Hi, Earth Rangers! My name is Megan Quinn. I work at the Nature Conservancy of Canada, where I’m the coordinator of conservation biology for Eastern Ontario. That means I work hard to protect all the wildlife that lives in this area. This includes some of my favourite animals: red foxes, snowy owls, and flying squirrels! 

When you adopt one of these animals through Earth Rangers, you’re helping me conserve the Ottawa Valley, an important habitat for owls, foxes, squirrels, and all kinds of other animals.  

Are you ready to make a difference? Just visit the adoption section in the Earth Rangers App or check out the Earth Rangers Shop to adopt your own snowy owl, red fox, or flying squirrel! 

The Tallest Trees in Ontario

One of my favourite things about the Ottawa Valley is how unique the different habitats are. Working as a conservation biologist with the Nature Conservancy of Canada means my office looks different every day as I work around the region completing fieldwork.  

Sometimes, I work in an old growth forest, like the Gillies Grove Property. This property has some of the oldest and tallest trees in Eastern Ontario – over 200 years old and almost 50 metres! It even has the tallest tree in Ontario, which is the same height as a 13-storey building! These forests, and the open fields next to them, provide amazing habitat for species like snowy owls, flying squirrels, and red foxes.   

Recently, we had an arborist (a doctor for trees) do check-ups on some Eastern White Pine trees in Gillies Grove. Some of these very tall trees had died, which is a natural thing to happen. But dead trees can be a hazard for people walking on the trails underneath them. Since they’re not as strong as living trees can fall over.  

Still, we don’t want to chop down these dead trees. They play an important role in the ecosystem, especially for flying squirrels, which make their homes in hollowed-out standing trees.  

We worked with the arborist to cut off the tops of these dead trees and then scatter the branches below. This reduces the risk of the trees falling. It also mimics what happens in a forest naturally. The branches on the ground decompose, becoming homes for mice – a food source for snowy owls. 

Wetlands and Watery Caves

The Ottawa Valley also has some uncommon environments, like bogs (a type of wetland), alvars (flat, rocky areas), and sand dunes. These areas are home to species that don’t live anywhere else in the world. That makes it even more important to protect them. 

Did you know there are caves under water, and that the Ottawa Valley has Canada’s largest freshwater underwater cave system? I bet you didn’t know there are caves under water! These caves exist because of special type of rock called Karst. It’s much softer than other rocks, even though it  feels hard to the touch. Over time, Karst gets eroded by water. This erosion forms caves and tunnels, as well as the sinkholes that make up the cave entrances to the caves. These caves are extremely dark, but they’re still home to lots of different fish species, including some very rare mussels. 

At the end of the summer, my team and I spent a whole week taking care of these caves. We stayed in a cottage nearby and kayaked to work every day. It was so much fun! It gave us a new perspective on the area.  

The ground above the caves is just as exciting and biodiverse. We worked really hard to remove an invasive plant species called Creeping Jenny, which takes over the forest floor and makes it difficult for other plant species to grow. 

Another one of our special properties in the Ottawa Valley is called Bell Bushlot. This winter, my team is working to re-install signs that were vandalized, and my Earth Rangers plushies came along for the adventure!  

Did You Know Flying Squirrels Are Nocturnal?

That means they come out at night, so it can be hard to find them. Luckily, we have tools that make it easier, like trail cameras. We set up these cameras in areas where we know flying squirrels live, and then the pictures get sent directly to my phone. That way I can monitor the squirrels even when I’m sleeping. Check them out! 

Save Snowy Owls – Stay Out of Their Way!

If you want to help snowy owls, don’t harass them. They get very stressed with too many people around. Unfortunately, people often bait the owls by throwing food at them. This can be very harmful. It interferes with the owls’ natural hunting. It also means that they fly closer to areas with lots of humans, like highways. Many snowy owls die colliding with cars. That’s why it’s so important to give snowy owls their space and avoid interacting with them. 

Red Foxes Don’t Belong in the Recycling Bin!

Red Foxes have learned to co-exist with humans, so you’ll often see them in towns and cities. Normally foxes will eat small mammals, eggs, insects, fruits, and vegetables that they hunt and forage. But in cities, foxes may snoop for a snack in your garbage cans, recycling bins, or compost containers. Securing your bins means that foxes won’t make a mess – or eat something that could hurt them! 

