temperature reaches below 12 degrees turtles won’t be out so if a day is ever that cold, we usually spend it catching up on data entry or writing blog articles like this one.

What we do when we find a turtle:

If the turtle is on the road, we will pull over safely and then help it cross the road in the direction it was moving to…unless it is nesting. If nesting, when the turtle is finished she usually heads back to the wetland from where she came.

If the turtle is basking on the side of the road we will first make sure that it isn’t nesting. When a turtle is nesting you must never bother it because it could get spooked and might not finish laying.

If we find a nesting turtle, we will stay with it until it is done (Hence, the 2 am nights mentioned earlier.) Once the mother is done we will weigh and measure her and then excavate the nest. We have received specialized training in excavation and TLB has permits to excavate nests.

Turtle processing:

When we find a turtle that is not nesting or finished nesting we will weigh them, give them a special name, measure the carapace (upper shell) and plastron (lower shell), then we take a photo with a special code including the turtles’ name, age/sex, action (i.e. basking/traveling), and the date of capture. We will also write 2021 on their plastron (belly) so we know if we ever get a recapture.  If you ever find a turtle with 2021 on it contact us at The Land Between. Once we are done processing the turtle, we will release it back in the direction it was going but safely off the road- and again, it if was nesting, we help her to the wetland behind her.  Otherwise, after the turtle is moved, we will watch the turtle until we are certain it isn’t going to head back onto the road.

Our staff is vigilant in sanitizing equipment between each turtle we process to ensure diseases won’t be spread.

Sometimes we get calls from members of the public when they see a turtle on the road or nesting and if one of our teams is close by, they will head over to help.

Whenever we find a nesting turtle it is very exciting. Especially when it is a Blanding’s turtle since they are a more threatened species. If we find a turtle that has just started nesting it means we may be watching it for a few hours. The turtle needs to pick a spot they like, dig deep enough to lay her eggs, and then cover it back up. When the turtle is done laying, we will capture her and process her and then we will excavate the eggs. Turtle eggs are usually predated within the first 24 hours of laying! We excavate eggs and record the nest’s location, in high risk areas such as roadsides or driveways, to help avoid predations, giving them a much higher rate of survival. Once hatchlings emerge from eggs (in our incubators) they can be released where they were laid or at the wetland/water area nearest to their nest location (this helps to ensure that they avoid being injured on the roads or eaten by predators).

Once a team has completed their route they will head back to The Land Between headquarters (if their route is close by) where we have an incubator set up to keep the turtle eggs. The eggs will be transferred carefully to a container with vermiculite, weighed, then put safely into the incubator. All data, including the nest ID, coordinates of the nest location, and details are recorded carefully.

Once the hatchlings start emerging in August, the team who excavated the nest has the privilege of releasing the hatchling back to the closest wetland to where they were found. Also, we call anyone who helped us save the nest to be witness to the release. So cute!

Every day is different. Some days may be slower and end at 10 pm and some may be longer and end at 2 am. We let the turtles determine it and we are good with that!

If you would like to learn more or become a Turtle Guardian you can visit the Turtle Guardian website here https://www.turtleguardians.com/the-land-between-ontarios-turtle-country/

Written by: Nadia Pagliaro, Conservation Technician

Golf courses have been a hot topic of conservation for many years due to the large expanses of land, management regimes and water extraction methods which they employ. However, golf courses also provide many people with the opportunity to experience and connect with nature. In fact, turtles, birds, pollinators and other organisms can often be found on golf course grounds!  In a meta-analysis conducted by Colding & Folke (2009) they found that golf courses provide significant ecological value (a measure expressed as a percentage of species prosperity – presence, relative abundance, diversity and breeding success etc- relative to pristine native habitat) in areas with high human impact.  They found that the ecological value of golf courses increases as human disturbance of the surrounding areas increases with the value being 44% near parkland, 69% near agricultural areas, 84% near residential areas and 94% near highly urban locations.1  Looking at the calm pond, grassy sidelines, and treed canopy it is not hard to imagine that golf courses can provide significant species habitat given that 40-70% of the land in a golf course is non-playable!2  

After recognizing the significant impacts that golf courses can have on native species several questions arise: How can we improve the quality of habitat provided by golf courses? How can we help to enhance the relationship between our golf courses and the natural ecosystems of a region? How can we change management practices of golf courses to make them more environmentally friendly? How can we make golfing more sustainable?

How to enhance the biodiversity your golf courses

As stated above, golf courses contain 40-70% non-playable area2  this means that up to 70% of a golf course area can be enhanced to host more biodiversity! Below are some of the ways that your local golf course can help protect and foster the health of native species:

1. Plant native flowers in garden beds

• Native flowers are just as beautiful as tulips! By replacing non-native species and planting native flowering plants on golf course grounds you can increase the amount of pollinators present including monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and hummingbird moths! 

2. Removal of invasive species and planting native grasses, trees and shrubs

• Golf courses often have forested thickets with ornamental tree species and areas where invasive species have established. Over time any non-native species can be removed and replaced through thoughtful planting of our beautiful beneficial native species.
• Increased the plantings of shrubbery among trees enhances the structural complexity (different height and density of plants) of vegetated areas  which enhances the number of species, including mammals and reptiles, that will inhabit the green space.3

3. Construct and install bird and bat boxes

• Who doesn’t love to hear bird singing in the trees?! By installing bird houses you will encourage species like the Eastern Bluebird ( which have shown particular promise in golf course bird houses4), Red-breasted nuthatch, chickadees and more to call the golf course home. By installing bat boxes you will reduce the amount of missed hole’s in one due to pesky mosquito bites throwing off your game!

Raise knowledge about the biodiversity of golf course

Golf clubs always have an “About Us” page. This is the perfect place for clubs to share information about native plants, birds, mammals, and reptiles that can be seen on their course. Studies have identified that people often travel to different golf courses in order to experience new natural areas or countries!5 By providing information about local flora and fauna, it facilitates a more complete and comprehensive experience for guests and golfers!

How to change golf course management regimes to be more environmentally friendly

Due to the manicured nature of golf courses, they often have extensive management regimes. These regimes often involve the use of pesticides, fertilizers and ground or surface water extraction; however these management practices can cause harm to surrounding ecosystems. In order to mitigate such negative effects, golf clubs can modify their management practices to make their golf courses more environmentally friendly!

1. Optimized and reduced use of pesticides and fertilizers

• Ensuring that course managers and staff have adequate training on the appropriate application guidelines of pesticides and fertilizers is very important as this has been a identified as an issue resulting improper applications .7 Another method is to only apply fertilizers and pesticides when needed (either at a certain time of the year, or when negative effects become noticed). In addition, employing Integrated Pest Management is also effective at reducing pesticide applications.8

2. Optimization of watering regime and infrastructure

• Watering should happen only when needed, when rain is not forecast and when evapotranspiration is low9 (for example at dusk or dawn). The installation of soil moisture measure instruments (which indicate when to water) is also encouraged as they have can reduce water consumption by up to 51%!9 Furthermore, ensuing that there are no leaks in irrigation infrastructure and that nozzles are optimized and pointed in the correct direction (so that only desired areas are watered , i.e avoiding the ruff when possible) are also promising ways to reduce water use.

