ON Nature, Summer 2026, cover, an endangered piping plover on a beach

Ontario Nature is the voice for wild species and wild spaces in Ontario. Its award-winning quarterly magazine, ON Nature, is an authoritative source of engaging environmental content that inspires and informs. Contributors include award-winning journalists, photographers, and leading conservation experts.

The magazine brings readers closer to nature. Experience the great outdoors, even when you’re indoors.


5 | This Issue

Nature protection is democratic.

By Andrés Jiménez Monge

Many spiny water fleas washed up on shore, Ontario, invasive species
Hundreds of spiny water fleas, invasive species

20 | Tiny Invaders of Canoe Country

Spiny water fleas have spread through Ontario lakes, threatening native food webs. Here’s how scientists are battling what’s being called the biggest threat to inland lakes since acid rain.

By Leah Borts-Kuperman

24 | Rising Risks for Species at Risk

The Government of Ontario dropped protections for more than 100 species at risk, claiming that federal protections can fill the gap. Here are the reasons why that is misguided.

By Brian Banks

Rising Risks for Species at Risk, Feature, ON Nature Summer 2026, piping plover along a Lake Huron shoreline, piping plovers are endangered species
Heavy rainfall results in an overflowing creek flooding over and washing out a road in eastern Ontario along the Cataraqui Region watershed

28 | Washed Away

The impact of heavy rainfall on wildlife is likely to get worse, but conservation authorities, whose original core purpose was flood mitigation, are hampered by policy measures that limit their powers.

By Ian Coutts

35 | Nature Network

  • Thunder Bay Field Naturalists
  • New Nature Network Groups

By Lesley Rudy

Thunder Bay Field Naturalists have helped to protect more than 4856 hectares of land including a portion of William Bog near Thunder Bay
Our Community, Nature's Way Forward, ON Nature, Summer 2026

36 | Our Community  

Nature’s Way Forward

By Kayla Salive

37 | From the Blog

Vote for a Healthy, Sustainable Ontario.

By Cristina Murano

During a heat wave a cloud of dust covers pedestrians with dirty stinging granules near the Danforth beside a dry and desicated Danforth Park
An illustration shows a parrot flying with a suitcase

38 | Last Word

A Case for Ecotourism Abroad.

By Justin Peter


ON Nature, Summer 2026, cover, an endangered piping plover on a beach

ON Nature magazine is an award-winning quarterly that brings readers closer to nature by exploring Ontario’s natural species and spaces, and providing insight on pressing conservation issues.

The cost of an annual subscription is $50. If you are a senior citizen (65+) or a student, you can subscribe for a discounted rate of $40.

For just $9.95, you can purchase recent issues of our award-winning magazine. We have back issues available online dating to 1932!

For more information or to purchase a back issue, please contact Kamran Minai, at 416-444-8419 ext. 232 or kamranm@ontarionature.org.


Photos © Ron Erwin, Ron Erwin, Alan Harris / iNaturalist CC 0.0, John Reaume, Ontario Parks, Brendan Boyd / iNaturalist CC BY 2.0, Ron Erwin, Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, Michael Bryan, Kayla Salive, Can Pac Swire CC BY-SA 2.0, Pete Ryan