General – dark green, robust, unbranched, 4 – 15 cm tall or more; single-sexed, males have enlarged heads at plant tips, females produce sporophytes; lower portion covered by grey rhizoids. Leaves – 6 – 10 mm long, lance-shaped, sharply pointed; spread at right angles when moist, erect-flattened and rolled when dry; membranous, sheathing base; edges … Read more
Distinguishing Features – Non-venomous. Overall colouration, light brown to black with two alternating rows of black spots. Three longitudinal stripes run length of body; dorsal stripe is usually yellow. Lateral stripes are cream to yellow and are located on the second and third scale rows. A row of black spots usually occurs below the lateral … 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
The red pine is also called Norway pine. It is one of the most extensively planted species in the northern United States and Canada. General – large-sized, averaging 23 – 32 m (75 – 105 ft) high, evergreen conifer. Crown sparse, oval, over a straight, limbless trunk with little taper. Branches spreading with foliage tufted … Read more
The Minnow family Cyprinidae is perhaps the most diverse and dynamic group of fishes in the world. Members of this family can be found in all of our rivers and streams and in most lakes. Their range of environmental tolerance varies from those that are on the very extremes of their natural continental distribution and … Read more
Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration, dark brown, oily fur; throat silvery colour. Long muscular body; flattened head; short legs; webbed feet; long powerful tail. Size Male: .93 – 1.35 m (3.1 – 4.5 ft) Female: .87 – 1.14 m (2.9 – 3.8 ft) Habitat Throughout Northwestern Ontario, primarily in wooded shoreline areas of lakes, ponds, … Read more
Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration, thick, lustrous fur, varying from dark brown to black; random whitish to cream coloured patches on chest. In winter, colouration tends to be darker. Legs, short; claws, semi-retractable. Fisher Size Male: .84 – 1.05 m (2.8 – 3.5 ft) Female: .75 – .93 m (2.5 – 3.1 ft) Habitat Throughout … Read more
Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration, reddy-brown above with grayish or brownish underparts. Snout, long; legs, short; feet, clawed. Size 7.11 – 10.4 cm (2.8 – 4.1 in) Habitat Common throughout Northwestern Ontario in mixed wood environments, bogs and wet fields. Diet The pygmy shrew feeds mainly on insect larvae, beetles, spiders and carrion. Notes The … Read more
Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration – in summer, brown upperparts; creamy legs, sides and chest. Tail, long, tipped in black. In winter, colouration is pure white except for black-tipped tail. Ermine Size Male: 25.4 – 33 cm (10 – 13 in) Female: 21.5 – 26 cm (8.5 – 10.25 in) Habitat Wide range throughout Northwestern … Read more
Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration, olivy-brown back and sides with blackish flecks; underside, greyish. Large, bushy tail, tawny coloured with blackish and buff highlights; eye, ringed in white, ears, tufted in red or black. Red Squirrel Size 28 – 34 cm (11 – 13.4 in) Habitat Widespread throughout Northwestern Ontario in various wooded environments; prefers … Read more