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Winter in Rondeau Provincial Park

Winter is a great time to experience Rondeau Provincial Park! Come out and hike a snowy trail to see all of the exciting activity from our winter active species! 

The white-tailed deer are wearing their thick, fluffy winter coats to keep them warm during this colder weather – and boy do they look cute in their winter best!
Signs of small mammals are all over the trails as they search out their caches of stored food from the fall.
AND if you’re out and about during dusk and dawn you may be fortunate enough to hear the mighty “Who’s Awake? Me too!” from the Great Horned Owl as they find their mates and begin to occupy a nest, for its almost nesting time for these mighty raptors!

Winter is such an exciting time in the animal kingdom – not everyone has the chance to travel south to escape the cold or sleep their winters away. Sometimes we just need to look a little closer to find what beauties a snowy winter can offer…

Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup 2014

The 3rd annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup at Rondeau Provincial Park will take place later this month on Sunday, September 28th.  We have had excellent success in the past two years and hope to continue the trend this year!

We are happy to announce a partnership this year with Red Devil Scuba Supplies and Union Gas Helping Hands in Action!

A complimentary BBQ will be held after the cleanup for all registered volunteers- please register in advance by calling the Visitor Centre @519-674-1768 or registering online @ http://www.shorelinecleanup.ca/en/cleanup/event/fall2014/rondeau-park

The cleanup will begin promptly at 10am, so come anytime after 9am to finalize your registration.

Species of the Day: Muskrat

Most people think a muskrat is a beaver or very closely related but it is actually more closely related to a field mouse! Just picture the muskrat as a large mouse that is a great swimmer and spends most of his time in the waters of marshy areas. Muskrats dig dens in the sides of ponds and construct rounded structures made of cattails in the water. Cattails are also a common food source along with clams, frogs and occasionally fish. How old do you think muskrats live to be? They only live on average 1-2 years but may live up to the ripe old age of 4! They may have five to ten kits in a litter and up to three litters in a spring season. Muskrats can be 50 cm long with 25cm of that full length being their rat-like tail. A muskrat can actually eat under water without drowning because of special teeth that protrude from the closed mouth which doesn’t allow water in. Named the muskrat because of two special musk glans that produce a strong smelling secretion believed to be used to communicate among each other. A muskrat is a common sighting in many ponds, creeks, and at the edges of marshy bays or lakes. The muskrat’s habitat ranges across all of North America and for that reason has one of the largest ranges of all North American mammals. The building of canals has increased habitat in some areas but the more common draining of wetlands like marshes and ponds has exterminated local populations in some areas where development is occurring. Keep an eye out for these semi-aquatic field mice that may call a pond near you home!

Species of the Day: Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Known as a ‘Jack’, these oddly-shaped flowers are found in early spring in moist and rich forest floors. The pouch or spathe followed by the hood is commonly green with purple streaks and covers the club like spadix. These flowers are easily grown in shade gardens with enough compost or peat surrounding them. Once the flower has died bright red berries will appear and will hang from the stem for nearly the rest of the summer. It is a common but elegant native flower of Eastern North America that you may come to appreciate more if encountered or planted in your home garden.

– J. Pickering

Species of the Day: Canada Goose

The Canada goose is a common sighting for many people because they can be seen across North America in nearly every state and province at some point during the year. These big honkers can be found in fields, ponds, lakes, bays, residential neighbourhoods and sometimes golf courses too. If you think you know a bit about geese here are a few beliefs you might have about these waterfowl. Canadian Geese are illegal to shoot and geese poop when flying. First off, Canada geese are legal for water fowlers to shoot and eat, a hunter is one of the best conservationists in a community! Attributing to the first myth, if Canada geese were not bagged their numbers would skyrocket and they’re already considered a nuisance at their current population levels. Secondly, Canadian geese cannot poop while flying! Unlike gulls, a goose has to be landed to excrete their waste so you only have to keep your eyes on the ground when geese are near.

There are a known 11 subspecies of Canadian geese! They look very similar but can be identified by the size and geographic area they are found in. A group of geese, also known as a flock, usually are seen flying in a V-formation which is very aerodynamic and can help them fly up to 2,400 kilometres in just 24 hours! I hope you appreciate how fascinating these common birds really are and remember you don’t have to keep your eyes on the sky for a stinky present from a Canada goose.

– J. Pickering (2014)

 

Species of the Day: White Trillium

You may recognize the trillium from your Ontario Drivers Licence, or on your Ontario Health Card.  That’s because the White Trillium is Ontario’s provincial flower.  The White trillium was named Ontario’s flower in 1937.  The White Trillium has three large white petals, and can be found in shaded forest areas.  The Latin name for the White Trillium isTrillium grandiflorum, tri meaning three, referring to the petals, grandiflorum meaning large flower, which is where it gets its nickname, Large-Flowered Trillium.

These Trilliums are not always white with three petals, sometimes they have 4 petals! This is very rare – about as rare as finding a 4 leafed clover.  The petals of the White Trillium turn pink as the flower gets older.  This form is sometimes mistaken as a completely different flower.  The Trillium can also have a green streak running down the middle of each petal in varying thicknesses.  This means that the plant has been infected by a virus, and eventually, the virus causes the plant to become unable to produce seeds.

The White Trillium is very sensitive to sunlight and the center of the flower is normally pointed at the sun.  It looks like these dainty flowers are looking at the suns progress throughout the day.  In large patches of Trilliums, all of them will be facing the sun.