3. Change in mowing regimes

• Many pollinators, birds and other organisms live and nest in tall grasses, this is why extensive/frequent mowing can have a negative impact on their populations. Golf courses can help to minimize this impact by  reducing their frequency of mowing and by converting excess turf to native grassland species. Reducing the mowing of playable areas from everyday to only 5 days has been shown to improve grass health and as a result may reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides.8

Many golf clubs around the world have recognized the significant impacts that golf courses can have on native species and are now pioneering many best practices for a more sustainable future! The GEO Foundation has been leading the way on improving the sustainability of golf courses and has many great resources on how to make your course more sustainable! Click here to learn more!

A great day of golfing with bluebirds singing,  green frogs croaking and milkweed waving? Now that’s a hole in one!

Written by: Fallon Hayes, Communications and Education Specialist

1. Colding, Johan, and Carl Folke. “The role of golf courses in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.” Ecosystems 12.2 (2009): 191-206.
2. Tanner, R. A., and A. C. Gange. “Effects of golf courses on local biodiversity.” Landscape and Urban planning 71.2-4 (2005): 137-146.
3. Hodgkison, Simon, Jean-Marc Hero, and Jan Warnken. “The efficacy of small-scale conservation efforts, as assessed on Australian golf courses.” Biological Conservation 135.4 (2007): 576-586.
4. LeClerc, Joshua E., et al. “Reproductive success and developmental stability of eastern bluebirds on golf courses: evidence that golf courses can be productive.” Wildlife Society Bulletin 33.2 (2005): 483-493.
5. López-Bonilla, Luis Miguel, María del Carmen Reyes-Rodríguez, and Jesús Manuel López-Bonilla. “Golf tourism and sustainability: Content analysis and directions for future research.” Sustainability 12.9 (2020): 3616.
6. Rossi, Frank, and Jennifer Grant. “Long term evaluation of reduced chemical pesticide management of golf course putting turf.” (2009).
7. Arcury‐Quandt, Alice E., Amanda L. Gentry, and Antonio J. Marín. “Hazardous materials on golf courses: Experience and knowledge of golf course superintendents and grounds maintenance workers from seven states.” American journal of industrial medicine 54.6 (2011): 474-485.
8. Rossi, Frank, and Jennifer Grant. “Long term evaluation of reduced chemical pesticide management of golf course putting turf.” (2009).
9. Throssell, Clark S., et al. “Golf course environmental profile measures water use, source, cost, quality, management and conservation strategies.” Applied Turfgrass Science 6.1 (2009): 1-20.

Did you know that there are 29 known species of fireflies (Lampyridae) in eastern Canada and 19 of which have been found in Ontario?1 These beetles can be found in June and July in grassland, woodland and wetland habitats where they light up the night (usually around dusk) using bioluminescence (light production through a series of chemical reactions within an organism).1,2

Fireflies have a special enzyme (a protein that acts as a catalyst and causes the acceleration of a chemical reaction) called luciferase which causes a chemical reaction between oxygen, another special protein called D-luciferin, ATP (Adenosine triphosphate which is a form of chemical energy in cells) and Mg2+ (magnesium ion).3

This series of reactions causes the beautiful yellow/orange/red light that fireflies produce and each species expresses this light using unique patterns of flashes!1 Not only is the light beautiful it is also efficient and actually uses 20% less energy than walking!4 

Why do fireflies glow?

Although the larval stages of many species are not documented, it is theorized that they all exhibit bioluminescence.1

In fact, it is thought that fireflies actually evolved bioluminescence as a visible display, like colour, that signals to predators that a species is unpalatable, toxic and/or dangerous, and later was adapted for use in adults .4 

Mature fireflies use bioluminescence to attract mates in the darkening dusk skies or even to lure their next meal! In mating rituals males (which will usually flash when flying) and females (which will usually flash while on the ground, regardless of whether they have the ability to fly- females of some species cannot) will “speak” to each other through their carefully timed flashing patterns.4

Once a love connection is sparked the male will fly down to the female in hopes of taking their romance to the next level. In some species, charming males will actually bring nuptial gifts of prey, spermatophores (a package containing sperm and nutrients) or offer parts of his body for food (this sparks a whole new meaning of “giving yourself to someone”!) to females in order to woo them.4

If she finds the male worthy she will mate with him; however if a female waits too long and doesn’t select a male, the quality of their gifts deteriorate (this I because males will often mate with more than one female)!4 

Instead of only signaling to find mates, females of some firefly species will mimic the signaling pattern of females of a different type of firefly, thus inviting the male from that species to come over for an amorous rendez-vous or what he thinks will be a romantic night. The, when he flies to her, perhaps bringing his thoughtful gifts, she climbs on top him and EATS him.4 I can imagine the scene “Hello beautiful lady, I brought you some dinner and gifts?” “Thank you, sir :D” *CRUCH* “MUAHAHA YOU are dinner!”

As mating season progresses to late summer females will lay their eggs in the ground or under tree bark. 5

After a few weeks larvae hatch and will overwinter in either place.5 Larva can be terrestrial, semi-aquatic or aquatic and eat worms, snails or other squishy invertebrates.1   Due to the fact that they  live most of their lives in the larval state in/on the ground this means that soil health is very important for them! Anything applied to the ground, such as pesticides, can have negative effects on firefly populations either directly through killing them or through killing their prey.

A flash for love that no one can see. Does she notice me?

Our fireflies are in trouble. Landscape changes causing habitat loss and light pollution (artificial lights on at night) causes firefly lovers to become lost. Fireflies adapted their lighting to be noticed in a dark environment, but what happens when we light up the night sky with artificial lights? Studies have shown that outdoor lighting, even when it is 88% less intense than street lights, reduces the frequency and occurrence of firefly flashing by a staggering 50% compared to nights without lighting (little moonlight, no artificial light)!2

The reduction in firefly flashes is likely to greatly reduce instances of mating because males and females have a harder time finding each other.2 Some studies have shown reductions in flashing up to 69%!6 In 2001, it was calculated that nearly 19% of land experienced light pollution with that percentage advancing up to 6% each year. 7

Single and ready to mingle: What can we do to help fireflies find love? 

With night lighting and light pollution being one of the greatest threats to fireflies (and many other nocturnal species) the best thing we can do is reduce the intensity and frequency of artificial lighting in the environment.

Fireflies are a marvelous and almost magical species. By doing something as simple as turning off our lights when we are not using them, we can help these beauties to shine bright all summer! Learn about how to help fireflies and build firefly habitat by watching “How to Attract and Protect Fireflies” . To learn more about effects of light pollution please visit The International Dark-Sky Association website.

