Natural resources science and research

Learn more about our 6 areas of science and research.

Aquatic science

Information on how we protect our fish and aquatic resources by studying their habitat and how they are affected by diseases.

Aquatic research

Learn how research is helping us better understand the province’s lake and river systems. Also, get information about:

• our research on lake ecosystems functioning
• the status and genetics of native species
• the effects of manmade factors such as fishing, invasive species and climate change
• water flow in rivers and streams
• science support for species at risk

Fish and aquatic habitat monitoring

Learn how science staff monitor and gather information about fish populations and their habitats in Ontario’s lakes and rivers.

Fish and wildlife health

Learn more about fish and wildlife health in Ontario and diseases that may be affecting their populations.

Fish ON-line

Find any lake using the Fish ON-line map to access monitoring reports and learn which species of fish are present and their population status.

Climate change science

Research on how climate change affects our natural resources.

Natural resource management and climate change

Information for natural resource managers, communities and industries to help prepare for climate change.

Managed forests and climate change

Learn how Ontario’s managed forests can help address the effects of climate change.

Forest science

Resources about the growth of our forests and how they are affected by diseases and insects.

Forest research

Learn about Ontario’s forest research programs and how they help to ensure healthy forests for future generations. Forest researchers investigate:

• the effects of tree harvesting
• tree growth and yield
• tree diseases
• forest ecology
• carbon storage
• forest genetics

Forest health conditions

Read our annual forest health conditions reports and learn more about the health risks affecting Ontario’s forests.

Forest health: pests, diseases and severe weather conditions

Learn about:

• pests, diseases, and conditions that affect forest health in Ontario
• spongy moth and other defoliators

Forest monitoring

Information about how forest management operations in Ontario are monitored and audited to assess compliance and evaluate progress and results.

Forest resources inventory

Learn about Ontario’s Forest Resources Inventory (FRI), a large-scale survey of the province’s forests and wetlands.

Tree atlas

Learn more about Ontario’s native trees and the best species to plant where you live.

Natural heritage science

Information on how we classify and manage data to help protect our natural areas. Make your own map to discover the natural features in your area and plan land use on your property.

Ecological land classification

Learn how we classify natural regions based on ecological features (bedrock, climate, physical geography and vegetation).

Make a natural heritage area map

Create a map of some of Ontario’s natural heritage areas.

Natural Heritage Information Centre

Learn about Ontario’s conservation data centre and how it tracks the province’s biodiversity.

Species at risk science

Learn how to help track and protect our species at risk.

Report rare species (animals and plants)

Report sightings of species of conservation concern (animals and plants), wildlife concentration areas, plant communities and natural areas in Ontario.

Wildlife science

We conduct wildlife research and monitoring across Ontario. Our work supports evidence-based resource management policy and practice.

Wildlife research

Our researchers conduct studies across Ontario to learn about wildlife, their habitats and diseases including:

• waterfowl
• wetlands
• small mammals
• furbearers
• game birds
• large mammals
• species at risk
• northern mammals
• wildlife health
• landscape ecology

Surveillance programs

Our researchers also lead several priority programs.

Rabies surveillance and control program

Ontario is committed to protecting the public, their pets and livestock from rabies and is recognized as a leader in terrestrial (non-bat) wildlife rabies control. Rabies is a deadly disease that kills and estimated 59,000 people each year worldwide.

Rabies in humans occurs very rarely in Canada due to effective public health prevention and rabies control measures. Since reporting began in 1924, there have been 28 cases of rabies in humans in Canada, 9 of which were in Ontario. All cases were fatal.

Prior to 1989, when the ministry’s rabies control programs started, Ontario experienced over 1,300 rabies cases on average each year, mostly in foxes and skunks. Through an intensive wildlife vaccination program, we eliminated the raccoon variant of rabies from Ontario in 2005 and greatly reduced the number of Arctic fox variant cases to nearly zero by 2013. However, in 2015 the raccoon variant was re-reintroduced to Ontario and a small resurgence of the fox variant occurred. Terrestrial rabies response and control operations have successfully reduced cases again. No cases of fox variant rabies have been detected in Southern Ontario since 2018, and no cases of raccoon variant have been detected in the province since 2023.

The ministry works with municipal, provincial, national and international partners to control terrestrial rabies. Controlling rabies provides significant cost savings through reduced post-exposure treatments, rabies testing and compensation for affected livestock. Learn about:

• where rabies occurs in Ontario
• what we are doing to control rabies
• what to do if you think you’ve been exposed to a rabid animal
• how to report an animal you think might have rabies

Chronic wasting disease surveillance program

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a highly infectious disease that impacts cervids such as deer, elk, moose and woodland caribou. There is no treatment, cure or vaccine to prevent it. CWD has not been detected in Ontario wildlife, but it has been found in all our neighbouring provinces and U.S states. Once established in the wild, CWD is very challenging to control and eliminate. It can severely reduce cervid populations over time.

Our actions to prevent, monitor for and respond to any detection of CWD are essential to the goal of minimizing the threat posed by CWD

Lean more about how:

• to help to prevent the spread of CWD into Ontario
• we are monitoring for CWD
• how we are preparing to respond, should CWD be detected in Ontario