Protecting Algonquin Wolf Habitat: McGregor Bay – La Cloche Mountains

The Georgian Bay Land Trust is delighted to welcome McGregor Bay – La Cloche Mountains as our newest and second most northern protected property. Located just west of Killarney Provincial Park, the property consists of a larger mainland portion and a small island, both containing high quality habitat for eight confirmed at-risk species, including Bald Eagle, Monarch Butterfly, and Northern Map Turtle. We were particularly excited to discover fresh Algonquin Wolf prints on a visit to the property this past August, a rare species sighting on the Bay.

The largely undeveloped nature of the Killarney area makes it one of the few places in Ontario where Algonquin Wolves are reliably seen outside of Algonquin Park itself. Listed as a threatened species in Ontario, Algonquin Wolves are most at risk from hunting and trapping, road mortality, and human-caused habitat loss. Protection by the Land Trust means that this property, otherwise slated for development, can continue to be a home to wolves and many other species for years to come.

Lynn & Ned Jessen, Angel Lillard & Bill Detmer, and Paula & Jim Preschlack donated these eight acres of land along the south shore of McGregor Bay to the Georgian Bay Land Trust in August 2017, in honour of Paula & John Lillard and Pauline & Louis Polk, Sr.

Thank you to Lynn, Ned, Angel, Bill, Paula, and Jim for your wonderful generosity, and to Andy Fabens and Mindy Tabor of the Great Lakes Basin Conservancy for your support in this important project.