Visit us on the web at www.ontarionature.org FAMILY NATURE NOTES SPRING 2002

Written by Kerry Everitt What YOU can do.... Design and illustrations by Judie Shore

the Society for Ecological Restora- parents that it might be a good tion at 905-641-2252, ext. 6494 destination for your next family 1. When you go for a or e-mail: [email protected] for car trip. Visit the majestic forests walk in the woods be a grower near you. of Backus Woods near Long Point sure to stay on the marked trails. or the Ojibway Prairie near CAROLINIAN Trails are made so that you won’t 3. Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Buy less Windsor. Check Carolinian Canada’s sassafras tree get lost but also so that delicate stuff, and you’ll produce less web site: www.carolinian.org for habitats are protected from the garbage. In this way, less land will locations, or contact the FON for a stomping boots and shoes of visi- be used for garbage disposal, leav- list of naturalist clubs and organi- tors. ing more land for wildlife. As well, zations in your area. CANADA southern flying reduce the amount of energy and squirrel 2. If you live in the Carolinian Canada water you use and lessen your 5. Become an advocate for nature! region, plant native species in your impact on nature. Write a letter to your MPP or local Ontario s Southern P dise garden. There are many reputable newspaper explaining why we need ’ ara seed and plant distributors who 4. If you do not live in the Carolinian to protect Carolinian Canada. specialize in native plants. Contact Canada region, suggest to your Where in Canada can you find opossums in trees, butterflies the colour of summer sky and trees with tulip flowers? In Carolinian Canada — the southern land of extremes.

For more MEPSTROEOTLECTK you draw an imaginary line Georgian 2,200 species of plants and more than information about Bay CAROLINIAN USPDUT I I HMAEFES from Grand Bend on Lake half of all species of birds that live in Carolinian Canada SOROLLRRO I I RNEP Huron to Toronto, the area Lake Huron Canada. Unfortunately, one third of CAROLINIAN CANADA IF SN IOIMA I AL PTDUI south of that line to Lake Erie is Toronto Canada's species at risk also live in this CANADA 659 Exeter Road, London, • called Carolinian Canada. An amazing beautiful but fragile environment. OGCWPE T A ADUAE LN Lake Ontario Ontario, N6E 1L3 Grand Bend POKSTTNRNCSICBY Phone: 519-873-4631 variety of plants and animals are found USA • ➥ Although this area is also known as WORD OH LURSO P K L R L I RS Fax: 519-873-4645 here and nowhere else in Canada! the “banana belt” of Canada, you won't ANYKEYD Y T I AODEO E-mail: [email protected] Carolinian Canada is an area of find any bananas growing here! This Web site: www.carolinian.org • USA IRPCESCAAMMNUNF extremes. It is the smallest vegetation Windsor Lake Erie region has the warmest average annu- SEARCH NE EAFOAWTAUGORT zone in the country, making up less al temperatures, the highest number of Resources from the FON ITABFCNBITAAUAS • Carolinian Canada Teacher's than one percent of Canada's total land frost-free days and the mildest winters GSRFOEF I BECMSKH Guide area. Look at an Ontario road map to see just how small it in all of Ontario. The comfortably warm climate is a result

The following words are Recycled paper Spring 2002 Supplement to SEASONS, RAEAROL J A I NIANE • Plants of Carolinian Canada really is. Despite its size, it contains more species of flora of the moderating influence of the Great Lakes and warm, hidden in the word search. IECANADOHAOCIFL Seasons (summer, 1985) and fauna than any other ecosystem in Canada! Carolinian moist air blowing north off of the Gulf of Mexico. Words may be forwards, VFLYINGSQUIRREL Canada is home to more than 70 species of trees, more than backwards or diagonal! Check out the Internet FON Fascinating Fact The letters that are not • The Deciduous Forest Region used spell a phrase that EASTERN HOGNOSE MARSUPIAL of Eastern North America Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle The male eastern spiny softshell turtle www.library.utoronto.ca/ describes Carolinian ECOSYSTEM MILD CLIMATE This reptile gets its name from its lack of a hard shell and also from the sharp has spots on the top of its shell that polyclave/caroltrees/car- “spines” along the front edges of its shell. While most turtles have hard shells, look like eyes. These “eyes” trick Canada. FLYING SQUIRREL OJIBWAY PRAIRIE olmap.htm predators into thinking that the HABITAT ONTARIO • Environment Canada - the softshell turtle has smooth, leathery carapace. If you look at this turtle Word List KARNER BLUE PRICKLY PEAR Ecozones sideways, it is almost as flat as a pancake. This turtle can also be recognized turtle is actually a www.ccea.org/ecozones/mp/ by its long, snout-like nose. It lives in streams, marshes and rivers near Lake very large BACKUS WOODS KENTUCKY COFFEE SPINY SOFTSHELL plants.html Erie, where it makes a tasty snack creature. DECIDUOUS MAGNOLIA TULIP TREE of insects, crayfish, snails, The leftover letters, in order, spell out the following phrase. worms and small fish. Reviewers: Andrea Kettle, FON Unfortunately, ______Don Gordon, Carolinian Canada shoreline housing Copy Editor: Joan Clark ______. developments and

