If you are familiar with turtles and practiced in the art of helping them across roads, you are probably aware that turtle conservation groups and experts urge rescuers to move turtles across the road in the direction they are facing when found. Why is this? When you find a turtle crossing a road coming from a lush wetland, heading towards a dry rocky outcrop, doesn’t it make the most sense to turn it around and place it back in the wetland? Even though your natural instincts might tell you to turn a travelling turtle around and put them in a more “turtle-friendly” habitat, this will actually result in the turtle having to cross the road again when they inevitably turn around to head back the way they were going. To understand why turtles will turn back around if you take them off course, you need to know how turtles navigate.

Turtles are excellent navigators within the areas they are familiar with, ie. their “home ranges.” These home ranges include their yearly nesting site (if female), their overwintering grounds, and the wetlands they frequent during their active season. In the early years of their lives turtles will create ‘mental maps’ of their home areas, and it appears that as turtles age they lose this ability to create new mental maps (Caldwell and Nams 2006). Adult turtles tend to rely on their internal compass to navigate through their home range that they know well, and have previously ‘mapped’ (Caldwell and Nams 2006).

There is scientific research that suggests a turtle’s internal compass could be one of two things, or possibly even a combination of both. Turtles could be using the position of the sun in the sky to navigate, or possibly they are able to sense the earth’s magnetic fields; both of these methods would help them know where north is. Scientists have confirmed some Sea Turtle species have magnetite in their brains which allows the animals to sense magnetic fields (Fuentes, et al. 2004). In the case of Ontario freshwater turtle species such as Blanding’s Turtles and Snapping Turtles, researchers have found evidence for both the sun and the magnetic field compass mechanisms (Pappas et al. 2013, Landler et al. 2015, Krentz et al. 2018). More research is needed to determine if both methods are being used by freshwater turtles here, or if some species are using only one.

So what do turtles’ mental maps and internal compasses have to do with always making sure to help them across roads in the direction they are facing? Well, everything! Because turtles are such good navigators, when you find them crossing a road, they are heading some where specific – don’t think for a second they are just wandering or confused!! They know where they are going – even if they are heading somewhere that seems to you like poor turtle habitat. 

Ontario turtles are capable of long distance travel over land, and some individuals have very large home ranges with nesting sites far from the wetlands they use during the summer months, which can be separate and further still from the wetland they might use for their overwintering (Pettit et al. 1995, Brown and Brooks 2004). For example, Snapping Turtles in Algonquin Park have been found to travel up to 3.9 km between August and late September when they head back to their overwintering grounds, and can return within 1 m of the exact spot they hibernated the year before (Brown and Brooks 2004). What amazing proof of these superb navigators in action! This helps put into perspective the turtle you might find heading into a forest away from a perfectly good wetland – this turtle could be travelling to another wetland you can’t see via this forest, or potentially their nesting site is a sandy bank along a small creek on the other side of the forest. Who knows? We don’t, but the turtle definitely does.

An important implication of turtles making mental maps of their home ranges when they are young and using their using internal compasses to navigate after this, is that if an adult turtle is relocated far outside their home range it can be very disorienting and stressful. A study done in Nova Scotia with Eastern Painted Turtles (which are closely related to the subspecies of Painted we find here in Ontario – Midland and Western), found that 60 adult turtles removed from their home ranges did not successfully navigate towards water when released in new habitat (Caldwell and Nams 2006). Instead, they travelled in a straight line in one consistent direction after being released until being recaptured at the end of the 24-hour study period. This suggests that when adult freshwater turtles are relocated to a new habitat outside of their home range, they may not be able to imprint on this new area as they did when they were younger with their home range. The adult turtles in this study seemed to follow an internal compass, but without a mental map of the unfamiliar area, they just travelled in one single direction without any way to navigate towards water.

The only exception to the rule of always helping a turtle across the road in the direction they are travelling, is if you are lucky enough to find a hatchling (a.k.a. brand new baby turtle). Ontario turtle hatchlings are usually no bigger than a toonie, and when they first emerge from their nests they will not have a mental map of their surroundings, although their internal compass mechanisms will activate within hours of emerging from the nest (Pappas et al. 2013). Their instincts will guide them to head towards an open horizon, which will hopefully lead them to water (Krenz et al. 2018). So in this one special case, if you find a hatchling on a road or road shoulder, because they do not have a mental map of their surroundings yet, the best spot to move them is actually the closest shallow water body. This water body should ideally have slow moving water (or no flow at all) and lots of aquatic vegetation where they can hide from predators and find things to eat. This could be a flooded road ditch, a small pond, or a grassy bank of a near by marsh. It is important to note that we still don’t want to relocate a hatchling far from where we found it, do not move a hatchling more than 250 m. If you can not see any water within this distance from where you found it, move the hatchling safely far off the road and road shoulder in the direction they were travelling. It is even more important to note that we don’t want you to take the hatchling home. Without the first years spent in nature, the mental map will not be made and the turtle will be lost for all time to navigating the wild. Meanwhile, we are losing too many turtles to road traffic, pet trades, and habitat loss. So, watch out for hatchlings (and adults too) at the end of August and through September (for Snappers and Blanding’s) and when many Painted Turtle hatchlings emerge at the end of May / beginning of June.

Written by Meredith Karcz, Conservation Technician

Download this article: turtles know where they are going. M. Karcz

References

Brown, G.P., and R.J. Brooks. 1994. Characteristics of and fidelity to hibernacula in a northern population of Snapping Turtles, Chelydra serpentina. Copeia 1994(1): 222-226.

Caldwell, I. R., & Nams, V. O. (2006). A compass without a map: tortuosity and orientation of eastern painted turtles (Chrysemys picta picta) released in unfamiliar territory. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 84(8), 1129-1137.

Fuentes, A., Urrutia-Fucugauchi, J., Garduño, V., Sanchez, J., & Rizzi, A. (2004). Magnetite in Black Sea Turtles (Chelonia agassizi). AGUFM, 2004, B21B-0884.

Krenz, J. D., Congdon, J. D., Schlenner, M. A., Pappas, M. J., & Brecke, B. J. (2018). Use of sun compass orientation during natal dispersal in Blanding’s turtles: in situ field experiments with clock-shifting and disruption of magnetoreception. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 72(11), 177.

Landler, L., Painter, M. S., Youmans, P. W., Hopkins, W. A., & Phillips, J. B. (2015). Spontaneous magnetic alignment by yearling snapping turtles: rapid association of radio frequency dependent pattern of magnetic input with novel surroundings. PLoS One, 10(5), e0124728.

Pappas, M. J., Congdon, J. D., Brecke, B. J., & Freedberg, S. (2013). Orientation of freshwater hatchling Blanding’s (Emydoidea blandingii) and snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) dispersing from experimental nests in agricultural fields. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 8(2), 385-399.

Pettit, K.E., C.A. Bishop, and R.J. Brooks. 1995. Home range and movements of the common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina serpentina, in a coastal wetland of Hamilton Harbour, Lake Ontario, Canada. Canadian Field-Naturalist 109(2): 192- 200.