This beautiful flower is quite a sight to behold, but don’t satisfy the urge to pick the flower, or even a leaf or petal, as without these, the plant will be unable to have any means to produce energy and it will die.  If you see a White Trillium, just take pictures and admire with your eyes, and please, do not touch.

– A.Young (2014)

Species of the Day: Fowler’s Toad

The background colour varies from tan to olive green or gray.  They resemble the American Toad, but the one key difference is that the American Toad has only one wart in each dark patch, whereas the Fowler’s toad has two or three warts in each dark patch.  The males are a little smaller than the females, and they have a grayish throat because of their vocal sac, which they use to call the females during the breeding season.

Fowler’s Toads prefer open woodlands and sand dunes, and are closely associated with sandy soils.  They are often active during the day, thought in hot weather, they are mostly active during twilight and early evening.  They become dormant in early fall and emerge in late spring.

Contrary to popular belief, toads will not give you warts if you touch them.  However, you should always wash your hands before and after handling toads, as sunscreen, bug spray, and the oils from your hands can harm the toad, and they can secrets a toxic substance that you do not want getting in your eyes, mouth, or in an open cut.

A.Young

Species of the Day: Eastern Chipmunk

These cute little guys are everywhere around our park.  They are reddish brown with multiple stripes running from their shoulders to their rump.  They are seen most often on the ground, even though they are good climbers.  Their tails are about ⅓ their length and stick straight up when they run.

These little creatures live in burrows that they dig in the ground.  Their burrows are dug, then they lay down soft grass and leaves as a bed, then they store their food underneath.  They hibernate in their burrows in the winter, but you may see them roaming about in the middle of the winter.

They eat berries, nuts, fruits, insects, and even sometimes feed on bird eggs.  They have pouches in their cheeks that they use to store food while taking it back to their burrows.  These pouches get larger as the chipmunk grows older.

– A.Young (2014)

Species of the Day: Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy can appear in many different forms.  It can be of the climbing variety, which looks like a vine climbing a tree, it can be of the non-climbing variety, where it is spread over the ground, and it can sometimes even be in the form of a thick vine that looks more like a tree than a vine.  Sometimes, there are Poison Ivy flowers and Poison Ivy berries.  The leaves can be of varied shapes and sizes, but always with three leaves.  A good general rule is “leaves of three, leave it be”

Poison Ivy rashes are caused by the oil getting on your skin.  The oil is on all parts of the plant, including the roots, leaves, berries, flowers, and stem.  The Poison Ivy rash is red and very, very itchy.  Other than touching the plant directly, you can also get the oil on your skin by touching an animal, like a dog or cat that has been in contact with the plant.  No animals, other than humans, react to the poison ivy oil, so it is impossible to tell if they have been in contact with the plant.

To protect yourself from getting poison ivy, stay on all marked paths and wash yourself with cold water afterwards.  Warm water will open your pores and the poison ivy oil will be absorbed faster.  If your pet has been in contact with poison ivy, wash them with cold water while wearing rubber gloves.

– A. Young (2014)

Species of the Day: Striped Skunk

In Rondeau we have one type of skunk, the striped skunk. It is found all across Canada and likes to live areas of mixed forest and grasslands. Although skunks have long claws for digging, they rarely dig their own den. Skunks usually lives in abandoned dens of other animals, such as groundhogs or foxes. Often times they will live under porches or cellars but also likes rock piles and refuse heaps. To make a nest in its den, the skunk will move leaves into its den by putting them under their body then shuffling into their nest. The will use these leaves to line their den.

Breeding time happens in late February and goes until mid-April.  Skunks will usually only mate once a year but a second breeding period is in May for those that didn’t successfully have any kits. The average gestation period is in 65 days and once their born it takes 8 weeks of nursing until they start hunting with their mother and they will eventually disperse. It only takes 8 days before they can spray.

Skunks are known for their special scent glands located in their anus. The glands are about the size of a grape and create a bad smelling, oily, yellow musk. This musk can be sprayed up to 6 metres and the odor can be carried for over a kilometer by the wind. Although the musk has been known to cause nausea and intense pain, don’t panic as skunks give warning before they spray, so if you see one back away slowly as sudden movements may cause them to spray. When skunks feel threatened they will face you will their back arched and tail up. They will then stomp their feet on the found and may perform a handstand. If they are still threatened they will bend its rear end around while still facing you and spray. If you, your pet or anything got sprayed here is a quick deskunking recipe that has been proven to work:

• 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide
• ¼ cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid detergent

 

Mix together in an open bowl and use on sprayed surface. This recipe is safe to use on humans and pets and also on clothing and furniture.

 

For this and other great deskunking tips visit:http://pestcontrol.about.com/od/diyanimalcontrol/a/Get-Rid-Of-Skunk-Odor-Myths-And-Facts.htm

 

Other fun facts:

• Skunks are omnivores and will eat a variety of foods such as mice, eggs, carrion, insects, berries, fish and vegetables.
• Skunks do not like their own smell. They will not spray in their den or in confined spaces.
• They will only travel about a kilometer away from their den.
• Skunks are crepuscular meaning they are most active during dusk and dawn.
• Since other animals are repulsed by the odor skunks are actually less likely to carry rabies than other mammals.
• The skunk spray is used as a base in perfume because of its clinging abilities.
• The skunks biggest predator is the great horned owl, who is un affected by the spray due to its poor smelling abilities
• Skunks have excellent smell and hearing but poor eye sight