Annual Report The annual report for 2007 for the Dufferin County Forest is now available here. Hunting in the Dufferin County Forest Please take note of the following with regard to hunting in the Dufferin County Forest: ● there is no hunting allowed on any Dufferin County Forest property between June 1 and September 30 ● there is no hunting allowed at any time on the following Dufferin County Forest properties: Little, Leening, Hockley, north portion of Amaranth, and Mono. These are posted accordingly. ● on Dufferin County Forest properties where hunting is allowed, there may be hunters present at any time between October 1 and May 31 ● on Dufferin County Forest properties where hunting is allowed between October 1 and May 31, the seasons are the same as those established by the Ministry of Natural Resources. These can be viewed at www.ontario.ca/hunting. ● the peak periods for hunting are the two five-day shotgun hunts for white-tailed deer (first week of November and first week of December; actual dates vary from year to year) and the spring wild turkey hunt (April 25-May 31) ● suspected violations of the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act (the provincial legislation governing hunting) should be reported to the Ministry of Natural Resources at 877-847-7667 (877-TIPS-MNR). Other inquiries should be directed to the County Forest Manager at 705‑435‑1881. Poison Ivy Be aware that poison ivy grows commonly in many areas of the County Forest. Information about identifying poison ivy and its treatment here. West Nile Virus Users of the Dufferin County Forest should be aware of the possibility of being bitten by mosquitoes while using the forest properties, particularly from dusk until dawn. Simple precautions such as wearing long sleeves, pants, and socks and using insect repellant will reduce the risk of being bitten and the possibility of contracting the mosquito-born west nile virus. The Wellington Dufferin Guelph Health Unit is the lead agency in assessing the risk related to west nile virus and in informing area residents about the potential risks. They can be contacted at 519-941-0760 or 1-800-265-7293 or by e-mail at wdghu@wdghu.org. For more information about west nile virus, visit the health unit’s website at www.wdghu.org. Asian Longhorned Beetle Be on the lookout for the Asian longhorned beetle! This beetle, imported from China, has become established near Highways 400 and 407 north of Toronto. Both the City of Toronto and the Region of York have information on their websites about the infestation. The beetle attacks and kills many species of hardwood trees, but favours maples. If you think you have seen it, please contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at 1-800-442-2342 or 519-837-9400. The differences between the Asian longhorned beetle and the whitespotted sawyer beetle (a common native species) are here. Emerald Ash Borer Emerald Ash Borer was identified in North America in July, 2002. It originates from China, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia. To date, it has been detected in southeastern Michigan and around the city of Windsor, Ontario. The Borer is capable of attacking and killing healthy trees, and all native ash are susceptible (white, black, green, and red ash). It is unusual for borer-type beetles to be able to attack and kill healthy trees, they usually attack only trees that are already under stress from some other condition(s). Michigan has imposed quarantines on the movement of ash nursery stock, ash lumber and related products in the infested area in order to reduce the risk of new areas becoming infected. Similar quarantines have been established in southwestern Ontario. For more information about the Emerald Ash Borer, and the actions that have been taken by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in order to contain its spread, click here. Red Oak Is Special On April 22, 2005, County officials declared red oak as the official tree species of Dufferin County. To find out why red oak was chosen, read the official proclamation. More information about red oak can be found here. Dufferin Giants For the results of the 2002 search for big trees in Dufferin County, click here.

April 25-May 31, 2008 Wild Turkey Hunting All users of the Dufferin County Forest are hereby advised that April 25-May 31 is the shotgun/archery season for wild turkey in 2008. Wild turkey hunting may occur only from ½ hour before sunrise to 7:00 p.m. During this time there will be a number of hunters using the Dufferin County Forest properties. Please use caution in the forest and wear bright-coloured clothing. Suspected violations of the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act should be reported to the Ministry of Natural Resources at 877-847-7667 (877-TIPS-MNR). Other inquiries should be directed to the County Forest Manager at 705‑435-1881. Saturday, May 24, 2008, 9:00 a.m. – noon Wildflower Identification Little Tract (west side of Airport Rd, 12 km north of Hwy 89) Join us on a leisurely spring walk in the Dufferin County Forest and learn how to identify wildflowers and shrubs common to this area. Cost: $5 for adults; children free. Pre-registration required, spaces are limited to ensure a high quality experience for all participants. For more information or to register contact John Osmok at 705-725-7561 or Caroline Mach at 705-435-1881. Sunday, June 22, 2008 OCTRA Trail Ride The Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association will be holding a horseback riding event in the Main Tract. Saturday, July 5, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - noon What Tree Is That Anyway? Little Tract (west side of Airport Rd, 12 km north of Hwy 89) Join us on a leisurely walk in the Dufferin County Forest and learn how to identify various species of trees, shrubs, and a few plants. Cost: $5 for adults; children free. Pre-registration required, spaces are limited to ensure a high quality experience for all participants. For more information or to register contact John Osmok at 705-725-7561 or Caroline Mach at 705-435-1881. Saturday, September 20, 2008, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (near Alliston) Sunday, September 21, 2008, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (near Barrie) Discovering Mushrooms Join renowned naturalist Bob Bowles and learn how mushrooms grow, where they grow, how to identify them, their relationship with trees and the soil, and what species are edible. Cost: $10. Pre-registration required, spaces are limited to ensure a high quality experience for all participants. Sponsored by North Simcoe Stewardship and the Land Stewardship Network of Dufferin and South Simcoe. For more information or to register contact Al Winters at 705-725-7557 or John Osmok at 705-725-7561. Sunday, September 21, 2008 OCTRA Trail Ride The Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association will be holding a horseback riding event in the Main Tract. For a comprehensive listing of local events, check out www.whatson.on.ca.