Environmental News

News about the water, air, wildlife and other environmental features that are relevant to the Great Lakes Region and have potential to affect us here in the Desbarats and St. Joseph Channel area.

Great Lakes, Bad Lines

Patagonia - July 24, 2017 - Every day, nearly 23 million gallons of oil are pumped through Line 5, a 64-year-old pipeline that runs through the heart of the Great Lakes. A spill here could put up to 700 miles of freshwater coastline at risk.

Desbarats area wild turkeys can be hunted starting this upcoming spring.

Ontario Our of Doors Magazine - December 12, 2016 - A spring wild turkey hunting season will open in Wildlife Management Unit 36 as part of many changes made to the wild turkey hunting regulations across Ontario.

Jury out on why elk numbers dipping and who should pony up for damages

The Sault Star - November 18, 2016 - In 2011, the first limited licensed elk hunt started in central Ontario, as the elk population there reached sustainable levels.

New rules to fight invasive species

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry - November 10, 2016 - Ontario is prohibiting and restricting 19 invasive species to prevent their arrival and control their spread in the province and protect the environment.

Federal government set to ban sale of toiletries containing microbeads in 2018

CBC News - November 4, 2016 - The federal government says it will ban the sale of shower gels, toothpaste and facial scrubs containing plastic microbeads, effective July 1, 2018.

Updated Federal Management Plan for the monarch butterfly

Species at Risk Public Registry - See how the Canadian government plans to manage the monarch butterfly, a species at risk in Canada.

1.5 billion birds missing from North American skies, ‘alarming’ report finds

The Canadian Press - September 14, 2016 - The report also listed 86 species of birds, including the Canadian warbler, that are threatened by plummeting populations, habitat destruction and...

Eighty per cent of the world's most precious habitats are unprotected, experts warn

The Independant - September 3, 2016 - Key habitats across the globe are not being protected, even though the world is on track to meet a major conservation target. 

Electric shocks control sea lampreys in Great Lakes, study suggests

CBC News - August 22, 2016 - Scientists have made a shocking discovery about an invasive species threatening the Great Lakes. Electricity is an effective weapon in the fight against the blood-sucking sea lamprey, researchers with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission say.

Great Lakes Commission leads fight against web trafficking of aquatic invasive species

Great Lakes Commission - August 17, 2016 - The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) announced that it has completed development and testing of an innovative web data mining tool to find aquatic invasive species for sale on the internet, and is continuing with implementation of the tool.

The Migratory Bird Treaty turns 100!

The Nature Conservancy of Canada - August 16, 2016 - This year we mark the centennial of the convention between the United States and Great Britain (for Canada) for the protection of migratory birds — also called the Migratory Bird Treaty — that was signed on August 16, 1916.

Michigan has new weapon against invasive zebra and quagga mussels

Detroit Free Press - August 15, 2016 - Researchers say they believe they may have finally found a safe, effective means of combating one of the Great Lakes' most persistent and damaging aquatic invaders.