Bats may have once had a bad reputation, but these fascinating nocturnal creatures are some of nature’s hardest-working insect hunters. With bat populations across Ontario in decline, every sighting is now a welcome surprise. Learn more about the eight bat species found in the Central Algoma region to boost your appreciation for these amazing animals!

With summer in full bloom, now is the perfect time to explore the vast world of medicinal plants. Conifer shoots that are high in vitamin C, common weeds that pack a powerful anti-inflammatory punch, beautiful flowers growing in the heart of Central Algoma’s ecosystems - there’s a bounty of species ripe for harvest.

The Central Algoma Land Trust is excited to announce that the Dawson Island Preserve has almost doubled in size, thanks to an exceptionally generous donation from the Welles family. This newly acquired tract will be named the E.K. and Betty Welles Point. Named after the property's original owners, the tract was collectively donated by five of their grandchildren who recently inherited the land.

Widow Skimmers are a common species not far too the south of us and isn’t considered at-risk, so why does this matter? Tracking range expansions like this is a vital part of modern conservation. As our climate and landscapes change, species are moving into new territories to find the habitats they need to survive.

After deep snow and a long winter, spring has finally arrived for Central Algoma Land Trust’s protected areas; we are pleased to announce that spring ephemerals are slowly waking up from their long winter naps and beginning to bloom along our hiking trails and monitored properties!

For the third year in a row, the Central Algoma Land Trust was proud to support the Algoma District Regional Envirothon and Competition, at Stokely Creek Lodge. This year’s event was especially meaningful, as one of our team members, Jazmin, returned as an instructor after once competing in Envirothon as a student herself.

From hands-on stream testing to field challenges and presentations, students spent two inspiring days building environmental skills and teamwork. Read the full blog to learn more about this year’s competition and why Envirothon continues to make such a lasting impact.

World Migratory Bird Day at Fort St. Joseph was another extremely successful day! 121 eager birders showed up on May 9th at Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site to experience the wonders of spring bird migration. This was the 4th annual partnership between Parks Canada and the Central Algoma Land Trust to host this event in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day.

The team at the Central Algoma Land Trust has grown to seven for the next four months! We’d like to introduce you to Kaitlyn, Maggie, and Johnna who be working alongside Carter, Corinne, Jennifer, and Jazmin to advance conservation across the Central Algoma region.

It’s pretty incredible to think that a Whooping Crane hatched in a facility in Wisconsin and raised by people in crane suits ended up right here in our local fields. While it was extremely exciting for those of us lucky enough to see her, it’s also a good reminder that the work we do to keep our local habitats healthy actually matters.

In celebration of World Migratory Bird Day this year, Central Algoma Land Trust is proud to partner with Parks Canada to provide special access to Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site so that birders can experience the wonders of spring bird migration. The site will be open from 6:00am until 2:00pm on Saturday May 9, 2026. 

In the Central Algoma region, familiar species like garter snakes, painted turtles, and northern leopard frogs are commonly spotted. But something interesting is happening, we are starting to hear about more observations of some of the less popular herptiles of our region. The question is whether this reflects species expanding their ranges northward due to a warming climate, or simply an increase in interest and reporting of the natural world.

On March 26th, Central Algoma Land Trust member Jane Smith photographed two meadowlarks just down the road from her house in Tarbutt Township. They turned out to be Western Meadowlarks, a different species than the Eastern Meadowlarks that are commonly found in the area every summer.