Its mid June in the Land Between. The evening temperature is pleasant, and I might even say I was comfortable sitting in this lawn chair on the side of the highway, if it weren’t for the bugs! Black-flies and mosquitoes swarm my head and unprotected arms. I pull on my trusty bug jacket and settle back into my seat. I’m watching a show that many people have not had the pleasure of seeing; a Blanding’s Turtle is laying her nest. I’m watching her from the other side of the road through my binoculars, ensuring her safety. This is a vulnerable time for her and I am protecting her from oncoming cars. A study in Southern Ontario showed that approximately 2.7% of cars will intentionally aim for reptiles on the road (Ashley et al. 2007). I won’t let that happen to this momma! She rocks slowly back and forth as she works to dig a hole. She has been working for about an hour now. I wonder if she’ll start laying before its dark! Like many other turtles, this mother is very methodical when it comes to nesting.

A gravid (pregnant) turtle will travel as much as 7.5 kilometres to find the perfect spot to lay their eggs, and many will return to the same place year after year (others will travel within 2km of this site over the years) (Congdon et al. 2008). Some Blanding’s Turtles nest as far as 1 kilometre from the nearest water (Congdon et al. 2008). This turtle has chosen to nest in front of a small marsh, but that marsh that sits behind her may not be where she resides the rest of the year.  I wonder how far this lady has traveled today. The traffic on the highway zooms past me. How many roads did she have to cross to get here safely?

I check on the turtle through my binoculars again. Blanding’s Turtles can take up to 2.5 hours to complete the nesting process. To my excitement, there is a change in behaviour! She has finished digging. Her neck slowly extends out, showing off a beautiful yellow colour. Then she tucks her head in. This tells me that she is finally laying eggs! After each egg, she rocks sideways, catching the egg with one leg and placing it carefully into the nest. She will repeat this process, laying on average 10-15 eggs (Ernst et al. 1994).

I am working as part of crew in The Land Between, which, under a special wildlife permit, will research turtles (all of which are disappearing in Ontario), and which will also help give next generations a boost by incubating eggs.

It is nearly dark now, as I watch her lay her eggs. I wait for her to finish, adrenaline building because the next part is the most fun! As she reaches the end of laying, I start to move. I creep through the bushes behind her on my hands and knees. I slowly move up behind her so that I can see her hind legs. I ensure she cannot see me, as the last thing I want to do is spook her off the nest. I have purposefully been watching through my binoculars from a distance up to this point. I watch as she lays her final egg and begins to bury her nest. Before she can, I pick her up, and hand her to my partner who is ready with equipment to take her morphometrics. He will weigh her and take some measurements of her shell. Meanwhile, I get back to the nest. Since I didn’t let her bury her eggs it makes my job much easier. Blanding’s Turtles are very good at camouflaging their nests. I carefully excavate the nest. These eggs will be transported to an incubator where they will be safe from predators such as raccoons and foxes that love to eat them (Harding 1997). They will also be safe from heavy machinery such as graders, as well as environmental damage such as temperature fluctuations and flooding (Riley et al., unpublished data, Edge unpublished data).

We will return the hatchlings to this area when they emerge in 56-133 days (Gillingwater and Brooks 2001). This will protect them from the road where hatchlings are at higher risk for mortality after emerging from roadside nests (Gillingwater 2013). This mother’s legacy will hopefully live on, and all her travelling and hard work will not have been in vain. While we are helping by ensuring that not as many nests are lost and more hatchlings emerge, the recruitment rate (the replacement rate) for adult turtles is still extremely low because only a small fraction (less than 1%) of the hatchlings will survive the masses of predators and find the right conditions to reach adulthood. 

We release the tired turtle and watch her saunter into the ditch, and out of sight. I think to myself how lucky I am to have such a rewarding job, bug bites and all!

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer nest sitter, please visit the Turtle Guardians website for more information.

Submitted by Grace Wiley, Conservation Technician

Literature Cited

Ashley, E.P., and J.T. Robinson. 1996. Road mortality of amphibians, reptiles and other wildlife on the Long Point Causeway, Lake Erie, Ontario. Canadian Field Naturalist 110:403-412.

Congdon, J.D., T.E. Graham, T.B. Herman, J.W. Lang, M.J. Pappas, and B.J. Brecke. 2008. Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook 1838) Blanding’s turtle. In: Rhodin, A.G.J., P.C.H. Pritchard, P.P van Dijk, R.A. Saumure, K.A. Buhlmann, and J.B. Iverson. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs No. 5, pp. 015.1-015.12.

Edge, C.B. Unpublished data.

Ernst, C.H., R.W. Barbour, and J.E. Lovich. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.

Gillingwater, S.D. 2013. Unpublished report submitted to Canadian Wildlife Service. 48 pp.

Gillingwater, S.D., and R.J. Brooks. 2001. A selective herpetofaunal survey, inventory and biological research study of Rondeau Provincial Park. Report to the International Fund for Animal Welfare and Endangered Species Recovery Fund (World Wildlife Fund).

Riley, J., M. Keevil, P. Moldowan and J. Litzgus. Unpublished data.

Harding, J.H. 1997. Amphibians and reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. 378 pp.

For many of us, casting a line out on a calm lake sounds like the perfect way to spend a late summer’s evening. Avid anglers are no strangers to waking up at the crack of dawn to hop in a boat with a rod and tacklebox in hand (and maybe a morning coffee too!). Even if you do not fish often, there is no doubt that recreational fishing can be an extremely relaxing, enjoyable and oftentimes addicting hobby – it is so easy to get lost in time and not think about much else aside from that next bite! However, to enjoy recreational fishing to its fullest and ensure that it is enjoyed by those after us, it is important to take the time to think about how you can fish responsibly. This is particularly important during Family Fishing Week here in Ontario (occurring July 4^th to the 19^th this year) since many newcomers to the hobby will be participating without having to own a fishing license.

The Land Between bioregion is home to more than 2400 lakes. Many of these lakes are extremely fragile. Pollution, climate change and boating are changing the structure and sustainability of fish populations.

Indeed, now is a good time to learn about how to become a more fish-friendly (and environmentally friendly) angler! Here are just a few tips and tricks to help:

1. Read up on the regulations

As with most fun activities in life, the first step is to make sure we familiarize ourselves with the rules. Keep in mind that you may not need a fishing license during Family Fishing Week, but you still need to follow the Conservation fishing license limits. You can find information regarding the use of live bait, catch limits, size restrictions, and open seasons for different species of fish within your area or zone (there are 20 in total) on the Ontario Fishing Regulations website.

Pay close attention to which specific water body you will be fishing on because there may be exceptions for that lake. It is also a good idea to think about what you will be fishing for prior to heading out onto the lake, keeping in mind the target species, catch limit for that species, size limits, time of year, and any exceptions.

If playing for keeps, aim to keep smaller or damaged fish while leaving the larger, healthier ones to spawn and allow the population to grow. Even if you are just planning to catch and release, becoming familiar with the rules beforehand will ensure you are making the correct decisions in a quick manner to not only be compliant with the regulations, but also the most considerate of the fish’s life.

