Whether your a teacher looking for classroom resources, a student researching a project, or just someone looking to have a little fun while learning about our natural environment, THIS page is for you.

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Natural Heritage

Naturally, the diversity of Minesing wetlands vegetative communities provide habitat for numerous birds and animals. Over 221 bird species have been recorded, of which 135 are believed to nest within the wetlands each year. The wetlands size, undisturbed nature and habitat diversity is of prime importance to spring migration, nesting, staging for fall migration and as feeding grounds for bird life. This wetland plays host to great numbers of waterfowl including Buffleheads, Scaups, Gadwalls, Black and Ring Neck Ducks. Flocks of Canada Geese and pairs of Whistling Swans are common. On the outer edges where forest meets farm land you may be rewarded by observing Sand Hill Cranes stopping over on their migration to Western Canada.


The spring season also brings the Great Blue Heron back to the fifth largest, and oldest colony in Ontario, with approximately 170 active nests. Open meadows throughout this wetland provide hunting grounds for visiting and resident raptors including the Rough-Legged, Red-Shouldered, Sharp-Shinned, and Broad Winged Hawks. The Great Grey and Hawk Owls are known to periodically visit during winter months and rare owl sightings include the Boreal and Saw-Whet Owls. When spring arrives the wetlands comes alive with sound, as scores of songbirds such as the Cerulian, Prothonotary and Blue-winged Warbler arrive to mate and prepare nests for their new families.


To find particular bird species, you should be aware of their correlation with vegetative communities, landforms and water distribution. Many species are sensitive to disturbance in both the nesting and later parts of their life cycle and a visitor should be aware of and care about these sensitivities. Four bird species in particular that are sensitive to disturbance are the Great Blue Heron, Least Bittern, Green-winged Teal and Hooded Merganser.


This vast wetland is home to 23 species of mammals including Beaver, Muskrat, Mink, Coyote, Fox, Racoon, Hare and Otter. Bear and Moose have been known to visit and the Opossum is starting to frequent the area. The wetlands supports one of the largest White-tailed Deer yards in the region with a population estimated at upwards of 300 to 400 individuals.


Surveys of the wetlands waterways have documented 30 species of fish including resident Northern Pike, Bowfin, Sturgeon and migratory Rainbow Trout and Salmon that pass through the wetlands on their way to upstream spawning streams. The wetlands is also one of two known locations in North America where Walleye spawn on submerged vegetation.


If you have sharp eye-sight and pause for a moment, you may discover many other forms of life including: bats, mice, newts, aquatic insects, butterflies, beetles, worms, frogs, spiders, dragonflies, and turtles.

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Human Heritage

Evidence exists to show that man was present in Canada as early as 10 000 BC, with some historians setting the date back even farther to 40 000 BC. Archeological evidence collected to date has shown us that man started to impact this wetland starting at around 2000 BC. Rich in natural resources, the wetlands and surrounding area became a mainstay for an increasing native population. Several historic fishing & hunting camps and permanent villages have been discovered and pottery, stone axes, pipes and flint fragments along with the bones of fish, deer and beaver have been recovered and documented. One well documented site found on the eastern periphery of the wetlands is known as a fine example of an Iroquoian Middleport agricultural settlement that dates to 1300 AD.

There were nine principal tribes in Southeastern Ontario who spoke languages within the Iroquoian language family. The Huron lived in the region between Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay, which includes the Minesing wetlands area. The Huron were primarily farmers and established permanent villages. Corn, beans and squash, or the "three sisters" as they were called, were the basis of their daily diet. Trading missions exchanged goods with their allies, including Beaver pelts which were used to supply the French fur trade.

During the War of 1812, the wetlands took on an important role in military strategy. When the British were defeated on Lake Erie, an alternative route to transport supplies and troops to the Upper Great Lakes and Fort Michilimackinac was put in place. The route was established on an historic First Nation and fur trading route and became known as the "Nine Mile Portage". This trail originated in Barrie on the shores of Kempenfelt Bay and led to a promontory that overlooks the Minesing wetlands, before descending into the lower wetland and eventually intersecting with the Willow Creek. It was here on the promontory that a military post and depot called "Fort Willow" was established and became an integral part of the War of 1812.

For years after the conclusion of the War, the wetlands via the Nine Mile Portage played host to many recognizable Canadian figures including David Thompson during his survey of the American/Canadian border, and the Franklin Expedition on their way northward to the Arctic.

Pioneer settlement began in the mid 1800's. The drainage and type of soil present usually determined which of the lots were settled first. Generally settlers had no interest, tools or knowledge of working in the organic, heavy soils of the wetlands, and most of the "wild lands" were held by absentee speculators. The fringe lands on the perimeter of the wettest areas were prized for use as pasture and as a source of firewood. Lumber barons, railway builders and settlers intent on clearing the land for agricultural purposes, made for busy times in Simcoe County and today you can still find the traces of our pioneering ancestors in roads, fields, bridges, ruins, drainage works and names within and adjacent to the wetlands's boundaries. The 20th century saw us still relying on this wetland for food, warmth, economics and recreation.

We also started to look at the wetlands differently, more aware and conscientious of its importance. This attitude has carried on into the 21st century and as such we can only hope that Minesing wetlands will continue to receive the recognition it deserves for generations to come.