Toronto Islands - Turtles, etc.

[Anonymous]

Good day

 Today I found 3 Map Turtles on Snug Island and another one plus 8 Painted Turtles in the Sanctuary.

 Over the last couple of weeks Snug Harbour, The Sanctuary and The Trout Pond on the Island have contained at least 6 Map, Snapping, Blandings and up to 16 Painted Turtles as well as up to 3 Red-eared Sliders. (these numbers varied from trip to trip).

 I have also observed or heard A. Toads, Green Frogs, Leopard Frogs and several E. Garter Snakes including the black morph.

 In some of the small parts of the lagoons out of the way I have found large schools (2 to 300 of each) of young 3" to 4" long Perch, Small Mouth Bass and Bluegills and today with the bass was an approx. 6" long Gar.

 On Monday for the first time on The Islands I smelled a Striped Skunk which was a surprise because all these years I didn't know they were on The Islands.

 There are of course Muskrats and Raccoons on The Islands as well as the ocasional Beaver.

[Sierra3]

tks for this report
v. interesting
as i plan to attend
this week or next

Sierra

[Anonymous]

Today I found 3 Map Turtles on Snug Island and another one plus 8 Painted Turtles in the Sanctuary.

 Over the last couple of weeks Snug Harbour, The Sanctuary and The Trout Pond on the Island have contained at least 6 Map, Snapping, Blandings and up to 16 Painted Turtles as well as up to 3 Red-eared Sliders. (these numbers varied from trip to trip).

 I have also observed or heard A. Toads, Green Frogs, Leopard Frogs and several E. Garter Snakes including the black morph.

 In some of the small parts of the lagoons out of the way I have found large schools (2 to 300 of each) of young 3" to 4" long Perch, Small Mouth Bass and Bluegills and today with the bass was an approx. 6" long Gar.

 On Monday for the first time on The Islands I smelled a Striped Skunk which was a surprise because all these years I didn't know they were on The Islands.

 There are of course Muskrats and Raccoons on The Islands as well as the ocasional Beaver.

Very interesting. So far, I have been less than lucky. I have seen a few snakes on Ward's island, including a really minuscule brown one, but that's about it. I am always excited when I see the paper sign at the start of the boardwalk on Ward's Island asking to not disturb the 'Snakes at play', but except for one brief glimpse of a snake sunning on some concrete block somewhere half way the boardwalk, I have never ever seen one there <weep>.

I have seen a skunk however (sometime last year - 2005). Unfortunately, it was a dead one lying on a South beach somewhere on Centre Island.