Featured Species

Description and habitat
Blue-beech or American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is a small tree or large shrub of moist deciduous forests. It is the only hornbeam native to North America, one of more than 25 species in the world. Blue-beech occurs in Ontario and Quebec south of the Canadian Shield and

Description and habitat
Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) is a large deciduous tree in the Walnut Family (Juglandaceae), reaching 20-40 m tall. This tree is named for its peeling bark, which is often described as shaggy. This the most distinguishing feature of Shagbark Hickories, making it easily identifiable. Shagbark Hickory is

Description and habitat
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is world’s largest type of cherry tree, and one of four species regularly observed in the Long Point Basin. The other three species are the Sand Cherry (Prunus pumila), Fire / Pin Cherry (Prunus pennsylvanica) and Chokecherry (Prunus pennsylvanica). Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana). All

Description and habitat
Sassafras is a widely recognized tree to local naturalists in the Long Point Basin, where it is abundant. It is also found throughout most of the eastern United States, though in Canada, it is restricted to southwestern Ontario’s Lake Erie Region or “Carolinian Life Zone”, given this

Description and habitat
American Hophornbeam (Ostyra virginiana), is a deciduous tree in the birch family (Betulaceae) widely distributed throughout the Great Lakes Region. Hophornbeams also occur throughout the eastern United States, occurring as far south of Florida. There are around 9-10 species of Hophornbeam in the world: 3 from North

Description and habitat
Butternut (Juglans cinerea) is a deciduous tree widely distributed across southern Ontario. They prefer loam or sandy-loam soils, and especially areas with a limestone-based substrate. Though it is widely distributed, large populations are concentrated in certain areas; along the Niagara Escarpment (especially Grey County), the Kawartha Lakes

Introducing Long Point’s oak trees 
The Long Point Basin has 8 species of oaks, distributed widely across many different ecosystems, from oak savannas (displayed in the rightmost photo) to swampy woodlands! These oaks are categorized into two major groups – red oaks and white oaks, with a few notable differences

What are Southern Flying Squirrels? 
Southern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys volans) are small omnivorous mammals, and one of 8 species of squirrels in the Great Lakes Region. The other seven species are Northern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus), Eastern Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus),

What is Garlic Mustard? 
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an herbaceous biannual plant in the Brassicaceae (Mustard) family. It is native to the temperate forests and Mediterranean shrublands of western Eurasia and northern Africa. Leaves are typically around 12 cm long and 8 cm broad, ranging from triangular to heart-shaped

Description
The Long Point Region is well-known for its high biodiversity, abundant wildlife, and gorgeous ecosystems. It is also home to one of the rarest tree species in Canada, the Cucumber Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata). Cucumber Magnolia, Canada’s only Magnolia species, is naturally observed in two very small areas – southern