 

Written by:

Fallon Hayes, Communications and Education Specialist

Works Cited

 

1. Luk, Stephen PL, Stephen A. Marshall, and Marc A. Branham. “The fireflies of Ontario (Coleoptera: Lampyridae).” Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification 16 (2011): 1-105.
2. Costin, Kevin J., and April M. Boulton. “A field experiment on the effect of introduced light pollution on fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) in the Piedmont Region of Maryland.” The Coleopterists Bulletin 70.1 (2016): 84-86.
3. Fleiss, Aubin, and Karen S. Sarkisyan. “A brief review of bioluminescent systems (2019).” Current genetics 65.4 (2019): 877-882.
4. Lewis, Sara M., and Christopher K. Cratsley. “Flash signal evolution, mate choice, and predation in fireflies.” Annu. Rev. Entomol. 53 (2008): 293-321.
5. https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/encyclopedias/fauna/insects/firefly.html
6. Firebaugh, Ariel, and Kyle J. Haynes. “Experimental tests of light-pollution impacts on nocturnal insect courtship and dispersal.” Oecologia 182.4 (2016): 1203-1211.
7. Cinzano, Pierantonio, Fabio Falchi, and Christopher D. Elvidge. “The first world atlas of the artificial night sky brightness.” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 328.3 (2001): 689-707.
8. Gaston, Kevin J., et al. “Reducing the ecological consequences of night‐time light pollution: options and developments.” Journal of Applied Ecology 49.6 (2012): 1256-1266.

 

At The Land Between, stories are important to us.  Stories are great at sharing knowledge between generations and individuals.  This particular story comes from my Grandfather who was born and raised on the edge of Muskoka and Haliburton county as well as things I later learned at school.  Near the town of Dorset, where my Grandfather grew up, there’s a pair of twin lakes far off the beaten path called Red Chalk and Blue Chalk lakes.  These are special lakes today since they are headwater lakes to their whole watershed.  For this reason, they are relatively pristine and aren’t inhabited by many people.  Many years ago, long before either I or many of you were born, there was a very unique species of fish that lived in these lakes.  These fish were the Arctic grayling or Thymallus arcticus.  Although the Arctic was thousands of kilometers away, they managed to find a home in this small part of Central Ontario.  Arctic grayling are a small and very colourful member of the Salmon family that typically are found in the Yukon and Northwest territories in either the Arctic ocean or rivers that feed into it.  With that in mind, nobody could really figure out why Arctic grayling were swimming around a couple lakes in Ontario.  Today, there’s still no scientific agreement on how Arctic graylings were so far from their normal home territories.  The best theory now is that their eggs were picked up and deposited by the massive continental glaciers that once stood kilometers high over The Land Between.  When the last glaciers began to travel south, out of the Arctic, eggs of these fish after being fertilized were frozen quickly and picked up by the glaciers and carried far south.  Thousands of years later, the glaciers began to recede and the eggs thawed into the basins of what would become modern day Red Chalk and Blue Chalk lake.  From then on, the Arctic grayling called the area home and for thousands of years continued their population by spawning in the small streams that feed into the lakes.  Word got out about the strange species in these small remote lakes.  The fish were a pleasure to catch and put up quite the fight by jumping out of the water.  Fishermen from all over flocked to these lakes in the hope of hooking into one of these unusual fish.  Since it was previously a difficult place to get to, requiring a hike over hills through thick forest and wetlands, the grayling had originally enjoyed being the top predator in the lakes.  As more and more people came to experience this unique angling phenomenon and take their trophy away with them, the harder it became to find a fish to catch.  The angling pressure coupled with the introduction of Largemouth bass by fisherman wishing for a second sportfish in the lake decimated the population of Arctic grayling as far as we know in Ontario.  Unfortunately, this fantastical story of the out of place Arctic grayling does not have a happy ending for the fish or any fisherman that was not born early enough to visit the lake in its prime.  However, there is another very special fish that calls The Land Between home that still has natural populations today.  It isn’t a different species that traveled here from a faraway place.  Instead it’s a Lake trout, a species you might already know about.  This particular Lake trout is specific to each of three counties: to the Haliburton, Muskoka and Hastings areas, where they were somehow cut off from all other Lake trout long ago.  When this happened the fish began to adapt to the lakes it lived in which were different from ones other Lake trout live in.  For these reasons they became the Haliburton gold trout, Muskoka platinum and Hastings silver lake trout; all subspecies of Lake trout in general, and all unique to these areas/found nowhere else.  It’s our duty as stewards of this land to take care of the place that these fish call home to avoid the same mistake that caused the loss of the lost Arctic graylings.  Even though the graylings of Red Chalk they’re no longer here, the story of their journey south frozen in a glacier is awe inspiring.  It’s my reminder of the resilience and wonder of nature all around us. Listen, look and learn from the fantastic nature around us, and find your place in the story.

Written by Lucas McLelland, Blue Lakes Program Coordinator, The Land Between.

When we think about the warm summer months we tend to think of the time we spend outdoors, the weather, the lush flowers and trees, and perhaps the variety of birds enjoying the same scenery. We don’t usually think about the negatives of these warm, happy months. Once the days get longer and the sun gets higher, we see, hear and feel growth all around us. From blooming flowers, seasonal songbirds, and buzzing bees. These signs of spring and summer would be considered the pros of the warm months, but with these pros, comes cons. The cons of spring and summer may consist of pesky ‘bugs’ that buzz around our heads and bite us while we are trying to enjoy ourselves outdoors. This can create a very unpleasant time, especially when we are aware of the parasites and diseases mosquitoes can carry, and the itchy reactions we may develop from these insect bites.

The issue that we grapple with now is that many ‘bug’ deterrent options contain toxic chemicals that leach into our soils and bioaccumulate in various organisms. This creates a trophic cascade (ripple effect), eventually and certainly becoming harmful to wildlife, and human health (Pope, K. 2019).  Instead of using pesticides, lawn sprays, or even altering the natural environment on your property to rid of biting mosquitoes and flies, there are many other options to help deter these insects while maintaining a natural and native landscape. With having a natural property, you are promoting wildlife to live amongst, and utilize your land, therefore helping you with pest control! It’s a win-win!

Let’s explore some tips for mosquito and black-fly control.

1. Like Indigenous people did, we can use smoke to limit mosquitos in surrounding areas

Ojibwe people living in southern Ontario used “smudges” to ward off mosquitoes. These smudges consisted of lighting piles of sticks and damp leaves on fire to create a smoldering effect that would create a dense smoke for hours. This technique was the most common way of ridding mosquitoes, and was presumably effective (B. George-Jackson, pers. comm., May 11, 2021). There is also literature stating that many Ojibwe groups who harvested wild rice would use the fire for drying rice to keep mosquitoes away (Vennum, T. 1988).

