Every year Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) fauna and flora biologists head out into the field to monitor the plants and wildlife living in our regional forests, wetlands, and meadows. We want to know if the same native species are occupying our long-term monitoring stations year after year.
TRCA’s biologists are also tasked with visiting different sites to inventory the terrestrial biodiversity found.
This information is done for restoration/engineering sites, in advance of development applications and to assess the natural heritage system for watershed plans and TRCA’s jurisdiction.
Every year we make note of new discoveries or good news stories that we want to share, or highlight locations where we are concerned by the absence of a particular species or community.
Here are the top 2021 stories about the significant wildlife and plants we discovered living in Toronto and region habitats:
Wetlands and Lakes
RIVER OTTER (Lontra canadensis)
Regional Species of Conservation Concern (L2 Rank)
This video shows a mother otter watching over her playful offspring. While she is aware of being observed, her young are completely oblivious.
River Otters are a rare species within the Toronto region, needing lakes and other waterbodies containing high quality, clean water. This family group were found on the Oak Ridges Moraine, with a lone male observed on a nearby lake — possibly the father.
Several other sightings of River Otter have been made along the Oak Ridges Moraine, highlighting the importance of conserving the high-quality habitat found there.
WATER ARUM (Calla palustris) and STUNTED SEDGE (Carex magellanica ssp. irrigua)
Regional Species of Conservation Concern (L2 Rank)
Water Arum
Stunted Sedge
Both these species are habitat specialists — meaning they are quite picky about where they grow. Specifically, these are species that need pristine acidic kettle wetlands.
In TRCA’s jurisdiction, these wetlands are rare, typically found in the northern reaches of our watersheds. The plants pictured above were found in a kettle wetland in the Humber River watershed, indicating that the wetlands in this area are healthy and continue to support a diversity of life.
Healthy populations of large-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton amplifolius) were also found in kettle ponds in the upper reaches of the Humber watershed.
CREEPING SNOWBERRY (Gaultheria hispidula)
Regional Species of Conservation Concern (L1 Rank)
Creeping snowberry is another extreme habitat specialist found in high quality wetlands, particularly conifer swamps and bogs. The leaves and tiny white berries of this small low-lying perennial plant give off a distinct wintergreen smell when bruised.
It’s always good news when we can still find rare species like the creeping snowberry persisting within natural areas.
MEADOW SPIKE-MOSS (Selaginella eclipes)
Regional Species of Conservation Concern (L1 Rank)
Meadow spike-moss was last seen in TRCA’s jurisdiction in 1996. This rare find was discovered when looking for a small orchid in a fen.
Meadow spike-moss prefers to grow in open areas of fens, wet sandy lake shores, and riverbanks, usually in soils that are chalky or contain lime (i.e. calcareous). It is a relative of ferns, producing spores instead of seeds.
Forests
HOODED WARBLER (Setophaga citrina)
Regional Species of Conservation Concern (L3 Rank)
A significant new local population (seven territories) of Hooded Warbler was found in the upper Humber River watershed this year.
This species nests in the dense, shrubby vegetation in mature Carolinian forests. Such forests are only found in patches in the southwestern portion of Ontario, so the Toronto region marks the northern edge of the breeding range for this species.
Because they nest so close to the ground, Hooded Warblers are more susceptible to disturbance than canopy nesting birds.
AUTUMN CORAL-ROOT (Corallorhiza odontorhiza)
Regional Species of Conservation Concern (L2 Rank)
Despite its beauty, this small member of the orchid family is easy to overlook. The species blooms from August to October, and generally prefers cool, shady forests.
This year’s discovery in the Humber marks only its second confirmed sighting in TRCA’s jurisdiction. It was first detected the year before, in mature forests within the Duffins Creek watershed.
TRCA biologists are wondering if it’s a new arrival, or if it just “decided” to flower recently, or if they just happened to be in the right place and time for two years in a row. Only time will tell!
