Northern Ontario Autonomous Monitoring Equipment Retrieval

1. PROJECT TITLE

Northern Ontario Autonomous Monitoring Equipment Retrieval.

2. OBJECTIVE

To retrieve remote recorders previously deployed in Ontario’s Far North.

3. BACKGROUND

Within Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) is responsible for the implementation of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and providing advice on biodiversity for impact assessments for proposed project developments, and regional assessments, under the federal Impact Assessment Act (IAA), particularly related to species listed under SARA.

Baseline information is required for boreal caribou and other mammals as well as migratory birds in the Far North Range to help assess the potential impacts of planned and future individual development projects as well as cumulative effects to species at risk and other wildlife. This information can also inform boreal caribou conservation efforts. Remote monitoring equipment, including trail cameras, autonomous recording units (ARUs) for bats and birds, and temperature loggers (hereafter ‘remote recorders’), are currently deployed in Ontario’s Far North, and need to be collected to retrieve data stored in the units.

4. TIMING

Remote recorder retrieval will occur when conditions allow safe transport to and from deployment locations. This is expected to be between November 1, 2025 and March 15, 2026 when the ground is frozen and traversable.