Is there anything specific we can burn to help keep mosquitoes away?

Yes! There are many natural plants and products that are know to be especially effective:

• Sweetgrass
• Peppermint
• Bay leaves
• Used coffee grounds
• Spruce sap
• Egg cartons
• Tim Hortons’ cup holders

2.  Do not clear large tracts of land for the purpose of ‘pest control’

Indigenous communities are one with the natural world. Land is part of their identity and culture as much as it is an economic resource. These ancient communities relied and still do, on collective lands for agriculture, livestock grazing, water, food, medicines, materials and more. The land and natural features were, and still are valuable resources. When it came to pest control, they did not clear large tracts of forest that are home to mosquitos, ticks, flies etc. for the purpose of preventing them. They used other strategies that were more effective, required less labour, and did not disturb the natural world (L, Notess, 2018). Also, the displacement of natural resources highly disrupts community structures and traditions, leading to the loss of sacred and cultural sites (L, Notess. 2018). Today the removal of plants and subsequent sprays, effectively plays “jenga” with foodwebs, and alters pollinators, fishes, and entire suites of species. The value of large sections of  naturally covered land and habitats to society and human health in Canada, outweighs the issues revolving around a few pesky bugs.

When native plants and trees are removed, this makes room for invasive species to take over, and these plants flourish in these open conditions. Invasive plant species spread faster than native plants, and always require more time, money, and energy to control. These invasive species can also push out an area’s indigenous animal species and are partially to blame for their extirpation and extinction. This decreases the biodiversity of an area, and can upset the delicate balance of an ecosystem that relies on its native plants and animals to maintain the areas’ overall health. Furthermore clearing of native vegetation for residential development ahs been linked to the proliferation of white-footed mice, which then carry ticks that carry Lyme Disease. The land clearing also removes natural predators of white footed mice and thus the cycle of invasive species and disease continues.  Finally, land clearing not only puts a strain on native animal populations, but on Earth itself. By removing large portions of forests, the land is being left exposed, which then causes soil erosion, and can lead to flooding (Leach, L. 2017).

There are many negative and devastating effects to land clearing, that will cause more harm in the long run, and eventually put the landscape and human health at risk.

3. By removing key vegetation and natural features you may be removing habitat for important wildlife that feed on mosquitoes and flies.

Clearing land and removing vegetation will not help with mosquitos, flies, and ticks! In fact, removing these natural features means you may be removing valuable habitat for wildlife that feed on mosquitoes and other “pest” insects.

Wetlands provide habitat and feeding grounds for birds, fish, amphibians, and insects. They are also conveniently perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Interestingly enough, mosquitoes spend the majority of their life in water. Some prefer clean water, and some prefer dirty water (Canadian Wildlife Federation, 2021). Thankfully, a healthy functioning wetland supports a wide variety of natural mosquito predators which help keep mosquito populations under control (Canadian Wildlife Federation, 2021).

Natural mosquito eaters are many and diverse; insects, spiders, hydras, copepods, birds, bats, fish and amphibians (C. M. Collins, et. al, 2017). Surprisingly, when it comes to their adult life-stage, dragonflies feed on approximately 4,000 mosquitoes each night; bats consume approximately 10,000 flying insects (including mosquitoes and black flies); and various songbirds eat up to 14,000 insects.

Some mosquito predators that require natural wetlands and water bodies are:

Dragonflies and Damselflies – Dragonfly nymphs and adults both feed on mosquitoes. Adult dragonflies are sometimes called “mosquito hawks” because of their appetite for mosquitoes. Damselflies also feed on mosquitoes, and both can be found living in permanent waters that have aquatic vegetation.

Water striders – Water striders live on the surface of water. They use their front legs to grasp prey such as mosquito larvae and midges.

Water boatmen – These aquatic insects are both scavengers and predators. They help the environment around them by breaking down decaying vegetation, but also feed on the larvae of mosquitoes and midges.

Backswimmers – Backswimmers can be found in the shallows of still waters and ponds where they feed on the larvae of mosquitoes and midges.

Insectivorous Birds – Many birds such as swallows, red-winged blackbirds, purple martins and nighthawks feed on mosquitoes as part of their diets.

Bats – Many species of bats feed on thousands of mosquitoes in one night. A big brown bat can eat up to 1000 mosquitos in one hour (Wray, Amy K., et al. 2018).

If you would like to add a natural feature to your property to deter mosquitos, consider planting a dragonfly garden!

Planting flowers and shrubs such as Black-Eyed Susan, Swamp Milkweed, and Joe-Pye weed among others will attract dragonflies in their adult stage of life and will help significantly in reducing the amount of mosquitos around your home. An individual dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitoes each day, and among that, they are harmless to humans. Not only are they doing their job in limiting mosquitos, they are also a joy to observe around the yard (SCARCE, 2019).

4.  By adding night lighting you are creating constant evening conditions and are now attracting more mosquitoes

When you leave lights on at night, you are attracting hundreds of insects to your yard and home, and sometimes even inside your house. The reason why so many night-time bugs can be found around these lights is because many of them utilize the stars and moon at night to navigate. When they see artificial lighting such as street-lights and porch lights, they get confused and this causes them to start circling the light. Mosquitoes on the other hand utilize light to help them navigate through their environments (Pest Strategies. 2021).

Not only does night-lighting contribute to swarms of flying bugs at night, UV lighting at any time of day attracts black flies and mosquitoes (Allan et al., 1987). These same UV lights can also be found in various bug-zappers. Except, research has shown that most bug zappers do little to eliminate mosquitoes. In fact, they are more likely to kill beneficial insects and, or harmless insects that provide food for birds, bats and fish (Nascri. RS, et al.,1983). In 1977, researchers from the University of Guelph conducted a study to determine how effective bug zappers were at killing mosquitoes and reducing mosquito populations. The results showed that only 4.1% of the insects killed in the bug zappers were female mosquitos, and therefore biting mosquitoes. During the study, they also concluded that yards with bug zappers had more female mosquitoes than those without bug zappers, so consider this next time you think about buying a bug zapping light.

A similar study was conducted at the University of Notre Dame in 1982 that concluded comparable results. During the study, on an average night, a single bug zapper in South Bend, Indiana, killed 3,212 insects, but only 3.3% of the dead insects were female mosquitoes. This specific study also proved UV lighting attracted more mosquitoes to the area, leading to more mosquito bites. After 11 days of repetitive bug zapper operation, mosquito biting rates were not reduced. This is because humans are more attractive to mosquitoes, because of our exhalation of carbon dioxide (CO2) (Debbie Hadley, D. 2019).

5. Pesticides and lawn sprays (even those touted as natural) may  bioaccumulate and impact fish and birds, and can be harmful to children and pregnant women.