2. Be gentle

Fish may be strong and powerful when you feel them fighting back on your line, but they are actually relatively fragile creatures outside of the water and thus need to be handled with considerable care.

Some general tips to help you be more gentle when handling fish include:

• Lower the fish gently into the water instead of tossing it – this may shock or hurt it
• Use rubber coated or knot-less nets and damp hands to handle fish – they are gentler on fish scales and their protective slime (which helps to keep them healthy)
• Avoid placing fish on dry or rough surfaces – a fish flopping around on a surface like this can damage their skin and scales
• Avoid holding fish by their gill plates – the gills are delicate and prone to hemorrhaging and infection; they should be treated as vital internal organs since fish would not be able to live without them!
• Use barbless hooks if catching and releasing – these hooks can be released easier and do less damage to the fish
• Minimize the fight time for the fish (which can produce fatal amounts of lactic acid within the fish’s body) – ensure your drag is not set too loose so you do not let out excess line
• Pay close attention to avoid feeding the line to a fish once it is biting (i.e. set the hook early) – this will often avoid gut-hooking a fish which can be very difficult and damaging to remove
• Use circle hooks – they avoid gut-hooking and also tend to prevent snags (bonus!)
• Use a dehooking tool to remove embedded hooks – they are often fairly effective and do much less damage to the fish
• Minimize the time out of water – even just one minute spent out of water can decrease the fish’s chance of survival by 6 times, so it is best to have all your equipment and action plan ready
• Properly prepare for photos by making make sure you are situated, ready and comfortable – try to avoid taking photos if you are uncomfortable handling a fish (some fish have very sharp fins that may prick and cut you!)

It is also extremely important to remember that just because a fish is released (and swims away fine) does not mean that it will survive. In fact, only 11.5% of deeply hooked fish will survive upon release once the hook has been removed, and two-thirds of deeply hooked fish will survive if the hook has not been removed (Casselman, 2005). This is because removing a deeply embedded hook often results in lethal hemorrhaging or invites infection. Therefore, cutting the line (the further down the better) and leaving the hook in if you cannot get it out gently with pliers or a dehooking tool is typically less damaging to the fish than doing all you can to pull it out. This may seem counterintuitive, but most fish can shed the embedded hooks by themselves within a matter of days. Nonetheless, getting a hook stuck should still be avoided by not feeding a fish line after it bites, as well as using circle hooks. This will ensure that no hooks end up in the lake for you to cut yourself on while swimming or for other animals to harm themselves on.

3. Set your snags free

Ah, the dreaded snag. Loosing a lure is not only disappointing for you but also poses a serious threat to other wildlife who may ingest the lures or get tangled in fishing line. In fact, many studies have found fish with soft bait plastics and lures in their stomachs, including one study that reported soft plastic lures in 17.9% of lake trout in Charleston Lake, Ontario (Raison et al., 2014). This is not surprising news since around 80% of anglers have reported losing their tackle and copious amounts of toxic lead-based items in a lake (Radomski et al., 2006). Unfortunately, many birds ingest toxic lead-based sinkers and jigs thinking they are food and die as a result. That is a lot of plastic, lead and hooks polluting our lakes from snags, not to mention the amount of discarded soft baits that many people toss in the water once they are done with them. Other litter can also include packages from bait and tackle items, as well as food and drink packages which pollute the water, and can harm many birds, fish, turtles and other wildlife who can choke or get caught in them. As such, try your best not to litter or leave lost lures and soft baits in the water once they get snagged. It is best if you can boat out or wade out to unsnag the line and lure. Even better, aim to use weed-less lures in heavily vegetated areas to save both yourself and the environment the struggle!

4. Go green
   

   Photo: Joseph Simonds

You might feel a lot better about leaving an impossible-to-remove snag from the lake if you use eco-friendly, biodegradable tackle instead. There are many options for non-toxic sinkers and jigs made from tin, bismuth, antimony, steel, brass, tungsten, terpene resin putty, clay or polypropylene, as well as biodegradable monofilament fishing line, lures and soft baits made from fish food or other non-PVC, non- plastisol and non-phthalates material. If you like DIY projects, you can even try to make your own from home!

5. Avert the aliens

Avert the alien species, that is! Washing your boat, gear and clothes before leaving the site, as well as draining excess water from your boat (especially if you plan to head into another lake or water body) is always a great idea to avoid the spread of invasive species. Invasive fish, plants and aquatic organisms tend to outcompete native species for food and habitat and disrupt natural food webs. Therefore, becoming familiar with the prohibited invasive fish, aquatic invertebrates and plant species in Ontario is a great idea to avoid accidentally putting them back into the water while fishing and thus allowing them to spread more. In addition, look for regulations on which live bait you can use in certain areas – never release bait fish since they can outcompete native fish for food and habitat in the lake ecosystem.

6. Better your boating

Everybody knows that fishing from a boat is usually better for catching fish. You get to access deeper waters and can use fish finders to scope out prime fishing areas. However, boating can be destructive to aquatic life, including those prized fish that you are hoping to catch! Fortunately, there are certain practices that everyone can follow to better their boating behaviour. Firstly, lift your prop or trim your motor up as best you can in shallow areas and reduce your speed to under 10 km/h within 30 m of a shoreline. Boat propellers tend to rip up aquatic vegetation which would provide shelter and food for many fish and aquatic organisms. Props can also stir up sediment and create wakes which contribute to shoreline erosion and decreased water quality due to turbidity (cloudiness), making it difficult for sunlight to penetrate plants and allow them to grow. In addition, try not to drag anchors along the bottom of the lake as this disturbs sediment and vegetation, thereby damaging habitat for fish and aquatic life.

Keeping all of these things in mind the next time you are itching to go fishing will help keep your favourite fishing hole healthy and ensure there are enough fish for future generations to enjoy!

Written by Angela Vander Eyken

Download in PDF: Responsible Fishing. Vander Eyken

Sources:

Angling Unlimited. (n.d.). Safe & Responsible Catch & Release Fishing. https://anglingunlimited.com/fishing/catch-release-properly/#:~:text=If%20a%20fish%20is%20gut,to%20them%20when%20they%20bite.

Casselman, S. J. (2005). Catch-and-release angling: a review with guidelines for proper fish handling practices. Fish & Wildlife Branch. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Peterborough, Ontario. 26 p.

