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 repellent 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. Ticks and Lyme Disease While the risk of contracting lyme disease from ticks in the Dufferin County area is low, it is nevertheless advisable to use simple precautions such as wearing shirts with tight cuffs and placing pant legs inside socks when in the forest to minimize possible exposure to the ticks that may be carrying lyme disease. You can find more information about ticks and lyme disease here or by contacting the local health unit at 519-941-0760 or 1-800-265-7293 or by e-mail at wdghu@wdghu.org. If you have been exposed to ticks and are concerned about lyme disease, contact the health unit and their lab will help determine if the ticks are lyme disease carriers. Annual Report The annual report for 2009 for the Dufferin County Forest is now available here. 2010-2015 Operating Plan The new five-year operating plan for the Dufferin County Forest has been released. This plan will guide the management of the County Forest for the period 2010-2015. You can find the executive summary here and the complete plan 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. Gypsy Moth Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) is a leaf-eating insect that can cause significant defoliation and mortality of trees. One of its favoured species is red oak. Over the last several years gypsy moth populations have been on the rise in Ontario, reaching very high levels in the Main Tract of the Dufferin County Forest in 2008. If you have red oak on your property, and are worried about defoliation by gypsy moth, click here to read more about the insect and simple measures you can take to reduce the gypsy moth population in your woodland. 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. 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 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.

July 31-August 2 Horseback Trail Ride OTRA will be holding a horseback trail ride in the Main Tract. September 12 Mountain Bike Event Substance Projects will be holding a non-motorized mountain biking event in the Main Tract. September 18, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (near Alliston) Find Mushrooms Fascinating?  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. For more information or to register, contact the County Forest Manager at 705-435-1881. October 2-3 Horseback Riding Event OCTRA will be holding a horseback riding event in the Main Tract. For a comprehensive listing of local events, check out www.whatson.ca