Forests are an irreplaceable source of vital resources for people, such as wood, clean water, food, fuel, and medicinal plants. They sustain natural habitats for around 80% of terrestrial biodiversity and work as the planet’s lungs, storing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Despite these tangible benefits, forests continue to be threatened. Not only do they … Read more
Distinguishing Features – The Amur leopard is well adapted to the harsh climate of its range. The hairs of its summer pelt are 2.5 cm long but in winter they are replaced by 7 cm long ones. Apart from its long winter coat the Amur leopard is easily told apart from other leopard subspecies by … Read more
General – perennial, evergreen, hemicryptophyte, subshrubs, autotrophic, monoclinous, with adventitious roots and with fibrous roots, 0.02-0.4 m tall, with rhizomes. Trailing Arbutus Leaves – alternate, 1 per node, spaced evenly along stem; petiolate, petiole 0.4-3(-5) cm long, hairs short and unbranched, erect. Flowers – formed on short shoots, monomorphic, with sepals and petals readily distinguishable … Read more
Distinguishing Features – The Siberian tiger bears the typical markings of all tigers and is the largest of all the wild cats. A male can weigh more than 300 kg. and measures 2.7 – 3.6 m. long from its head to the tip of its tail, the female is a little smaller. Habitat They are … Read more
Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration, lustrous fur, varying from pale buff to dark brown; underparts paler brown. Ears, pale with whitish edges. Body, long; feet, dark brown; claws, semi-retractable. Size Male: .54 – 63 m (1.8 – 2.1 ft) Female: .48 – .6 m (1.6 – 2 ft) Habitat Throughout Northwestern Ontario, preferring mature coniferous … Read more
General – slender perennial from deep, creeping rhizomes; stems die back each year, erect, hollow, 15 – 60 cm tall; 2 markedly different stem types; fertile stems unbranched at first, later have mostly compound branches, green to tan; sterile stems much branched, usually single, green, with 10 – 18 minutely spiny ridges; many branches, again … Read more
The balsam poplar is the northernmost North American hardwood. Other names are tacamahac, cottonwood, or heartleaf balsam poplar. General – medium to large-sized, averaging 23 – 30 m (75 – 100 ft) high, broadleaved hardwood. Crown narrow, pyramidal with thick, ascending branches. Branchlets moderately stout, round, shiny reddy-brown, orange lenticels, buds are reddish-brown to brown, … Read more
Distinguishing Features – Small. Overall colouration, reddy brown or green and have small black dots scattered about; undersides, yellow or yellow-orange with small black dots. Skin, rough. Four toes on the front feet and five on the back. Size 6.3 – 10 cm (2.5 – 4 in) Habitat Found in southern regions of Northwestern Ontario, … Read more
General – A tall and spreading shrub, 3 – 8 m tall; bark thin, dull, reddish to greyish brown, smooth or slightly grooved; twigs slender, yellowish green to reddish brown, coated with very short grey hairs; buds slender, stalked, covered with grey hairs. Green AlderLeaves – Opposite, simple, 6 – 8 cm wide, 3-lobed, end … Read more
Distinguishing Features – Weight: 1 – 4 kg. This hare varies geographically depending on habitat and altitude. The length of the body and head ranges from 430 – 610 mm. Tail length can be as little as 40 mm or as long as 70 mm. Hind feet vary from 145 – 180 mm and ear … Read more