Comments for Ontario Nature Blog http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog Protecting wild species and wild spaces through conservation, education and public engagement. Fri, 04 May 2012 21:21:52 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Province green lights hunting at-risk turtle by Gordon McNulty http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/province-green-lights-hunting-at-risk-turtle#comment-3808 Gordon McNulty Fri, 04 May 2012 21:21:52 +0000 http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/?p=302#comment-3808 The Natural Resources ministry decision to continue to allow a snapping turtle hunt is really disappointing. At a time when snapping turtles face increasing pressure due to habitat loss, predators and road mortality, the ministry should be showing much more conservation leadership than to merely propose mandatory reporting of snapping turtle harvest activities (which, among other issues, will be difficult to enforce.) Once again, the ministry cannot decide if it is the ministry for the protection, or the exploitation, of natural resources. The concerns that have been expressed by credible observers such as Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller and Ontario Nature conservation science manager John Urquhart should be taken to heart by the ministry, starting now. Gordon McNulty, Hamilton, ON The Natural Resources ministry decision to continue to allow a snapping turtle hunt is really disappointing. At a time when snapping turtles face increasing pressure due to habitat loss, predators and road mortality, the ministry should be showing much more conservation leadership than to merely propose mandatory reporting of snapping turtle harvest activities (which, among other issues, will be difficult to enforce.) Once again, the ministry cannot decide if it is the ministry for the protection, or the exploitation, of natural resources. The concerns that have been expressed by credible observers such as Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller and Ontario Nature conservation science manager John Urquhart should be taken to heart by the ministry, starting now.

Gordon McNulty,
Hamilton, ON

]]> Comment on Province green lights hunting at-risk turtle by Susan Gallinger http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/province-green-lights-hunting-at-risk-turtle#comment-3805 Susan Gallinger Fri, 04 May 2012 11:05:12 +0000 http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/?p=302#comment-3805 This decision to allow snapping turtles to be hunted is irrational and irresponsible, especially in light of the potential risk of toxicity because of PCBs. These animals are dwindling in number - it's bad enough that their habitats are disappearing, but the provincial government is allowing them to be hunted?! Hunting is, for the mostpart, a sport. No one needs to eat turtles to survive. It's one thing to hunt a healthy, plentiful population of animals to help sustain a community or society, but this is illogical. We have supermarkets; we don't need to eat snapping turtles. What we do need is to start respecting the wildlife that is left for their sake and for our own. (And how does the provincial government propose that a two-turtle- per- day quota be enforced, anyway?) I find this to be preposterous and an alarming reflection of our society's disregard for the wildlife in our midst . The provincial government has made a feckless error in judgement. Our surroundings and our lives in general would greatly benefit from having the natural ebb and flow of balance in wildlife populations. Snapping turtles play an important role in the fragile ecological balance. This is just another example of a blatant disregard for the environment and its inhabitants. It's up to us to support what's left of our wildlife, not endanger it. This decision to allow snapping turtles to be hunted is irrational and irresponsible, especially in light of the potential risk of toxicity because of PCBs. These animals are dwindling in number – it’s bad enough that their habitats are disappearing, but the provincial government is allowing them to be hunted?! Hunting is, for the mostpart, a sport. No one needs to eat turtles to survive. It’s one thing to hunt a healthy, plentiful population of animals to help sustain a community or society, but this is illogical. We have supermarkets; we don’t need to eat snapping turtles. What we do need is to start respecting the wildlife that is left for their sake and for our own. (And how does the provincial government propose that a two-turtle- per- day quota be enforced, anyway?)

I find this to be preposterous and an alarming reflection of our society’s disregard for the wildlife in our midst . The provincial government has made a feckless error in judgement. Our surroundings and our lives in general would greatly benefit from having the natural ebb and flow of balance in wildlife populations. Snapping turtles play an important role in the fragile ecological balance.

This is just another example of a blatant disregard for the environment and its inhabitants. It’s up to us to support what’s left of our wildlife, not endanger it.

]]> Comment on Province green lights hunting at-risk turtle by barbara woloszczuk http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/province-green-lights-hunting-at-risk-turtle#comment-3769 barbara woloszczuk Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:15:47 +0000 http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/?p=302#comment-3769 One would assume that people appointed to positions within MNR, especially the Minister of Natural Resources, would respect biodiversity and preservation of species. This sure doesn't appear to be the case in the issue of the 'snapping turtle hunt'! One would assume that people appointed to positions within MNR, especially the Minister of Natural Resources, would respect biodiversity and preservation of species. This sure doesn’t appear to be the case in the issue of the ‘snapping turtle hunt’!