We Can’t Do It Alone

Conservation work requires a lot of heavy lifting. The more people who get involved, the better!  

One myth I hear is you can’t do conservation work in the winter, but that’s not true! It is true that many species of animals hibernate or migrate in the winter. That actually helps because it gives us an opportunity to remove invasive species, even if there’s snow on the ground.  

In December, my team and I, along with two youth volunteers (like you!), removed invasive buckthorn trees on a property in the Ottawa Valley. Using chainsaws, hand saws, and a tool called an extractigator (ex-TRACK-tih-gay-tor), we cleared the area and opened up the forest floor. This gives native plant species more room to grow and keeps the ecosystem healthy. 

How Can I Help?

If you want to support the work that I’m doing with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, you can adopt your own snowy owl, red fox, or flying squirrel from Earth Rangers. Better yet, adopt all three!  

Proceeds from every adoption go directly to my work in Eastern Ontario to protect these species and their habitats. By following along with my journey in the field, you are helping to highlight how critical this conservation is. You can also visit the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s website and look for volunteer opportunities near you.  

You have also given me a lot of hope! When I was growing up, I didn’t have any access to nature, and so I didn’t know how important conservation was. I have always loved animals and wanted to help them, but I didn’t know how. By being an Earth Ranger, you are already way ahead of where I was. I can’t wait to see where you’ll go! 

In the meantime, go learn about the species in your community! It’s never too early to start learning about the environment, especially if you want to be a conservation biologist when you grow up. Winter is a great time to look closer at trees, since their leaves aren’t in the way. When you’re out walking, look for trees with big holes (called cavities) in the trunk. Many animals, like birds and squirrels, make their homes in these cavities. If you’re lucky, you may even see a flying squirrel poke its head out. You never know!  

My job isn’t always easy! In the winter it can be physically exhausting, cold, and snowy but knowing that you care about these animals as much as I do inspires me to keep going! Thank you for letting me share my work with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and my world with you. 

This fall, we challenged eco-clubs across Canada and the United States to reduce waste in creative ways. The winners of our Fall Quest, the Radical Reduction Revolution, are… 

Drumroll, please!

AAM Eco-Club – Mississauga, ON

The AAM Eco-Club challenged each other to a friendly door-decorating competition. The rules? Recycled materials only! This club got crafty with magazines, newspapers, and even used plates and cups, all to decorate their doors for the holidays. 

And that’s not all! The AAM Eco-Club also turned plastic bottles into something way cooler: plant pots! Each of these DIY pots will nurture a tiny seed–a big improvement from wasting away in landfill, we say!

Club 5 – Scarborough, ON

Club 5 got creative with paper plates and recycled scraps to craft this year’s Christmas decorations! Plus, they signed a pledge to reduce waste everywhere they can–at home, at school, and in their community!

Wheatley Green Club – St. Catharine’s, ON

Who needs brand new gift bags? The Wheatley Green Club used recycled materials to craft their own unique creations. Bet these looked perfect under the tree!

Plus, the Wheatley Green Club designed their own posters to educate their classmates about the problem of ocean plastic! These colorful fliers point out how easy it is for turtles to mistake a tasty jellyfish–well, tasty to turtles, at least!–for a dangerous plastic bag. 

Prince of Peace Eco-Club – St. Catharine’s, ON

The Prince of Peace Eco-Club made pumpkin spice season last with these spooky and sustainable decorations! No need to buy anything new–just pretty fallen leaves and recycled paper here.

Girls Go Green – Nacogdoches, TX

Girls Go Green completed the Radical Reduction Revolution! Together, they all signed our pledge to reduce waste and finished the quest! Can we get a round of applause for Hannah, Emily, Abby, Allison, Clara, Betty, Emmerie, Claire, and Ezra? 

Liberty Walk Park Rangers – Toronto, ON

You know what they say: one kid’s trash, another kid’s treasure! The Liberty Walk Park Rangers held a swap meet to trade their toys with one another. What a great way to cut down on consumption! Plus, Sonic, Barbie, and George Pig can breathe easy–they’re safe from the landfill!

All of these clubs have won a virtual meet-and-greet with our animal ambassadors! Plus, they’ve received a special pennant to fly with pride.

The winter quest is starting soon. Would you like to complete it with your class or school eco club? Let us know in the comments!