Government of Canada (2018). Lead sinkers and jigs: executive summary.  https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/management-toxic-substances/list-canadian-environmental-protection-act/lead/using-more-lead-free-fishing-tackle/lead-sinkers-jigs-executive-summary.html

Horton, J. (n.d.). 5 Ways to Fish Responsibly. https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/fishing/fish-conservation/responsible-fishing/5-ways-to-fish-responsibly.htm

Kayak Angler. (n.d.). Are Eco-Friendly Baits The Future Of Fishing? https://kayakanglermag.com/stories/news-events/are-eco-friendly-baits-the-future-of-fishing-hopefully/

Management. Environmental Management, 44(2), 324–334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-009-9299-3

Meyer, M. (2015). Column: Soft plastic fishing lures, friend or foe? https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/hebron/2015/05/15/column-soft-plastic-fishing-lures-friend-foe/27386037/

O’Toole, A., Hanson, K., & Cooke, S. (2009). The Effect of Shoreline Recreational Angling Activities on Aquatic and Riparian Habitat Within an Urban Environment: Implications for Conservation and

Radomski, P., Heinrich, T., Jones, T., Rivers, P., & Talmage, P. (2006). Estimates of Tackle Loss for Five Minnesota Walleye Fisheries. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 26(1), 206–212. https://doi.org/10.1577/M05-121.1

Raison, T., Nagrodski, A., Suski, C., & Cooke, S. (2014). Exploring the Potential Effects of Lost or Discarded Soft Plastic Fishing Lures on Fish and the Environment. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 225(2), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-014-1869-1

Reid, D. C. (2007). 6 Facts About Circle Hooks. https://www.outdoorcanada.ca/facts-about-circle-hooks/

Simonds, J. (2015). Certified Biodegradable Fishing Lures! Could This Disrupt The Entire Fishing Lure Industry? https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/biodegradable-fishing-lures-mhg-plastics/

University of Wisconsin-Madison. (2008). Off The Hook: Stronger Soft-plastic Fishing Lures Less Damaging To Environment. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080221173812.htm

We have been in lock-down for quite some time – almost 14 weeks or more in areas. Life as we once knew it has been put on hold and is only now just starting to return to a new form of “normal”. Although the damage and devastation from these unprecedented times are indisputable, the slowing down has allowed some an opportunity to work on long-forgotten home projects, take on a new hobby, or simply cross some things off the old “to-do” list. Perhaps one of the greater silver linings has to do with Nature. The slow down has reduced green house gas and other polluting emissions globally, and it has also (more recently) been a time for many people to get outdoors and reconnect with nature. In fact, there has been a significant increase in wildlife sightings, with iNaturalist app users reporting 5,500 more sightings this spring compared to last year, and people from all over the world spotting more animals coming out into the open. While it is possible that these fascinating occurrences can be explained by more people having time to get out and report wildlife (bonus!), it does make you wonder what the animals have really been up to while us humans have been staying home. More importantly, can we be sure that our actions (or lack thereof) during the pandemic will have a positive impact on wildlife and nature both now and in the future?

While it may be too soon to fully answer this question, many scientists have hypothesized that the “Global Human Confinement Experiment” (as they have coined it) will likely have a wide range of both positive and negative impacts on biodiversity, conservation and environmental health. Let’s first have a look at some of the positives!

1. Reduction in human disturbance

Becoming couch potatoes has not been all that bad for the birds and the bees! Less noise and physical disturbance during the breeding season is expected to result in higher mating and reproduction rates for many species. Some species of wildlife have also been able to venture out into areas they typically would not have traveled before. For example, biologists predict that deer and other shy ungulates may actually be expanding their ranges as it becomes safer for them to explore further into newly gained peace and quiet, meanwhile, for similar reasons, other species have recolonized areas that were previously taken away from them, such as penguins in Cape Town, South Africa.

2. Reduction in air, water and local car traffic

Even though you’ve probably had to abandon the idea of escaping to a tropical island this season, the cancellation of flights has thankfully resulted in a significant reduction of climate-warming CO₂ and smog-causing particles. In just the early months of lock-down alone, global CO₂ emissions were reduced by 17% and in Peterborough, road traffic was reduced by around 80% (Le Quéré, 2020; The Peterborough Examiner, 2020). This is good news for almost all forms of life, especially plants, insects, and insect-eating birds. Less people on the roads also means safer passage for many species of wildlife, including foxes, skunks, porcupines, rabbits, deer, moose, frogs, snakes and especially slow-moving turtles who are frequently hit by cars as they cross busy routes in search of nesting sites. And turtles populations, especially needed this reprieve as it can take from 30 years up to 60 years for one turtle to be replaced in the environment. As such, reduced road traffic could result in at least a small temporary stabilization or even rise in the population numbers of these animals. Additionally, much of the shipping activity by large vessels in waterways has slowed, resulting in less noise, disturbance, and water pollution for fish, whales and other aquatic species.

3. Reduction in park recreation

There has been some anecdotal evidence suggesting that closed parks and green-spaces have given a chance for wildlife to roam more freely, as well as mate and rear their offspring under less stress. It is important to note that the positive effects from this are likely to be short-lived since most parks have already re-opened.

All in all, this is great news for conservation and biodiversity; however, we are not out of the woods just yet! There are still less obvious potential consequences that scientists and experts are warning us to be aware of. Let’s dive into some of them and learn a little bit along the way about how we can help avoid these negative impacts.

1. Rise in outdoor recreation

For some, lock-down has probably felt like a long-lived vacation, especially now that the weather is so nice! Since restrictions have been lifted, many have used this time to head to the cottage, get out boating on the lake, do some bird watching or even plan extreme backwoods camping trips. The problem isn’t that people are getting out to enjoy nature; the problem is that so many people are doing it all at once. This can put stress on ecosystems and wildlife, particularly in cottage country in recently re-opened parks where animals have had time to relax without humans and then for their homes; the habitats including the soils, microbes, plants etc. that cannot rebound from intense disruption and disturbance as quickly as parts of southern Ontario.

Fortunately, you can still have a blast outdoors while also being considerate of wildlife around you by keeping these things in mind:

• Stick to the trail. Try to avoid veering off the established paths as this may trample sensitive habitats and disturb ecosystems (look out for tiny toads and frogs as they develop from tadpoles during this time!).
• Watch your wake. A day out on the lake can still be fun while at the same time protecting shorelines and water quality by reducing your speed to under 10 km/h within 30 m of a shoreline (the less the better!). If you are in the market for a boat, it is a good idea to purchase a four-stroke engine rather than a two-stroke since they are much cleaner and more fuel efficient. In addition, lifting your motor up as much as you can in shallow areas will also help to reduce damage to aquatic vegetation and vital fish and amphibian nurseries. Following all of these suggestions will help mitigate disturbance to shoreline habitats (including where many waterfowl nest) and reduce erosion and turbidity (cloudiness) which contribute to poor water quality and degradation of fish habitat.
• Leave no trace. This includes picking up and properly disposing of your waste, your pet’s waste and discarded food, as well as ensuring that your campfire is fully put out with water before leaving the area or heading in for the night.
• Give animals space. You may be really tempted to get that perfect selfie with a moose or rare species of turtle; however, not only can this be dangerous to you, but it is also very stressful for the animal. Instead, keep a good distance (a couple hundred feet) and use that zoom!

