Many people look at wetlands and think that these wet and damp areas are smelly, harbour mosquitoes, and are otherwise completely useless. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Wetlands are important breeding sites for animals; they also act as “pit stops” for migratory birds and provide food sources and important habitats. Wetlands are also important for humans in that they act as sponges by preventing flooding and are also effective filters in removing pollutants from the water. Join me in discovering the four major types of wetlands in Ontario: marshes, swamps, fens and bogs. See how biologists classify these different wetlands and discover the amazing diversity of life in these ecosystems.

Mosquitoes and black flies are some of the most well-liked animals in Ontario... okay, not really.  These insects are misunderstood by most people and often have a bad reputation.  Although both of these insects bite, they are quite different from one another in terms of lifecycle and habitat.  Both have an aquatic life stage, in that they start their lives as larvae (immatures) in the water and then emerge to become adults.  Their choices of aquatic habitats are quite different though; mosquitoes breed in temporary pools whereas black flies prefer creeks and small rivers.  They both have their ecological roles to play in that they pollinate many species of plants and are an important foodsource for insects, fish, amphibians and birds.  Join me in discovering where these insects breed, why they bite and tips on how to protect ourselves from these fascinating creatures.

Spring is upon us and our landscape will soon be filled with the songs of various animals. One of the sounds that people enjoy listening to, especially during the evening, is the call of frogs and toads. These fascinating creatures will spend entire nights for weeks on end singing to attract a mate. Only the males sing, leaving the females to choose a mate based on his ability to sing, the intensity or frequency of his calls, and where he is located. Of course, females will only mate with males of their own species. To accomplish this (and help minimize any confusion amongst species), each species has its own specific time during the season when it sings its unique call. By learning to recognize these different calls, we can discover which frogs and toads are present in our local wetlands. Watch the video to listen to various frog and toad songs and learn some of the tricks to recognize and remember them.

 In May 2010, I visited the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. This sanctuary in Nairobi is dedicated to raising orphaned baby elephants for the first two years of their lives. In this posting, I explain the work of Dame Daphne Sheldrick and her staff in the caring and rearing of these animals that are becoming rarer every day.   Unfortunately, many of these babies are orphaned due to poaching, resulting in the brutal deaths of their mothers. The staff of the Trust raise these babies by mimicking the activities that they would normally participate in with their mothers and other wild elephants, such as playing, taking mud baths, eating native food and drinking milk.Discover the incredible work of the people who have dedicated their lives to the welfare of these beautiful animals.  

Renovations are currently underway on the 3rd floor, where new exhibits are being built to showcase three ecosystems: forest, wetlands and lakes and rivers.  Visitors will experience new hands-on interactive exhibits that will allow them to better understand and appreciate the plants and animals that live within each ecosystem.  In addition, new animal habitats are being built to accommodate our animal ambassadors.  These habitats will provide more room and features for the comfort of our animals and allow visitors to better see and interact with them. Watch the video to take a tour with one of our Staff Scientists and discover the changes and new features coming to the 3rd floor.

A Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) is quite easy to recognize, with a yellow-coloured chin and throat and a notched upper jaw, giving the turtle a permanent “smile”. It is mainly carnivorous and eats a variety of small animals such as crayfish, insects, worms, leeches, snails, fish, tadpoles and frogs. It has a plastral hinge that allows it to close the anterior (i.e. head) shell opening whenever the turtle retires into its shell.  Blanding’s turtles spend most of their time in shallow weedy waters such as ponds, marshes and swamps.  Their numbers have been declining due to human activities, which have destroyed many of their habitats.Three Blanding’s turtles currently reside at Science North. Jigsaw (a female) arrived in 1999 after her previous owner was unwilling to care for her. Will and Emy arrived in 2006 after officers working for the Ministry of Natural Resources confiscated them from someone who was trying to sell them in Ontario (it is illegal to buy or sell native species).Watch the video below to learn more about the Blanding’s turtle.