Editor: Helen D. Gault agricultural activi- Protect the flora and fauna of Carolinian Canada Carolinian of fauna and flora the Protect Answer: Answer: Printing: DTP Inc. ty threaten its habitat. Federation of Ontario Naturalists 355 Lesmill Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 2W8 Tel: (416) 444-8419, 1 800 440-2366 Fax: (416) 444-9866 E-mail: [email protected] FEDERATION OF ONTARIO NATURALISTS Because of the mild climate, a number of A THREATENED ECOSYSTEM unique species can be found living here Destruction of natural habitat is the main threat to Canadian species. The warm climate and rich soils of the Carolinian region Tulip-tree Pawpaw Southern Flying Squirrel Karner Blue have attracted farmers and developers who must clear The tulip-tree is one of The bark of this tree contains natural The world's only flying mammal is the bat, Butterfly the forests, grasslands, wetlands and other natural areas only two wild magnolia chemicals that were used by natives so why is this small mammal called a flying The survival of this to use the land for profit. Only three percent of species found in and early settlers to make medi- squirrel? The southern flying squirrel gets delicate, pale blue Carolinian Canada’s original forest cover remains and Canada. Eastern cines. It is also called “poor man’s its name from the gliding technique butterfly depends on the preservation only 10 percent of the wetlands. Prairie ecosystems of North America's banana” as the fruit is commonly that it uses to parachute between of its specialized habitat. Wild lupine, the Carolinian Canada area are among the most threat- tallest hard- eaten in parts of the southern trees. This nocturnal mammal will a wildflower that grows in the dry soils of ened ecosystems in Canada. Without suitable habitat, wood, this tree states. It is, in fact, one of the largest spread its forelimbs and hind legs as it jumps open pine and oak savannahs (grasslands with many plants and animals of this region face extinction. can reach heights edible fruits in North America, with from one branch to another. The loose skin trees), is the only food that the caterpillars of of 23 metres, which is as tall entire cookbooks related to this between its legs acts like a parachute and this species will eat. Increased as two school buses stacked end small banana-sized fruit. But remember, allows the squirrel to glide long distances development in the southern What is being done? to end. Its distinctive tulip-shaped never eat anything without the okay between trees — the southern gliding squirrel portions of the province has Since large forested areas are very rare in Carolinian leaves and large green and from a knowledgeable adult — some would be a better, or at least a more accurate, nearly elimi- Canada, it is important to protect those that remain. orange cup-shaped flowers plants can make you very ill. name! A small number of these mammals can nated wild These areas provide the “interior” habitat that many make it easy to identify. It is be found along the shores of Lake Erie and lupine, affect- species need to live and reproduce. Woods should be found in several locations in Lake Ontario. The large, mature hardwood ing the Karner protected and expanded to create the largest areas of the region. Mature forests of tulip- Kentucky forests found in Carolinian Canada provide the blue’s population. continuous forest possible. trees can be found in Backus Woods Coffee Tree ideal habitat for these furry gliders, supplying Many people are concerned about the future of the near Long Point. Canada's other wild The reddish-brown them with lots of shelter and tasty nuts to eat. Carolinian Canada region and are working very hard to magnolia tree, the endangered cucumber tree, seed pods of this Unfortunately, these forests are disappearing ensure that it is protected for future generations to is also a resident of Carolinian Canada. tree were once used at an alarming rate. enjoy. Areas such as the Spooky Hollow Sanctuary near by natives as dice. Simcoe, Backus Woods near Long Point, Ojibway Prairie in Windsor, and part of the Jordan Valley in the Eastern Prickly Early European set- Virginia Opossum tlers roasted the seeds Niagara Peninsula have been conserved through the Pear Cactus Although this unique mammal is usually found to make a coffee-like hard work of government and non-governmental in the southeastern United States, it has drink; however, because of organizations and private landowners. adapted to life in Carolinian Canada. their toxic nature, it’s not Carolinian Canada is a coalition of organiza- The opossum is North America's only recommended. This deciduous tions and citizens who work together to con- marsupial, which means it gives birth to tree can grow to be nearly 25 metres high. serve the species and habitats of this special live young who continue to develop in It has large doubly compound leaves (each ecosystem. They encourage conservation man- the mother's pouch after birth — just like leaf contains leaflets, which in turn contain agement of public and private lands by setting kangaroos. This marsupial-of-the-north will leaflets) that change colour throughout the common protection and restoration goals for eat just about anything that it can find — insects, fruit, season, starting as pink, turning white, then this fragile environment. See page four for birds, eggs and small mammals. Opossums live in hollow trees green, yellow and finally orange before they contact information. or logs and can be found in wooded areas or near swamps fall off. Since this region is home to one-third of and streams. The Virginia opossum is the size of a cat. the all the rare, threatened and endangered A cactus in Ontario? No, we haven't lost our species found in Canada, it is easy to see why it is so important that we conserve marbles. The eastern prickly pear cactus, also Eastern Hognose Snake this unique and valuable area. known as Indian fig, is a cactus that is able to Also known as a puff adder, the eastern hognose is one of Ontario's most FON Fascinating Fact survive Ontario's cold winters. interesting snakes. When threatened, this reptile raises its head like a You may have heard the It reproduces by a pod breaking off the cobra to make itself look larger and more powerful expression "playing ‘pos- See page four to parent plant and taking root nearby. than its predator. It has also been known to sum," which means playing This endangered plant grows only in hiss and even strike when disturbed. dead. People once believed that, when fright- find out what the extreme southern parts of the If its theatrics are not enough to frighten ened, the opossum would fall over and act province, around Pelee Island, and it’s away a predator, the snake simply rolls over dead. Biologists now know that the opossum you can do! protected by Ontario’s Endangered and plays dead in hopes that the intruder actually faints when threatened. Species Act. will lose interest and go away. ➥