Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Georgian Bay Islands National Park

As someone who has grown up and lived most of my life in Michigan, I have always been curious about the Canadian "side" of Lake Heron. It looked very interesting with so many islands and I always wondered what it was like. Well, today I am very happy to share with you a little I have learned about part of it - the Georgian Bay Islands National Park.

• Georgian Bay Islands National Park is a protected archipelago which is made up of 63 islands near Port Severn, Ontario, in the world's largest freshwater archipelago. 
• This National Park is accessible only by boat, the park is a unique transitional zone blending lush deciduous forests with the rugged granite of the Canadian Shield.
• Because it sits between northern and southern ecosystems, the park is incredibly diverse and boasts one of the highest numbers of reptile and amphibian species of any Canadian national park.
• You will find 33 species of Reptiles & Amphibians residing here. The park is famous for the threatened Massasauga Rattlesnake (Ontario's only venomous snake), as well as the Eastern Fox Snake, Eastern Hognose Snake, Five-lined Skink, Blanding's Turtle, Spotted Turtle, Map Turtle, and the Midland Painted Turtle.
• The park supports 32 mammal species. Common sightings include white-tailed deer, raccoons, beavers, chipmunks, porcupines, and coyotes. While rarer to spot, visitors might also see moose, black bears, lynx, bobcats, river otters, and eastern wolves.
• There are nearly 190 documented bird species in the park. Look for breeding songbirds like warblers (including the Prairie Warbler), Scarlet Tanagers, and Yellow-throated Vireos. Raptors and waterbirds include Bald Eagles, Ospreys, and Common Loons.
• The surrounding coastal wetlands are abundant with fish, such as bass, lake trout, pickerel (walleye), and muskellunge.

I am very happy to have been able to learn more about this area of Canada and you will find more information about the Georgian Bay Islands National Park at the following link.