An easy problem solver to rid of lawn and property pests is a quick spray of pesticide. Little do we realize, or maybe even turn a blind eye to, is the fact that these pesticides contain harmful chemicals (Tuttle. M, 2018). These sprays typically cause more long-term problems than they solve, because the chemicals in the lawn sprays actually kill natural mosquito and fly predators more than they do the pests themselves. Over time, insects, fish, bats, and birds die out while mosquitoes start to develop a resistance to these sprays. They end up multiplying in ever larger numbers in a losing battle often referred to as “the pesticide treadmill” (Tuttle. M, 2018). The mosquitos will slowly become used to these sprays and the chemicals seem to not have the same effect on them anymore, and therefore require a larger quantity or increased toxicity to help the control. At this point it becomes extremely threatening to the environment, economic and human health (Tuttle. M, 2018).

There are many pesticides ‘designed’ for home and garden settings but are non-specific to what type of pest it targets. This creates an issue because this non-specific spray means they are effective on all bugs – the ones you want to kill and unfortunately the bugs you really don’t want to kill. For instance, if you’re having a problem with aphids, a non-specific pesticide won’t just kill the aphids, it will kill everything that comes into contact with the pesticide-treated plant. This poses a serious threat to pollinators such as bees and butterflies that may also utilize those plants (Tuttle. M 2018).

Consistent use of lawn sprays can also lead to toxic chemicals leaching into our groundwater, lakes and then into our larger water systems (Perez-Lucas, G. et. al. 2018) where fish can be impacted directly or indirectly. Long-term exposures to pesticides can cause developing fish larvae to have abnormalities or mutations, and acute exposure can cause more extreme effects such as immediate fish die-offs (Beyond Pesticides. n.d.).

Birds can have a direct exposure to harmful chemicals by ingesting seeds that have been treated with pesticides. They can also absorb harmful chemicals indirectly from eating small insects that have ingested pesticides themselves, leading to secondary poisoning. Another way birds can be impacted is by the decline in insect populations from the application of these sprays. When the insect population has a die-off from a chemical spray, this once reliable, and natural food source for birds is now completely gone or extremely limited (Beyond Pesticides. n.d.).

Human Health Risks of Chemical Sprays

Even though we may take the suggested safety protocols given on the spray labels and we wear our personal protective equipment while applying pesticides, we forget about any exposure post spray. We may also rely on the term “natural” to feel safe about having sprays applied.  However, you will note that there is a window of time after a pesticide application when you must stay off your lawn to avoid being exposed to these hazardous chemicals. However, once the lawn is deemed ‘safe’ to use again, pets and children are still at a high risk due to the fact they play directly in the grass. Pets are known to chew on treated grass, or lick their coats, which may have toxic chemicals on them. With children, they have a higher risk of developing health effects from the exposure than adults because their internal organs are still developing and maturing (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and American Academy of Pediatrics. 2020).

Pregnancy

Exposure to pesticides could increase your chances of having a miscarriage, a baby with birth defects, low birth weight, fetal death, or other serious complications. Some pesticides also may be able to pass into breast milk. (Council on Environmental Health Pediatrics December 2012,).

Many studies have shown that lawn sprays can drift into our homes where they then contaminate indoor surfaces and air, exposing children and pets to levels 10 times higher than pre-application (Beyond Pesticides. n.d.). An eye-opening fact is that most shelf bought pesticides are linked to more problems than we are aware of, and if we did, these companies might even go out of business.

“Of the 30 most commonly used lawn pesticides, “16 are linked with cancer or carcinogenicity, 12 are linked with birth defects, 21 with reproductive effects, 25 with liver or kidney damage, 14 with neurotoxicity, and 17 with disruption of the endocrine (hormonal) system. Of those same 30 lawn pesticides, 19 are detected in groundwater, 20 have the ability to leach into drinking water sources, 30 are toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms vital to our ecosystem, 29 are toxic to bees, 14 are toxic to mammals, and 22 are toxic to birds.” (Beyond Pesticides. n.d.)

The new all natural sprays are not too much better, as they are still harmful to pregnant women, children, and can also result in the same resistance by mosquitoes, as well as leach, runoff and/or bioaccumulate in water, affecting fish and other aquatic species.

6. Removing bugs by mass spraying or habitat alterations results in the removal of food for fish and birds, which then removes food sources for larger mammals, including humans.

The issue with lawn sprays is that they are like an iceberg in water. The tip of the iceberg represents the immediate effects (the visual appearance of little to no bugs on your property), but there is more to it than what we can see. The underwater part of the iceberg represents the effects that ripple up and down the natural food chains, causing a trophic cascade. Pesticides can make their way into aquatic ecosystems through run-off from a single application (such as a “pulse” from an agricultural area), or in low doses over the course of several weeks (as in common mosquito control efforts) (Toher. D. 2018)

When there are high levels of pesticides and fertilizers entering into a stream or waterway, there can be significant trophic reshuffling (re-ordering of the foodweb). Starting with population declines of important macroinvertebrates and detritivores (Toher. D. 2018). The loss of these organisms results in less food for larger animals (fishes and amphibians) that are higher on the food chain. Once these animals have been affected, the toxins can then flow upwards to affect other predator species (birds, otters, bears, foxes etc.) The loss of important detritivores leads to lower rates of decomposition in aquatic habitats which significantly impacts nutrient cycling, a critical ecosystem service (Toher. D. 2018).

7. For a chemical free repellant, use wind or a breeze from a fan to circulate air and keep weak flying mosquitoes away!

Have you ever noticed on windy days, there seems to be almost no mosquitoes? Joe Conlon, a technical adviser of the American Mosquito Control Association stated that this is because mosquitos are weak fliers and when it comes to a stiff breeze, they cannot compete. With this in mind, in 2003, a study was conducted in a central Michigan wetland where there was an abundance of mosquitoes. An electric fan was used to generate wind to test the theory about wind displacing mosquitoes in a small area (Hoffmann, E.J., Miller. R. J., 2003). The results found that wind was an effective method for deterring mosquitos and other airborne pests. There were a few reasons why this strategy works. Firstly, it is quite obvious, but the winds prevent the pests from circling and landing. Secondly, a fan dilutes and disperses the carbon dioxide we exhale, and as we know, mosquitoes are attracted to us because of this chemical. Lastly, the wind from a fan also cools you off, so sweat (which contains lactic acid and body heat) which attracts mosquitoes, will not be as dense in the vicinity (Hoffmann. E.J., Miller. R. J., 2003).

Conlon suggests setting up a fan wherever you might be sitting outdoors. Keep the airflow directed low, below table level, or leg level because some species of mosquito (including those that carry Zika) tend to prefer lower extremities to bite and hide underneath outdoor furniture. The American Mosquito Control Association recommends using fans as practical means of protecting humans and pets from mosquitoes in a backyard setting.

This strategy is not practiced often but it is highly recommended to keep weak flying mosquitos away from your sitting area and pets.

