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7 Head s up! It s nesting season and turtles are on the roads! From May to September it s common to see turtles near roadways, hanging around on the sandy shoulders or trying to cross to the other side. All kinds of turtles will be roaming around, looking for mates and for places to lay their eggs. There have been multiple sightings in the past week of Snapping Turtles and Wood Turtles on the road and road edges on the reserve. Please drive carefully and watch out for any turtles on the road, especially near bridges and in areas with turtle crossing signs. Kitigan Zibi Natural Resource and Wildlife Department For more information call ext. 22

8 What to do if you find a baby bird out of the nest It s that time of year again! Baby birds are getting ready to leave the nest, but sometimes they lose their way. Is it visibly injured or did a cat get it? No What does it look like? Yes Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or call the KZ Forestry Office ext. 22 No feathers, eyes not open yet Eyes open, some feathers in tube-like sheaths Feathered, awkwardly hops around, short tail & wings You have a hatchling. It s very young. You have a nestling. You have a fledgling. Can you see the nest? Is it in immediate danger? Yes No Yes No Return the bird to its nest. Don t worry, the parents won t smell you on the baby! Make a nest from a basket filled with dried grass. Attach it firmly to a tree nearby. Move it carefully to a safe spot nearby. DO NOT INTERVENE! It looks awkward, but it s a natural step. The parents are still feeding it. If you find a baby bird and you re not sure what to do with it, give us a call and we ll come check it out! Kitigan Zibi Natural Resource and Wildlife Department For more information call ext. 22

9 Beech Bark Disease Nectina coccinea var, faginata In the up-coming months, the Natural Resource andd Wildlife Departmentt will be posting information concerning this disease, areas of f concern within the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg community and what management we will be undertaking. If you have any questions please contact the Natural Resource andd Wildlife Department, contact either Linda Dwyer-Commando at (819) ext. 21 orr Erik Higgins at (819) ext.27. General Informationn Beech bark disease is a new threat affecting beech (Fagus grandifolia) trees in Canada s hardwood and mixed forests. This disease is caused by a combination of an introduced beech scale insect (Cryptococcus fagisuga) from Europe, coupled with a nectria fungus. While the nectria fungus was likely native to North America, the introduced scale insect provides an opening to a new host tree for the fungus. The disease begins with many scaless feeding on beech tree sap while they form a covering of white woolyy wax over their body. Once the scales have opened wounds in the bark, the nectria fungus begins to colonize the bark, cambial layer, and sapwood of the tree. This stage of the disease produces cankers sometimes resulting in isolated tarry spots oozing from the bark and /or raised blisters and calluses on the outer bark covering much of the trunk. Beech bark diseasee results in severe die-back in mature Beech trees, potentially creating a significant threat to wildlife, biodiversity, and sustainablee forestry. While this new disease poses a significant threat to beech stands, not all beech are killed by the disease, and prevention on individual beech trees is possible. Range After introduction of the beech scale insect to Nova Scotia in 1890, the nectria fungus began infecting wounds opened up by the insect. Beech barkk disease is marching from east to west through the maritimes, Quebec, and throughout the northeastern United States including New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. Recently, the disease has been identified in southern Ontario.

10 Impacts of Beech Bark Disease Beech bark disease attacks mature trees over 8 inches in diameter, rather than small, more vigorous stems. Decreases the amount of forage trees for wildlife. The beechnuts are an important food source for wildlife, especially black bears. Severely weakens trees, exposing them to other stresses. Reduces the marketability or use in wood products. How to identify Beech Bark Disease Mature beech scales are a soft bodied, wingless insect, mm long. After feeding on the sap under the smooth beech bark, the scale is easily recognized by the covering of white woolly wax on their outer body. In fall, the fungal fruiting bodies can be seen as deep-red, lemon-shaped structures in the bark. Infection by the nectria fungus may also result in oozing from the bark. Tree crowns appear yellow and die back. What We Can Do Learn how to properly identify the signs and symptoms of beech bark disease. Individual high-value ornamental beech trees can be controlled with commercially available products. Look for large, healthy individuals with no signs of disease within areas of high infection. These mature trees may be immune to the disease and can provide an excellent seed source for the next generation of beech bark disease resistant trees. OFAH/OMNR Invading Species Awareness Program. (2012). Beech Bark Disease. Retrieved from: This factsheet may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes.

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