]]> Comment on Saving bobolinks by Harry Stoddart http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/saving-bobolinks#comment-3747 Harry Stoddart Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:35:46 +0000 http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/?p=291#comment-3747 We're doing some work with Trent University to study whether changing hay cutting patterns can impact Bobolink nesting success. However, there is another dimension to this discussion. Bobolink are native to tallgrass prairie and meadows, not Ontario forests. They moved in after farmers cleared the land. If farmers created the habitat for the Bobolink where none existed before, should we be responsible for maintaining it at all costs? We’re doing some work with Trent University to study whether changing hay cutting patterns can impact Bobolink nesting success. However, there is another dimension to this discussion. Bobolink are native to tallgrass prairie and meadows, not Ontario forests. They moved in after farmers cleared the land. If farmers created the habitat for the Bobolink where none existed before, should we be responsible for maintaining it at all costs?

]]> Comment on Saving bobolinks by Victoria Foote http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/saving-bobolinks#comment-3721 Victoria Foote Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:42:08 +0000 http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/?p=291#comment-3721 That's wonderful Bryan! You must love hearing them sing in the spring time. That’s wonderful Bryan! You must love hearing them sing in the spring time.

]]> Comment on Saving bobolinks by Bryan Schenk http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/saving-bobolinks#comment-3657 Bryan Schenk Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:26:22 +0000 http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/?p=291#comment-3657 Hi Victoria:- I have about twenty five pairs of Bobolink nesting on my farm near Neustadt. They have been there every year since my father and mother bought the farm in the early 1950's. They have always co-habited with the Red Wing Blackbirds and together fend off the Northern Harriers as best they can. It is (was) a well kept secret. Best Regards Bryan Hi Victoria:-
I have about twenty five pairs of Bobolink nesting on my farm near Neustadt. They have been there every year since my father and mother bought the farm in the early 1950′s. They have always co-habited with the Red Wing Blackbirds and together fend off the Northern Harriers as best they can. It is (was) a well kept secret. Best Regards
Bryan

]]> Comment on Saving bobolinks by Victoria Foote http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/saving-bobolinks#comment-3558 Victoria Foote Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:28:18 +0000 http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/?p=291#comment-3558 Thanks for letting us know about the Corncrake. As you say, it's a similar situation. Thanks for letting us know about the Corncrake. As you say, it’s a similar situation.

]]> Comment on Saving bobolinks by Martin Scott http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/saving-bobolinks#comment-3557 Martin Scott Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:46:31 +0000 http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/?p=291#comment-3557 Very intresting to hear about the fate of the Bobolink, especially as I am in Ottawa at the moment and still have great memories of seeing them in Manitoba last summer. It sounds very comparable to the Scottish story of the Corncrake and how its recovery through the grass, hay and silage fields, and adjustment of cutting dates, has been helped by a positive collaborative approach. http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/262706-corncrake-recovery-back-on-track Very intresting to hear about the fate of the Bobolink, especially as I am in Ottawa at the moment and still have great memories of seeing them in Manitoba last summer.

It sounds very comparable to the Scottish story of the Corncrake and how its recovery through the grass, hay and silage fields, and adjustment of cutting dates, has been helped by a positive collaborative approach.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/262706-corncrake-recovery-back-on-track

]]> Comment on Hide and seek with snakes by Michaels http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/hide-and-seek-with-snakes#comment-3519 Michaels Sun, 25 Mar 2012 12:15:59 +0000 http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/?p=250#comment-3519 I guess frogs are the most liked prey for <a href="http://www.gartersnake.org/" rel="nofollow">garter snakes</a> and since you have lots of frogs in your form so there is every possibility that you will also find garter snakes in your form. I guess frogs are the most liked prey for garter snakes and since you have lots of frogs in your form so there is every possibility that you will also find garter snakes in your form.

]]> Comment on The one that got away by Michael http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/the-one-that-got-away-2#comment-3334 Michael Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:51:44 +0000 http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/?p=92#comment-3334 I would like you to wish best of luck for finding the gray <a href="http://www.ratsnake.org/" rel="nofollow">rat snakes</a> that you are looking for in hibernacula. I would like you to wish best of luck for finding the gray rat snakes that you are looking for in hibernacula.

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