2. Rise in the use of single-use plastics and harsh chemical cleaners

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, masks, and disposable plastic supplies, has increased by over 300% in some areas since the pandemic began (Klemeš et al., 2020). With the increased use of single-use plastics comes more litter since many people do not want to bring these potentially contaminated items back into their homes. In addition, contaminated plastics must be disposed of as hazardous waste which puts more strain on already-overwhelmed waste disposal areas. A great solution is to use re-usable masks (with an insert for a removable filter) and gloves that can be put in a quarantine container to be washed when you get home. Speaking of washing – constant washing of hands and increased use of alcohol, chlorine and bleach-based disinfectants washes more chemicals down the drain and into our beloved lakes. These chemicals have the potential to kill fish and other aquatic organisms, as well as wreak havoc on lake ecosystems.

To help mitigate these impacts, opt for more eco-friendly alternatives to hand soaps and surface disinfectants by following these general guidelines:

• Avoid sodium hypochlorite-based cleaners and quaternary ammonium compounds which can be harmful to both humans and the environment.
• Try sanitizing with vapor (yes, steam cleaning) – it can kill up to 99.99% of germs, viruses, and bacteria!
• Use more bio-based soaps, cleaners and disinfectants that are still highly effective but are less toxic. You can try using liquid castile soap made from plant oils (soap and water is more effective at killing the virus than alcohol-based sanitizer) and 3-5% hydrogen peroxide-based, or oxygen bleach (liquid) made of water and hydrogen peroxide as disinfectants which break down to be much less toxic to the environment (and you!) than chlorine. There is also no need to rinse off surfaces sprayed with hydrogen peroxide-based cleaners since the solution naturally decomposes to water and oxygen on its own.
• Opt for certified eco-friendly labels on cleaning products.

3. Loss of capacity for scientific research and conservation

Many jobs have been lost or opportunities cancelled due to social distancing requirements – scientific research and conservation projects are no exception. This has left many scientists and conservationists unable to conduct their field work and regular monitoring, care, or mitigation for at-risk species. Not only has there been a stoppage (or at the very least, a delay) in valuable conservation work, but charities and not-for-profit organizations have also been struggling to raise sufficient funds through their outreach initiatives. Some funding agencies have cut back or cut out giving programs altogether. This decline in revenue and therefore capacity for conservation organizations, scientists, and national and provincial parks may limit funds for conservation efforts in future years too. The lack of funding to groups that often take on major portions of government agenda and portfolios in this sector, means that lakes, wetlands, and wildlife are at greater risk and are overlooked. Meanwhile, it is these resources that ultimately supply us with products and services, from medicines, materials, to food and from pollination to water filtration, and it is the full spectrum of nature which supplies us with an abundance of peace, joy and inspiration.

One way that you can help is by getting involved in local fundraising initiatives, volunteering, and if you can spare even small amounts, by donating to local environmental groups and organizations.

While we may not know if the pandemic will have positive effects on nature and wildlife in the long run, we are certainly in a great position to learn and be mindful of our actions right now. The way in which we interact with nature has direct and impactful results on the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil we stay and play in, and the animals we live amongst – And it is our duty to make sure we have a good impact.

If we take anything from this experience, let it be a renewed sense of appreciation of nature and the desire to coexist with wildlife in a much healthier manner!

Written by Angela Vander Eyken

Download in PDF: Blog.COVID-19 Nature and Wildlife. Is there a silver lining for wildlife. A. Vander Eyken

Sources:

Bates, A., Primack, R., Moraga, P., & Duarte, C. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown as a “Global Human Confinement Experiment” to investigate biodiversity conservation. Biological Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108665

David Suzuki Foundation. (2020). Non-toxic disinfecting. https://davidsuzuki.org/queen-of-green/non-toxic-disinfecting/

Davison, J. (2020). How COVID-19 shutdowns have affected the animal kingdom. https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/what-on-earth-newsletter-covid-19-animal-kingdom-1.5511266

Duchesne, J. (2020). Five conservation experts weigh in on the future for wildlife post-COVID-19. https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/five-conservation-experts-weigh-future-wildlife-post-covid-19

Gewin, V. (2020). COVID‐19 impacts on conservation. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 18(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2199

Goldfinger, D. (2020). Coronavirus: Will Canadians see more wildlife in their backyards as people self-isolate? https://globalnews.ca/news/6717572/coronavirus-covid-19-canadian-wildlife-self-isolation/

Klemeš, J., Fan, Y., Tan, R., & Jiang, P. (2020). Minimising the present and future plastic waste, energy and environmental footprints related to COVID-19. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.109883

Larson, C., Reed, S., Merenlender, A., & Crooks, K. (2016). Effects of Recreation on Animals Revealed as Widespread through a Global Systematic Review.(Report). PLoS ONE, 11(12), e0167259. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0167259

Le Quéré, C., Jackson, R.B., Jones, M.W. et al. (2020). Temporary reduction in daily global CO2 emissions during the COVID-19 forced confinement. National Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-020-0797-x

Lowrie, M. (2020). Canadians reporting more wildlife sightings during COVID-19 isolation. https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/canadians-reporting-more-wildlife-sightings-during-covid-19-isolation-1.4902658

Montgomery, M. (2020). Who benefits from COVID-19? Nature and wildlife. https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2020/04/16/pandemic-covid-nature-wildlife-benefit/

Rutz, C., Loretto, M., Bates, A.E. et al. (2020). COVID-19 lockdown allows researchers to quantify the effects of human activity on wildlife. National Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1237-z

Sordo, F. (2020). COVID-19: Eco-friendly Cleaning and Disinfecting Products. https://ecobnb.com/blog/2020/05/covid-eco-friendly-cleaning-disinfecting-products/

The Peterborough Examiner. (2020). Cleaner air over Peterborough during COVID-19 pandemic: Trent University professor. https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/news/peterborough-region/2020/04/26/cleaner-air-over-peterborough-during-covid-19-pandemic-trent-university-professor.html

A Personal Review of Turtle Nesting Season and the Excitement of Bird-watching

Written by Xavier Tuson,  Conservation Technician for The Land Between

Turtle nesting season has just finished. I was out with my team of technicians conducting research on roads and in the evenings, on nesting sites, for the past month. For myself, turtle nesting season was filled with nature experiences that included much more than just encountering turtles. Although finding and measuring numerous turtles fueled my excitement for nesting season, the chance to experience nature in the ways that I had during the month of June (nesting season) made me feel closer to nature than I had in a long time. Whether it was watching White-tailed Deer traipse through a marsh to cool itself during the 30°C+ days, or a mother American Woodcock teach its fledgling how to do its signature “rocking” dance to convince worms to come to the surface for easy feeding, nature revealed itself to me during this last month in ways I have never experienced. Perhaps most exciting for me, however, was the chance to witness birds that I had not previously observed.

I am a bird-watcher and if you are a birdwatcher like myself, you are likely familiar with the term “Life-list” or “Lifer”. For those that aren’t, the life-list is a list of bird species that have been observed during our time bird-watching. Some people complete monthly, yearly or even backyard life-lists. For myself, I aim to simply complete an Ontario life list, hoping to observe all of Ontario’s approximately 300 bird species. As you can imagine, finding a bird that is not on your life-list is quite exciting, especially when it is a species-at-risk in Ontario.

