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Notes from the Wild

Newt Love

May 11, 2025 | Don Scallen

Newts fall in love too but, as in human affairs, persistence, gentle wooing and perhaps a splash of cologne can help win the day.

How to Spot Salamander Eggs

Apr 2, 2025 | Don Scallen

Look closely in the crystal clear streams and ponds around Caledon and you can likely spot Jefferson salamander eggs, neatly aligned along supports like twigs.

When 200-Pound Beavers Roamed Southern Ontario

Mar 11, 2025 | Don Scallen

Huge skulls from more than 10,000 years ago reveal a time when beavers as big as bears called this area home.

The Allure of Owls

Feb 10, 2025 | Don Scallen

Owls generate great excitement among birders, and they tug, irresistibly, at our heart strings with those big, expressive eyes.

Fossil Trees

Jan 7, 2025 | Don Scallen

Trees like ginkgos and dawn redwoods are called “living fossils” due to their ancient origins that date back to the days of the dinosaurs.

The Value of Silence

Dec 5, 2024 | Don Scallen

Resisting the urge to chatter may help humans catch glimpses of elusive animals.

Stayin’ Alive

Nov 11, 2024 | Don Scallen

Using venom, camouflage and jump scare tactics, snakes find many ways to survive and escape danger.

Fall Critters

Oct 9, 2024 | Don Scallen

While humans peacefully slumber the forest comes alive with tiny creatures busy preparing for the cold.

Praying Mantids

Sep 12, 2024 | Don Scallen

There’s no need to fear these alien-looking creatures … unless you’re a butterfly or wasp.

Life in the Milkweed Patch

Aug 8, 2024 | Don Scallen

A milkweed patch thrums with life, full of moths, spiders, butterflies, amphibians and more.

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Jul 5, 2024 | Don Scallen

Underwater video taken at local conservation areas capture the male Pumpkinseed sunfish in action

A Marooned Grebe

Jun 6, 2024 | Don Scallen

Without a proper ‘runway’, horned grebes are unable to achieve lift-off, effectively leaving them stranded if they happen to land in small watering holes.