8. Don’t forget about other personal items such as bug nets and screened in spaces to gain liberty

For a safe, and environmentally friendly approach to reducing bug bites consider using mosquito nets (hats and jackets) for personal wear. These are the safest methods that will not harm any wildlife, habitats or human health.

Another option is creating a space that will be mostly bug-free. Installing a screened in gazebo or tent will help you gain liberty in any natural setting without removing key vegetation and wildlife habitat. You can feel one with nature and the outdoors, while you are protected from any and all flying insects. These screened in spaces come in various shapes and dimensions and will also protect you from the rain! Another bonus about these tents is that they are temporary and you can take them down and move them to wherever you choose.

Here is an idea:

Plant native wildflower gardens around your screened in gazebo! This will invite a variety of “good” insects to visit your yard, while you can enjoy watching the wildlife around you and stay pest free. Just don’t forget to zip the screen!

9. Most bugs are also pollinators

Even though you may want to get rid of any pesky insects that bite, keep in mind that it is quite hard to target just those ones. The majority of flying insects have a very important role, and that role is pollination. Just as bees do, dragonflies, moths, butterflies, flies and more feed on pollen from flowering vegetation and sometimes very specific flowers. These pollen helpers play an extremely critical role in the health and wellbeing of humanity. Without pollinators, we would not have much of the food we eat today.

Did you thank a pollinator today? Because three-quarters of the world’s flowering plants and about 35% of the world’s crops depend on pollinators! One out of every three bites of food we eat is because of our helpful pollinators (USDA. n.d.). Bees and other insects produce $20 billion worth of products annually, just alone in the USA (O’Hara, N. n.d.).

10. Each parcel of land counts! How you manage your property contributes to the demise of the highlands and the sustainability of the local environment

Everyone must work together to protect wildlife habitats and sustainable environments. We can do this by creating and preserving a healthy and natural landscape in our own backyards. In fact, how you manage your property affects neighboring lands and species composition in the vicinity. Think of the downtown area or suburbs of a busy city. Do you picture wildlife when you think of these areas? Probably not. The removal of native flora is also the removal of native fauna. The chances of seeing wildlife are slim to none in these areas.

For those that live outside of the city lines and have more property to manage, also have more responsibility and influence on the overall landscape because their land contains more natural features. The conservation of these private land plays a pivotal role in global sustainability (Kamal, S. et. al. 2013). If you own property in the highlands, you can make a conscious commitment to look after your land by developing an understanding and appreciation of the natural and cultural features of your property. Once you are able to identify and appreciate these valuable resources, you are on the way to the preservation of them. This is one of the best ways to ensure that these unique and valuable features of your property remain for future generations. Maintaining a natural habitat not only benefits the overall wellbeing of the local community, it is also creating a pure, untouched, and natural place for your family and future generations to enjoy.

Some tips for sustainable property management:

1.  Resist the urge to tidy up your property especially in wilder areas and sensitive areas of shorelines. As long as they pose no danger, standing and fallen dead trees should be left where they are. Fallen trees provide invaluable nesting sites, shelter, and hiding places. As they decompose, fallen trees provide essential nutrients to the forest soil for other plants to thrive.
2. Naturalize your property wherever possible by either landscaping with native plant species or by allowing an area to grow back on its own. Native species have adapted to local climate and soil conditions and are therefore hardier, requiring little care.
3. Consider creating habitat on your property such as basking areas for reptiles, brush piles for creatures to hide in, and small ponds if a water supply is needed.
4. Reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides and fertilizers, particularly near water.
5. Take the natural landscape into consideration when doing any construction or alterations around your property.
6. In the larger picture, lightening your footprint is also the way to go. Easy adjustments can be made that make big differences personally, locally and globally.  Using alternative energy sources where possible, recycling, reducing light pollution, choosing alternative modes of travel and even buying locally do a lot to support economic and environmental sustainability at all scales.
7. Creating a stewardship plan for your property is an excellent way to learn about and manage your unique property. Site visits and assessments conducted by qualified Biologists will provide you with features and species on your property, and can outline best practices, restoration designs and management options

If you are a resident in the area consider learning about the assets of your property and how they are interrelated with everything around you. If you do your part in conserving a natural landscape, you are helping out in more ways than you can see! If we alter our properties in a drastic way that is unnatural, we will start to lose what makes this place unique and special.

For tourists, visitors and explorers that love the beautiful landscape of the highlands and all the nature-related activities, views, and sounds such as fishing, hiking, birding, camping etc. We also count on you to keep the highlands strong and healthy! You can do your share by being respectful to the land and consider stepping gently wherever you go.

“Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.” – John Muir

Written By: Sarah Jackson

For: The Land Between Conservation Organization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

1. Tang, C., Davis, K.E., Delmer, C. et al. Elevated atmospheric CO2 promoted speciation in mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae). Commun Biol 1, 182 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-018-0191-7
2. https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/04/climate-change-could-foster-rapid-mosquito-evolution/
3. Vennum, T. (1988). Wild rice and the Ojibway people. United States: Minnesota Historical Society Press.
4. https://www.acsh.org/news/2016/11/01/sweetgrass-deet-traditional-native-american-herbal-remedy-acts-mosquito-repellent
5. https://www.acsh.org/news/2016/11/01/sweetgrass-deet-traditional-native-american-herbal-remedy-acts-mosquito-repellent
6. https://survivaltopic.com/how-to-repel-mosquitoes-in-the-wild/
7. https://edrugsearch.com/blog/burn-coffee-grounds-mosquito-repellent/
8. https://www.wri.org/insights/indigenous-peoples-losing-land-can-mean-losing-lives May 31, 2018 By Laura Notess
9. https://sciencing.com/bring-the-outdoors-inside-with-these-nature-kits-for-kids-13763822.html Updated July 21, 2017 By Lindsey Leach
10. Wray, Amy K., et al. “Incidence and Taxonomic Richness of Mosquitoes in the Diets of Little Brown and Big Brown Bats.” Journal of Mammalogy, vol. 99, issue 3, 2018, pp. 668-674., doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyy044
11. https://cwf-fcf.org/en/news/articles/west-nile_resource.html
12. https://www.scarce.org/repel-mosquitoes-with-a-dragonfly-garden/
13. Effects of the removal or reduction in density of the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae s.l., on interacting predators and competitors in local ecosystems
14. C. M. Collins, J. A. S. Bonds, M. M. Quinlan, J. D. Mumford. Med Vet Entomol. 2019 Mar; 33(1): 1–15. Published online 2018 Jul 25. doi: 10.1111/mve.12327.
15. https://www.peststrategies.com/pest-guides/mosquito-guides/mosquitoes-light/#:~:text=Put%20it%20simply%2C%20mosquitoes%20aren,to%20find%20their%20food%20source.
16.  Allan, S. A. , Day, J. F. , & Edman, J. D. (1987). Visual ecology of biting flies. Annual Review of Entomology, 32, 297–316.
17. Nasci, RS, CW. Harris and CK Porter. 1983. Failure of an insect electrocuting device to reduce mosquito biting. Mosquito News. 43:180–184.
18. https://www.thoughtco.com/do-bug-zappers-kill-mosquitoes-1968054#:~:text=In%20an%20average%20night%2C%20a,leading%20to%20more%20mosquito%20bites.
19. https://batmanagement.com/blogs/bat-roosts/bats-and-mosquito-control
20. https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/8-reasons-not-to-use-pesticides-in-your-yard-and-garden-52794
21. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/Protecting-Children-from-Pesticides-Information-for-Parents.aspx
22. https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/130/6/e1757
23. https://www.intechopen.com/books/pesticides-use-and-misuse-and-their-impact-in-the-environment/environmental-risk-of-groundwater-pollution-by-pesticide-leaching-through-the-soil-profile
24. https://www.beyondpesticides.org/programs/wildlife/birds
25. https://www.beyondpesticides.org/assets/media/documents/Pesticides.Harming.Key.Species.PAY.Summer.2018-4.pdf
26. Eric J. Hoffmann, James R. Miller, Reassessment of the Role and Utility of Wind in Suppression of Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Host Finding: Stimulus Dilution Supported Over Flight Limitation , Journal of Medical Entomology, Volume 40, Issue 5, 1 September 2003, Pages 607–614, https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-2585-40.5.607
27. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/do-bug-zappers-work/
28. https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/hillsborough/docs/pdf/ffl/Bees-Butterflies–Dragonflies_FFL-101.pdf
29. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsanimals/pollinate/
30. Conservation on private land: a review of global strategies with a proposed classification system Sristi Kamal,Małgorzata Grodzińska-Jurczak &Gregory Brown Pages 576-597 | Received 12 Feb 2013, Accepted 11 Dec 2013, Published online: 05 Feb 2014