In Ontario, there are 41 species-at-risk birds, 35 of which are within The Land Between boundaries. Of these 35 species-at-risk, I had the pleasure of observing 9 of these species with 4 of these being lifers for me, all within the month of June. The most exciting observations for me were the 5 different Eastern Whip-poor-wills I heard while processing turtles, which are exciting as they are one of two focus species for another project conducted by The Land Between (the other being the Common Nighthawk).

Photo: Jean Iron

Belonging to the family Caprimulgidae, Eastern Whip-poor-wills and Common Nighthawks are nocturnal aerial insectivores (meaning they eat insects in flight the air), which are often called Nightjars or sometimes Goatsuckers due to the belief by ancient Greeks that these birds sucked the blood from goats (Bird 2010). These birds spend most of their day hidden on the ground or on branches or fences, camouflaged by their naturally dull coloration which helps them blend in with the foliage around them (Bird 2010). Nightjars are a migratory bird that leaves Ontario for South America during the colder months when insects begin to become more dormant, as insects are their primary food source (Bird 2010). Because of their nocturnal habits, these birds are more often heard than seen. Eastern whip-poor-wills can be determined by their classic “Whip-poor-will, whip-poor-will, whip-poor-will” repeated call, often starting around dusk. Common Nighthawks do not have such a distinctive call, rather an insect-like “veep”. While many birds sound similar, most birds are not actively calling around dusk/night; if this sound is heard during this time, there’s a good chance you’re hearing a Common Nighthawk!

In Ontario, Nightjars are a species-at-risk due to a decreasing population likely due to insecticide use as well as loss of suitable habitat. The use of insecticides on insects results in the poisoning of birds who consume these insects. These birds, as well as all aerial insectivores, are an important part of their ecosystems as they are an effective tool for insect management. In fact, Common Nighthawks consume more than 10,000 mosquitoes in one night. Insecticides that are problematic also include the “natural” ones that are sold as methods for controlling mosquitoes. In addition to harming bird life, they can harm fish too and move up the food web to other species. Beyond wildlife, these products are not safe for pregnant women and that at alone should indicate a reason to be concerned.

Because of their nocturnal behaviour, and their rarity, you can imagine my excitement as I heard not one but five individual Whippoorwills calling during the night while on the roads to research turtles. This indicates there is a healthy population of Nightjars within The Land Between; but they still need our help. The Land Between runs a program for monitoring Nightjars and their habitats. If you believe you have heard either a Common Nighthawk or Eastern whip-poor-will, and are within the boundaries of The Land Between, please visit https://www.thelandbetween.ca/whippoorwill-surveys/ to report your sighting. With your help, we can ensure proper protection of their habitat to ensure a continuing population of these wonderfully feathered friends within The Land Between!

You can also learn more about Nightjars and other Aerial Insectivores (our friendly feathered friends that eat flying insects) by joining our webinar on July 15th at 6:30 to 8pm 

Download this blog here: Nightjars While Nestwatching. Xavier Tuson

Literature Cited:

Bird, David N. 2010. Birds of Canada. Dorling Kindersley, Toppan, China.

How Fragmented Forests Increase the Spread of Lyme Disease within The Land Between

By MaryJane Proulx

White footed mouse. Global Lyme Alliance

The Land Between is a rich ecotone, holding an abundance of glittering lakes, rivers, fens, wetlands, granite ridges and forests. The resources and diversity of the region provide key services and shelter to many different species. Despite the valuable ecological benefits that The Land Between ecotone embodies, it is becoming endangered and threatened by habitat and forest fragmentation. Forest fragmentation is defined as “the breaking of large forested areas into smaller pieces of forest, typically separated by roads, agriculture, or other human development” (Northern Woodlands, 2019). An obvious impact of forest fragmentation includes the loss of biodiversity through habitat isolation resulting in decreased forest health.  Increasing development pressures within The Land Between and expanding back country lots has resulted in forest fragmentation as realtors and cottagers scramble to eat up the last bits of forest. This has resulted in a decrease in wildlife corridors allowing for animal movement, migration, and dispersal. One of the consequences that makes The Land Between particularly vulnerable is the spread of pathogens in host populations.

More specifically, the number of mammalian hosts for zoonotic infections, such as Lyme disease, increases with species richness among mammals. Thus, as developments increase, human encroachment into species-rich habitats may increase exposure to these diseases. The University of Minnesota notes that “habitat fragmentation may promote disease outbreaks”. From a disease control perspective, the study results suggest that the desirable level of habitat connectivity will vary for specific host-pathogen systems. White-footed mice, which are a prominent species of The Land Between, and main carrier of Lyme disease, are particularly abundant in fragments smaller than five acres (Society for Conservation Biology, 2003). Increased white-footed mice leads to increased concentrations of black-legged ticks, which are most likely to spread the disease through human contact. White-footed mice thrive in isolated habitats, meaning that fragmented forests have the ability to increase population abundance and the spread of Lyme disease.

There are actions that can be taken to respond to the threat of forest fragmentation within The Land Between:

• Protect existing high-quality wildlife greenspace
• Manage and improve degraded greenspace
• Restore sites of particular value that have been destroyed (such as wetlands)
• Avoid fragmenting habitats or forests through developments
• Reach out to your municipality to voice your concerns

Download in PDF: WFMouse, Lyme, ForestFragmentation.Proulx

Sources:

https://www.caryinstitute.org/sites/default/files/public/reprints/Allan_et_al_2003_Cons_Bio_17_267-272.pdf

https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/urban-regeneration-and-greenspace-partnership/greenspace-in-practice/practical-considerations-and-challenges-to-greenspace/habitat-fragmentation-practical-considerations/

Shawn M. Wilder, Douglas B. Meikle, Variation in Effects of Fragmentation on the White-Footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) during the Breeding Season, Journal of Mammalogy, Volume 87, Issue 1, 20 February 2006, Pages 117–123, https://doi.org/10.1644/05-MAMM-A-035R1.1

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4227856/

https://www.thelandbetween.ca/the-region/

https://bioone.org/journals/the-american-midland-naturalist/volume-153/issue-1/0003-0031(2005)153%5b0071%3aTEOFFO%5d2.0.CO%3b2/The-Effects-of-Forest-Fragmentation-on-Densities-of-White-footed/10.1674/0003-0031(2005)153[0071:TEOFFO]2.0.CO;2.pdf

Turtles are declining in Ontario. This will have a detrimental impact on a lot of fish and wildlife species. Turtles spread aquatic seeds and remove dead matter from lakes and wetlands. They also cycle nutrients. Without these slow friends in our lakes, we would lose vital fish habitat and wetlands would suffer. This would then impact many species all the way from dragonflies, to frogs, and even moose! The main threats to turtles include road traffic, habitat loss (removal of vegetation at the shore and wetlands), deliberate kills of snapping turtles  from people who mistakenly think them harmful, and where humans live, there is little to no recruitment (eggs that survive and make it to adulthood). In settled areas nest predation is more than 80%. This is because meso-predators (middle-sized mammals) such as foxes, raccoons, and skunks feel “more comfortable” and are “more successful” occupying these areas. These middle-sized mammals make a feast of turtle eggs.