OLD-GROWTH FOREST
TRCA biologists found tiny patches of old-growth forest in ravines associated with the Highland Creek watershed (Morningside Park North and Thornton Creek). The photo above shows the huge sugar maples at Morningside Park North.
Toronto’s network of deep ravines forms a large urban forest that runs through most of the city.
LDD MOTH INFESTED HEMLOCKS (Tsuga canadensis)
Species of Conservation Concern in Urban Area (L4 Rank)
Eastern hemlocks were hit especially hard this season as the LDD moth ravaged regional forests. This is the largest outbreak we have seen since the early 2000s.
WHITE WOOD ASTER (Eurybia divaricata)
Previously Thought to be Extirpated Species (LX Rank)
A rare find! White wood aster was last observed in Toronto region in 1937. It was found again this year during a biological survey in a Toronto ravine.
White wood aster is on the northwestern edge of its range in southern Ontario (New England to Appalachia); it is considered a Species at Risk in Ontario and Canada.
The species inhabits dry upland forests with oak, beech and maple.
Rivers and Shorelines
COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE (Chelydra serpentina serpentina)
Regional Species of Conservation Concern (L3 Rank)
Spotting half a dozen female Snapping Turtles laying eggs along a 100-metre stretch of trail is certainly newsworthy. These turtles were busy digging nests in the gravel adjacent to a busy trail along the upper reaches of the Etobicoke Creek.
A local volunteer turtle conservation group kept a watchful eye as many hikers, cyclists, and dog walkers passed by. Such a concentration of breeding females indicates a healthy population along this stretch of the creek!
DEER-TONGUE PANIC GRASS (Dichanthelium clandestinum)
Regional Species of Conservation Concern (L2 Rank)
Deer-tongue panic grass is primarily found in floodplain woods in southwestern Ontario. This is the first discovery of the species in TRCA’s jurisdiction!
This plant can form substantial colonies through its short-creeping underground stems (rhizomes). It produces open-pollinated flowers initially, then later in the season it produces self-pollinating clusters of flowers on branches (inflorescences) that are usually hidden within the lower part of the leaf (sheath). Both types of flowers produce viable seeds.
NORTHERN WATERSNAKE (Nerodia sipedon sipedon)
Regional Species of Conservation Concern (L2 Rank)
It has been known for the past decade that Northern Watersnakes reside in the lower Etobicoke Creek watershed, but this year was the first opportunity to properly inventory this area.
TRCA monitoring biologists found approximately half a dozen snakes, including the youngster shown in the picture — a sure sign of a small but thriving population of this species.
This is the only known population within the entire Toronto region. Perhaps it’s a sign that as water quality improves in our rivers and streams, and fish populations increase, we can expect this specialized predator to be seen in other watersheds.
Urban Areas
DON VALLEY BRICKWORKS
A small part of the quarry face at the northwest side of the Don Valley Brickworks supports two unique vegetation communities for TRCA. These vegetation communities are associated with the old Brickworks quarry excavation.
Carbonate Treed Talus (TAT1) is found on unconsolidated boulders of shale and siltstone, and Moist Open Carbonate Seepage Cliff (CLO1-4) is fed by seepage from Mud Creek and is composed of a layer of duckweed (Lemna turionifera) on the vertical wet rock face, with orange touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis) on the margins.
Two Regional Species of Conservation Concern, poke milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) and downy arrow-wood (Viburnum rafinesqueanum), were also found in 2011 and 2021 — each as a single plant. They are regionally rare and declining species that are found in dry oak forests. We have been seeing them less in recent years.
PARTRIDGEBERRY (Mitchella repens)
Regional Species of Conservation Concern (L3 Rank)
A tiny patch of partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) was discovered at Thornton Creek (tributary of Highland Creek). We found this rather sensitive species of high-quality forests next to an industrial yard in 2000, and it was still there in 2021.
Scientific data collection and research informs decisions affecting the natural areas and watercourses within our region. Connect with TRCA online.