https://www.thelandbetween.ca/conservation-tools/hands-on-stewardship/

Did you know that snakes play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem? They help control rodent populations and also provide food for other predators. The snake gets a pretty bad rep. Most people think they are scary and dangerous. Here, at the Land between charity, we want to break these stereotypes because snakes are awesome!

All snakes in The Land Between bioregion, except a rare  species on the Georgian Bay coast of the Massassauga Rattlesnake, are non-venomous.

Also, snakes have scales and scales do not generate bacteria- so snakes are relatively clean animals. Also snakes have very poor eyesight and therefore are unlikely to see you clearly unless you are very close to them. Instead they sense a presence through vibrations on their skin and they also smell through their tongues. If a snake was to sense you, it, being quite helpless (as it is very short and without legs or arms) would either attempt to blend in or will put on a good show to try to scare you off.

One snake, in particular, puts on quite a dramatic show to fool you into thinking they are venomous and scary; that is, the Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos). Thus, we call her the Drama Queen of The Land Between. When this harmless snake feels threatened, it coils up, flattens its head and neck to form a cobra-like hood, inflates its body, hisses loudly and strikes, but always with a closed mouth. And if the snake is lucky enough to hit your leg with its mouth, it will feel like a soft “punt”. In fact this snake has only two large teeth at the very back of its mouth for holding on to toads. But, iIf this frightening display doesn’t scare the predator or person away, the snake rolls over and plays dead. She can even excrete blood and some foul smelling ooze from glands near her mouth to convince you she is “out of play”. Pretty impressive, right? That’s one clever snake! Unfortunately, they can be so successful at convincing humans that they are dangerous that they often are killed on the spot before the display is over.

This snake is non-venomous, has a thick body, wide head, and a slightly upturned and pointed snout. They can grow up to 1 meter long.  As adults, these snakes vary greatly in colour from light brown, light grey, red, tan, greyish green, yellowish, and even solid dark grey or black. Regardless of colour, they will have a dark patch on their head behind each eye. It is difficult to identify these snakes by colour alone which is why the key ID feature of this snake is the distinct upturned snout hence the name hognose.

Unfortunately, the hognose snake is threatened. While it has not yet made the “endangered” list in Ontario, it is likely to become endangered if steps are not taken to mitigate the threats. The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake was already listed as threatened when the Endangered Species Act took effect in 2008. Much of the historic habitat of the eastern hognose snake has been destroyed throughout The Land Between, due to agriculture and unprotected and un-restored shorelines. Much of the remaining habitat is under constant development pressure from these human land uses.

Here are some facts about the Eastern Hognose snake.

HABITAT	o   Mostly found in areas with dry, sandy, or mixed sandy soils. o   Grassy fields; crop fields; woodland edges. o   When found along woodland edges, they are mostly found in thinly wooded pine and/or hardwood areas. o   Sometimes found near small bodies of water
DIET	o   Mostly toads; typically swallow them live o   Frogs, various reptiles, small birds, small mammals, fish, salamanders, worms and insects. o   Juvenile ones eat mostly crickets and other small insects
LIFE CYCLE	o   Breeds annually in spring and late summer o   Females lay between 7 and 37 eggs (average of 10 to 18 eggs). o   Eggs hatch 2 months later in September or November. o   Can grow as fast as two centimeters per month. o   Males usually take 18-24 months to reach maturity at 40 centimeters. o   Females reach maturity at around 45 centimeters after about 21 months. o   They can live up to 7 years in the wild. o   Mostly active during the summer (early April until October) o   Begin hibernation anywhere from early September into November. o   Hibernate underground below the frost line, often in burrows that they excavate in sandy soil
THREATS	o   Primarily habitat loss, fragmentation, and humans. o   Road mortality o   Prey to many animals (raccoons, opossums, foxes, hawks, other predatory birds) o   Preferred habitat is also preferred by humans for agriculture and waterfront recreation

 

What You Can Do

• Volunteer to be a Snake Supervisor with The Land Between! We offer online tools to teach you what to do and what not to do, how to report your findings to us, and we offer ongoing support with our team. If you are interested in helping. Registration Link
• Report a sighting to The Land Between by following this link to the “Report a Species” page: https://www.thelandbetween.ca/conservation-tools/report-a-rare-species/ or emailing CitizenScienceTLB@gmail.com
• Please don’t harm them. If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you. Again, to put the danger of snakes in perspective: all of Ontario’s snakes are non-venomous, except for the very rare Massasauga.
• Watch out for snakes when you’re out on the road especially between May and October when they are most active.

Written by Nadia Pagliaro

Sources

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Heterodon_platirhinos/

Balancing the Scales: Appreciating Ontario’s Snakes

https://www.ontario.ca/page/easternhognosed%20snake#:~:text=The%20Eastern%20Hog%2Dnosed%20Snake%20is%20a%20non%2Dvenomous%2C,upturned%20nose%20and%20behavioural%20displays.