To help turtles thrive, The Land Between staff and volunteers, under the charity’s Turtle Guardians program, are conducting research on turtles on roads (taking blood samples, tracking where they are crossing etc.) and are digging up nests that are close to high risk areas such as roads, and which cannot be protected with specialized caging or other appropriate materials. Then these eggs are incubated at the Headquarters in Haliburton, for release in the fall. These activities are done under a special wildlife permit. The public cannot legally dig up nests, but also they should not dig up nests: Eggs are extremely sensitive and require special ways of extracting them without damage and also conditions to succeed.   If you see a nesting turtle on a main road in Haliburton, call us at 705-854-3578. If you see any turtle; rare, dead, alive, injured, or nesting in Haliburton, Muskoka, City of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, or Simcoe, call the Turtle Hotline at 705-955-4284 and a biologist will be dispatched to get the coordinates and perhaps to take DNA samples too. If you have a nesting turtle on your own property, and  can cage it safely, this will protect the nest from predators, and presents an amazing opportunity to watch the incredible hatchlings emerge later in the year.  Cage designs are available on the Turtle Guardians website 

Leeches. The word probably fills some of you with a queasy, uncomfortable feeling, and others with the traumatic memories of a lovely day ruined by the discovery of one attached to your leg. I don’t think the first thought in anyone’s mind was: “Hey cool! A blog about leeches!”.

Suffice to say, leeches get a bad rap. While some may deserve it (see the day ruiners above), others truly don’t. So in this blog, I’d like to focus on the less often considered, positive, interesting and downright cool aspects of the chubby little guys we share our lakes with.

First things first. What exactly is a leech?

Leeches are actually a type of hermaphroditic (having both male and female parts) worm. There are approximately 700 known species of leech on the planet, and they are found on every continent (except Antarctica) and ocean in the world!  Here in Canada, we have approximately 70 different species of leech, about 35 of which live in Ontario.

The largest leech in Ontario is appropriately named the Giant Horse Leech and can reach 36 cm in size. But don’t worry, this species doesn’t feed on human blood.

In fact, many species of leeches don’t feed on blood at all, preferring instead to munch on other things that live in the water like aquatic insects, molluscs and fish. Even the species that do feed on blood don’t wait around for a big juicy human leg to come walking through their house. Instead, many leech species are what are called opportunistic feeders, meaning they will feed on whatever they can get their mouths on (including humans).

What makes leeches so good?

1. Some leeches are very good parents 

Some species of leech are incredibly devoted caregivers to their offspring. After they lay their eggs, some species will protect the eggs from predators with their own bodies. They will even fan the eggs to prevent fungus, bacteria or other contaminants from impacting their growth and development. When the eggs hatch, the parents will carry the offspring around with them until they are big enough to survive on their own.

2. Some leeches make for very good bait

Leeches are the preferred bait of approximately 20% of anglers in Ontario, especially those fishing for Walleye. The most commonly used bait leech is the Ribbon Leech. Sounds kind of pretty eh?

3. Leeches do not transmit disease

Unlike many other species that feed on blood (such as ticks and mosquitoes), leeches are not known to transmit any diseases to humans. That’s a check in the pro column if you ask me.

4. Leeches are nature’s cameras

Based on the blood contained in the stomachs of some terrestrial leeches, scientists can determine what kind of animal the leech fed on for its last four meals. This provides a picture of what animal species are present in a given forest environment. By using the contents of the leech’s stomach, scientists don’t have to wait to catch a glimpse of these animals in person or with trap cameras. Instead, they just have to catch a few leeches.

5. Leeches are an evolutionary marvel

While blood is an excellent source of food, feeding off the blood of live animals does pose some challenges. For example, leeches must be able to bite and feed from their prey without being noticed. That means they need to make sure that whatever (or whomever) they are biting, can’t feel the bite. To address this issue, leeches have evolved to be able to produce and inject anticoagulants and anesthetics from their saliva into their prey as they bite. The anticoagulants serve to keep the blood of the host flowing freely (without clotting), while the anesthetics ensure that the host doesn’t feel a thing.

6. Leeches are still used in modern medicine today

That’s right, modern medicine still turns to leeches for their help in some medical procedures. Specifically, leeches are used on patients who have just undergone surgery to reattach their fingers or toes. They act to relieve swelling at the surgery site.

So, given what you now know about how cool leeches actually are, I’m sure you want to do your best to avoid harming them unnecessarily, right?

But what should you do if you find yourself with one of these hitchhikers latched on to you?

Maybe you’ve heard it’s best to sprinkle a bit of salt on it, or to try to burn it with a match. But not only do these things cause the leech pain and stress, they can also cause it to vomit some of its meal back into your body, which can ultimately lead to a mild infection.

The best thing to do to get rid of a leech (nicely) is to just let it finish its little snack. Now, leeches are slow eaters so this could mean you have a built-in plus one for the next 30-45 minutes.

If leaving the leech is too big of an ask (trust me, I don’t blame you if it is), then you can try gently prying the leech off. The experts recommend using a credit card or a long finger nail to quickly break the seal between the leech’s mouth and your skin. This will minimize the amount of discomfort to both you, and your new leech friend.

Written by Siena Smith, Conservation Program Assistant

Download this blog: Leech Blog

Sources:

https://www.ontario.ca/page/bait-management-review

https://cottagelife.com/outdoors/is-this-type-of-leach-common-in-ontario/

https://cottagelife.com/outdoors/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-leeches/

https://canadianpond.ca/learn/aquatic-life/leeches-really-menacing/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/bloodsuckers-1.5361074

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/28/science/vampires-blood-leeches.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/09/science/leeches-conservation-biodiversity.html

https://nature.ca/notebooks/english/leech.htm

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/76821/10-juicy-facts-about-leeches

April showers bring May flowers… and May onwards brings mosquitoes!

If you have never felt the wrath of mosquito season in the Highlands, then consider yourself lucky. Active from mid-May through to the fall, mosquitoes are the most persistent pests of the backcountry. If you want to survive the summer months up north, we recommend you take some precautionary measures. There are 3 approaches to mosquito season; avoidance, personal defense and prevention.

1. Avoidance

Avoidance is the most effective and commonly practiced coping mechanism for mosquito season. Avoid mosquitoes, avoid mosquito bites. In order to avoid mosquitoes, you must understand mosquitoes, at least a little bit. To begin, there are 67 species of mosquito in Ontario. Fortunately, only some mosquito species bite humans and of those, only the females suck (we are speaking figuratively and literally here!). So I guess we don’t hate ALL mosquitoes…

Photo: E. Kamelev

Our least favourite mosquito, the female mother, spends her 2-week life in search of blood hosts (you and your family) and a moist environment to lay eggs. Where male mosquitoes feed primarily on plant sugars, female mosquitoes require the proteins found in blood in order to produce eggs. That’s right, mother mosquito is biting you so that she can make more mosquitoes. She then lays her eggs in still or slow moving water such as; puddles, bird baths and ponds. In 2 to 3 days those eggs will hatch into mosquito larvae and it won’t be long after that they will be all grown up and flying on their own!

