Friends of the Rouge Watershed
2259 Meadowvale Rd M1X 1R2 Toronto, ON, Canada

Check out this beautiful field find! This early-flowering native beauty is Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris). Marsh marigold is a member of the Buttercup family and is a native plant that can be naturally found along stream banks and pond edges where the soil is consistently wet. You can find Marsh marigolds now in bloom throughout the Rouge! #RNUP #plantnative

It's #MysteryMonday! Unlike most caterpillars, this species doesn't blend in with their surroundings. Instead, they have bold yellow, black and white stripes to warn predators to stay away. The milkweed plant that this species exclusively feeds on and relies on to complete its life cycle makes them toxic to predators. These caterpillars are able to eat leaves of the milkweed and store the glycosides in their own bodies. Do you know what species this caterpillar will grow into through metamorphosis?

River Otter (Lontra canadensis) River Otters are playful mammals that can be found throughout North America. In Canada, they can be found in every province and territory except Prince Edward Island. They are able to live in a variety of different habitats, including rivers, lakes and large creeks. River otters thrive outside of water too, and can sometimes be seen playing in snow or sliding down muddy hills. They have brown, water-repellent fur, webbed feet and long tails. T...heir underbody is usually lighter in colour. Their tiny ears close under water, and their thick fur helps keep them warm in cold water. Long whiskers help them to find fish, clams, insects and other aquatic animals. This species does not hibernate and remains active under frozen water by breathing through breaks in the ice. #DYK that River otters are able to hold their breath underwater for up to eight minutes?

It's #MysteryMonday! This is the den of one of the largest North American rodents, second only to the beaver. They're not usually in a hurry, because they don't need to be with a prickly defense system like theirs. This species does not hibernate in the winter and can be found in forested areas over most of Canada. Do you know what species lives here?

Did you miss our Earth Day virtual tree planting session with @ebtsoyp ? You can still check it out using the link in our bio!

The Earth is what we all have in common. Earth Day is marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and create global, national and local policy changes. The fight for the safeguarding of the environment continues with increasing urgency, as the impacts of climate change become more and more apparent every day. On this 51st anniversary of Earth Day let's make 2021 a year of education, action and change. ... Let's make every day Earth Day.