 

Media Release from Watersheds Canada –

In partnership with a volunteer project steering committee of the Planning for
our Shorelands project, Watersheds Canada is excited to announce the availability of the project’s first
report, The Future of our Shores.
The Future of our Shores provides critical insight into complicated questions related to:

• shoreland development and freshwater stewardship;
• science supporting the importance of shorelands and freshwater and its availability;
• adequacy of provincial and municipal policy and laws to protect shorelands and freshwater in
  Ontario; and
• effectiveness of implementation and enforcement.

The Future of our Shores highlights the most pressing shoreland issues identified by several influential
stakeholders, as well as opinions concerning how these issues can and should be approached. Over 150
individuals responded to three stakeholder surveys, including one each for municipal planners, councilors, and lake and river association representatives.

There was considerable agreement amongst the three stakeholder groups, including the need for more
serious application of shoreland best-practices, the need for increased education of all three
stakeholder groups and the general public, and the creation of a collaborative network between the
decision-makers of communities and organizations who rely upon freshwater habitats for the economic
and ecological services they provide.

With an exponential increase in demand for shoreland properties and amenities, Ontario is at a critical
juncture in relation to freshwater protection through land-use policy and policy implementation. The
Future of our Shores represents a resource for those wanting to learn more about the current state of
shoreland policy, development practices, and shoreland science in Ontario.
The goal of the Planning for our Shorelands project is to provide municipal stewards and professionals
with resources as they wade through the difficult waters of shoreland management and land-use on
Ontario lakes and rivers.

Planning for our Shorelands and The Future of our Shores would not be possible without the generous
financial support of the Daniel and Susan Gottlieb Foundation, White Lake Preservation Project, ImpAct
Internship Program, and LUSH Charity Pot. Planning for our Shorelands is guided by a volunteer steering
committee including: Barbara King (Watersheds Canada), Janet Taylor (White Lake Preservation Project),
Mark Snider, Glenn Tunnock, Leora Berman (The Land Between), Terry Rees (Federation of Ontario
Cottagers’ Associations), Mary Rae, and Katrina Furlanetto (Cataraqui Conservation).

To access the full report and other resources: The-Future-of-Our-Shores-final-report

A recent project led by Samantha Dunlop (with Ulinks, Trent University and in partnership with The Land Between charity), explored the various policies that upper and lower tier municipalities have to support or protect biodiversity; Policies that deal with shorelands, set backs, lighting, green spaces, noise and others. In this project, the municipalities in the west half of the region of City of Muskoka, Haliburton, Peterborough, and Hastings were researched and planners were also surveyed to explore issues related to biodiversity protection. The project is the first phase for a longer program that The Land Between and in partnership with Watersheds Canada is launching, titled Planning for Our Shorelands. This research revealed some surprising results, where Muskoka, with the largest development footprint, has most comprehensive policy levers when compared to other areas. This result is perhaps the outcome of the capacity of the municipality itself, or because of their tenure in dealing with development at higher scales- or both. The summaries and report is not only interesting in revealing trends, but it will help the Land Between and partners at Watersheds Canada, direct efforts in providing resources, education, and supports to fill gaps in the region. The resources will also serve to guide landowners, giving them tools that they may not have known existed in their communities, or to examples to follow to support their own conservation efforts. To read the full report follow this link.   Note: While this is a great resources to help on a site by site basis, however recent changes to most environmental and planning legislation by the Ontario government has meant that Ministerial Zoning Orders can choose who and where any development can happen. To find out more read our blog

Grace, is an ancient snapping turtle, whose hibernation site is near the Haliburton Highlands Secondary School and feeding grounds extend across 2 lakes at over 40km radius and across busy roads including Highway 118 in Haliburton County. Grace is likely over 125 years old judging by her carapace (upper shell) size, and could be as old as 200 years according to scientific studies (Armstrong and Brooks). She is the largest turtle we, at Turtle Guardians, have had the honour of meeting in the county. She is 39cm, which is very close to the record size found in this area of Ontario that we know of at 42cm. Grace is not only notable because of her size, but she is missing her right eye. Grace is named for the absolute miracle of her longevity and existence without significant injury or death in this busy area of roads and boats. We first encountered and rescued Grace in the late summer and early fall of 2020. First Grace was sitting just by a main road in front of the Highschool. She was found by a champion volunteer named Jack (pictures above). She was also situated right in front of many school buses, which were all lined up behind her, readying to take students back home. Therefore, the school called us to “move her”. And it took two of us to oblige. We moved her in the direction she was facing, and took her about carefully about 700 metres to Kashagawigamog Lake. We believed she may be hibernating in that area. She did not seem to desire to get into the water, but this lake was certainly within her territory, and it was a safer place for her to be. However, the following week we received a call in the evening from someone who had spotted her while walking their two large dogs. This time Grace was in front of the elementary school facing the opposite direction from the previous week. Well, we were obviously mistaken about her chosen hibernation site being the lake. In order to move her, we commissioned a wheel barrow because Grace is very heavy. We wheeled her across the driveway and parking lot to the closest wetland – a small pocket wetland about 200 metres from her current location, and voila, she seemed at once comfortable and eager to get into the water there.  Turtles hibernate in waters that are stable; in other words, where water levels will not fluctuate. They also hibernate within 1 metre of where they hibernated in previous years. The onset of warm weather reminded us of Grace- that she might also emerge early and be found on the roads. Therefore, we urgently put out a Facebook post to alert community members in Haliburton about Grace, including a note about what to do if she was spotted (take a picture, text us and to simply “coach her” in the direction she is headed instead of trying to lift her, because she is very heavy, and certainly should never be lifted by the tail). We have been so amazed as the post has reached 61830 views and has been shared 890 times. and including by the Canadian Environmental Law Society! While we are pleased because all the attention brings hope that people will watch out for Grace so that she can continue to live well amongst us for at least another fifty years, Grace is not the only turtle needing both our vigilance and kindness- and she is also not the only older turtle around. In fact, since the Facebook post just last week, we have received reports of two other massive snapping turtles in Haliburton county, and one which would measure larger than Grace and therefore be her senior. And we want to help Grace and all turtles across the region survive. Therefore we have launched new programs and efforts; we have identified key high mortality sites where turtles need our help. At these sites we will be installing temporary silt fencing to “slow turtles reaching roads” and at the same time staffing the sites with amazing volunteers who will help both record sightings and help these shelled friends cross the roads. The data collected will help us assess mitigation measures such as turtle tunnels, the need for speed bumps, and signs, as well as other options. Both Haliburton County and Peterborough County road departments are also onside, and have issued us road occupancy permits. And in Peterborough, Parks Canada is partnering with us to facilitate these research and rescue efforts. Now we are trying to raise funds to pay for high visibility vests, signage to bookend key sites and keep drivers, volunteers and turtles safe, and for silt fencing. We have launched a GoFundMe Campaign to support these efforts, which has been inspired by Grace, and is entitled Saving Grace. Please consider supporting our efforts by donating: gf.me/u/zqj6zp

 

Donate: Help us raise money for our Saving Grace- Road Crossing Monitors- Research and Rescue project