Parks Canada BioBlitz Event to Take Place at Point Pelee National Park

Parks Canada invites Canadians to connect with nature and discover wildlife

July 18, 2018                   Point Pelee National Park, ON                     Parks Canada Agency

The Government of Canada wants all Canadians to experience and discover Canada’s rich history and to help preserve our amazing natural and cultural heritage.

In 2018, Parks Canada will be hosting BioBlitz events at various locations across the country including a BioBlitz at Point Pelee National Park from July 21 to 22. A BioBlitz is a fun and educational activity that allows participants to team up with scientists to experience the outdoors, discover plant and animal species, and contribute to their protection. It is a team effort to find as many different life forms as possible. At this time of year, many groups of plants and critters are visible and it’s a great time to discover the incredible biodiversity of Point Pelee National Park.

To help commemorate Point Pelee National Park's 100 years of conservation and even longer history of ecological study and environmental stewardship, participants are invited to join the first ever “all park, all species” Point Pelee 100 BioBlitz. 

As part of Parks Day, the park's resource conservation staff will be joined by nature experts and naturalists to conduct a 24-hour, all-park search aimed at documenting every species in the park, starting at 12:00 p.m. on July 21. BioBlitz participants are invited to join experts for talks and hikes on different groups of species found in the park. They can also partake in their own species survey with the use of the iNaturalist app on their personal iPhone or Android device.

Canadians and visitors are encouraged to get involved by supporting local conservation efforts through BioBlitz events. Parks Canada is actively working with partners, including Indigenous peoples, to monitor and restore ecosystems, protect species at risk, and expand our knowledge of biodiversity and climate change.

Preserving and promoting ecological integrity is a priority for Parks Canada and the Government of Canada has committed to protecting 17 per cent of land and inland waters, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine waters by 2020. BioBlitz events are an opportunity to get involved in helping to protect the environment and Canada’s biodiversity.

Please visit the Parks Canada website for a full list of BioBlitz events, and make conservation part of your plans for 2018.

Over the past three years, BioBlitz participants across the country have counted approximately 42 species at risk including observing monarch butterflies and caterpillars! What will YOU discover?