CoRe project

CoRe stands for Conservation Restoration. The Parks Canada CoRe program provides funding for national parks with a significant conservation concern. On the Road to Recovery was a two-year CoRe project from September 2017 to September 2019, which was then extended and expanded with multiple National Parks in Ontario (Georgian Bay Islands National Park, Thousand Islands National Park) to continue the great work until 2024. We have completed many of our project goals in collaboration with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre and the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula.

What is On the Road to Recovery all about?

On the Road to Recovery addresses the key environmental threats associated with roads which impact multiple species at risk within Bruce Peninsula National Park.

The project aims to:

1) Make our roads safer for wildlife, especially reptiles and amphibians

• Every year, hundreds of reptiles and amphibians are run over on roads within Bruce Peninsula National Park. To help prevent this, ecopassages and exclusion fencing were installed along road mortality 'hotspots' within the park locations where a high number of reptiles and amphibians have been run over by vehicles. The eco-fencing prevents turtles, snakes, frogs, salamanders, and smaller mammals from crossing roadways, and guides them towards specially designed ecopassages. Together, the fencing and passages allow species to cross underneath the busy roads safely.
• Seven eco-passages have been installed in total on Cyprus Lake Road, Emmett Lake Road, and Dorcas Bay Road.
• In park areas with high levels of turtle nesting activity, artificial nesting sites have been created. These allow turtles to nest near their chosen habitat, without crossing roads.

2) Educate the public about road ecology issues and living with the Massasauga rattlesnake

• On the Road to Recovery is helping to increase awareness of road ecology issues through social media, interpretive programs, signs and displays, and outreach activities. As well, we are working to make people feel more comfortable living alongside the Massasauga rattlesnake - a commonly misunderstood species!

3) Develop a community science volunteer program to monitor and protect turtle nesting sites

• Community science means getting visitors and community members involved with hands-on scientific projects at Bruce Peninsula National Park. Our community science program is working to monitor and protect turtle nests and hatchlings within the park.