Lesson number one; avoid standing water. Once mosquitoes hit their teenage years, the cool place to hang out becomes shady, forested areas where they spend their days avoiding the midday sun. Mosquitoes will hang out in these areas until just before dusk when they will swarm your property until dawn.  Therefore, this brings us to Lesson number two: if you want to avoid these guys, enjoy the sun during peak hours and head in afterwards.

2. Personal Defense

The second approach to mosquito season is personal defense. A general rule of thumb is, the less skin exposure the better. If you will be venturing into any areas where/when mosquitoes are abundant, make sure to wear long sleeves and pants. Loosely fitted clothing is best as it makes it difficult for the little monsters to bite you through the fabric. While you’re at it you might as well add another layer, invest in a bug jacket and head net. Some studies suggest that mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours or areas of high-contrast. Just to be extra safe, consider keeping your summer wardrobe lighter in colour. Therefore, lesson number three; dress the part.

The principal way in which mosquitoes detect a blood meal is through smell. Unfortunately, the carbon dioxide we exhale is a dead giveaway to our location. Once mosquitoes get a whiff of CO2, other factors come into play. They are drawn to body heat and from there it is the unique smells of individuals that determine who is a good meal. Scientists haven’t quite figured out who smells good and why, but if you don’t want to add any extra incentive, skip the scented products when you’re getting ready. When all else fails, there is DEET. DEET is the main ingredient in insect repellents and is one of the most effective ways of deterring mosquitoes. If you follow package directions, it should be safe to use. If you do not wish to risk chemical insect repellents near your body or in the environment in general, consider checking out some natural alternatives that are quite effective too! Lots of farmers markets sell homemade, natural insect repellents. It has been suggested that smoke is a natural deterrent as it confuses the mosquito who may not be able to find a blood-source of CO2 amidst the haze and perhaps because there is an evolutionary response to “duck and hide” as well. Some people swear by “smoking pots”; they put metal bins (like the maple syrup bins) around their porches and alight things that will smolder over long periods and produce a lot of smoke, such as egg cartons.  Lesson number four; pick the right scent.

3. Prevention

The third and final tactic to survive mosquito season is prevention. Prevent those pests from making your property home and prevent the loss of sanity that comes with constant buzzing and itching. While insecticides might seem like the obvious answer here, they’re not always the healthiest option for you, your family or for the local wildlife. Most insecticides, including “natural” insecticides such as pyrethrin, are not only toxic to mosquitoes, but are toxic to all insects. There is evidence that these chemicals not only bio accumulate (move up the food chain and into our waters too) but they can be harmful to pregnant women’s fetuses and therefore young and elder humans. Meanwhile if you are ridding the area of all mosquitoes and other insects, there is an effect on all of the living animals around your property, downstream from your house and even in neighbouring areas. While insects are not everybody’s favourite class of animal, they are undeniably important. There are plenty of animals that rely on insects for food and some insects, such as damselflies and dragonflies, actually eat mosquitoes. Dragonfiles can consume upwards of 2000 mosquitoes in one night! And Dragonflies are attracted to natural habitats. Bats can eat over 4000 in one night and some birds upwards of 10,000. Everything has a role to play in our environment, even these little nuisances are important in keeping the whole food web intact. Insecticides threaten the natural balance of the environment and because mosquitoes have such a short life cycle, they develop a resistance to insecticides rather quickly. You may eventually find yourself with more mosquitoes than before. Lesson number five; insecticides = not a smart decision.

Photo: A. Cakiner

Luckily, there are many natural and effective methods for mosquito control. Begin by minimizing suitable breeding habitat on your property. Clean out rain gutters, clogged drains, bird baths, even pet water dishes. It only takes about 3 days for mosquito eggs to hatch so anywhere that water can pool you will find momma mosquitoes. If you have any natural bodies of water or wetlands on your property try to leave them as natural as possible. In other words, the more natural plants and biodiversity in these bays and ponds, the more mosquito eaters there are! Healthy wetlands with good biodiversity host a community of aquatic species that love to eat mosquito larvae. From fish to zooplankton, these mosquito killing species (AKA our best friends) are often so effective that these wetlands produce very few mosquitoes. Lesson number six; natural landscapes and plants = good.

And again, bats and many bird species are also part of this pest control team. If you can make your property more appealing to them by adding a bat or bird house, your property becomes a lot less appealing to mosquitoes. But even more are the small things you may be overlooking: When the sun has gone down and all that is left is your porch light you might be thinking that you can get some relief from Mrs. Mosquito, but don’t let your guard down just yet. Mosquitoes are active into the night and are actually attracted to artificial lighting, specifically LED lighting in the blue or green spectrum. Therefore, you may think that spiffy lawn and that lovely glow are enticing…and you would be right; they are enticing mostly to mosquitoes! Meanwhile the LED lights and brighter bulbs are distracting to birds and bats who choose dusk and darker skies for safety and to hunt mosquitoes. The bright night lights also add to other problems; plants continue to grow and this means more algae if lights are pointed over water, and they make it harder for you to see into the dark beyond the lights. This makes your property an easier target instead of safer. Consider switching your light bulbs to a source that minimizes blue light emissions, cap and direct your lights downwards to areas that they are needed only such as paths, or try minimizing the amount of time your outdoor lights are on. Not only will you stop attracting as many mosquitoes, but you will also help those nocturnal species that hunt them. There are many ways that switching out blue light can benefit you. Blue light, similar to daylight, suppresses melatonin significantly more than light of other colours and wavelengths. That means that not only is this light attracting mosquitoes, but it’s also making it harder for us to sleep. And if it’s affecting our sleep and how we behave, think about how it affects wildlife that rely on the night sky for cover, hunting or migrating. Look for the International Dark Sky Association’s (IDA) Fixture Seal of Approval when purchasing lighting! It certifies that a product is dark sky friendly and has minimal effect on the environment!  Lesson number seven; lights, in so many ways, keep us all awake.

The takeaway lesson here is that you can’t fight nature, and in trying to fight nature we are upsetting the balance in favour of things that simply make it worse and harder to fight. So if we take a minute to observe the patterns and find the allies in our environment we may see just how we can live better with nature! We hope that you have learned something from this Mosquito Survival Guide and hopefully you feel more confident going into mosquito season. See you out there!

Written by Jaime Kearnan, Senior Conservation Technician

Download this article here: Mosquito Survival Guide

Sources

• https://www.darksky.org/our-work/lighting/lighting-for-industry/fsa/
• http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/park_management/mosquitoes-and-blackflies-(biting-insects).php
• https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side
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Meet the Council and COO.  The Land Between is a forerunner in protecting this significant region. We have been working hard to recover disappearing wildlife and  wild spaces in southern Ontario’s last wilderness. Learn about our strategic directions and programs.

This is a zoom meeting. To join the event  please complete the form below so we can send you a zoom invitation on the date: