A new book showcases Algonquin Park in its rarest form.
Michael Runtz, one of Canada’s most respected naturalists and Professor of Biology at Carleton University, released his 12th book called Algonquin Wild: A Naturalist’s Journey Through the Seasons. Runtz says he’s been exploring the park regularly since 1972, and this book dives into its rarely seen beauty.
He says one of the rarest pictures in the book is that of a snow flea (as seen above). He says he captured the photograph with a special lense after spending hours in the park, trying to get the perfect shot. Runtz points out that the snow flea is actually called a springtail, a tiny creature that has rarely been photographed in a wildlife setting. Another one of his favourite’s is one of three Eastern Wolf pups howling at the same time (as shown below).
When asked about the biggest changes the park has seen over the decades he says that it has to be the construction of Highway 60. He says the highway has made it harder for people to scout at night, and has increased roadkill but luckily, it hasn’t affected wildlife that much.
When it comes to its history, Runtz points out that the park’s topography highlights the region’s history. Given that it’s at a higher elevation, he says it has a northern flavour to it. It’s a little colder and it reflects how the area was before towns were built many decades ago.
Runtz was kind enough to provide the Moose FM news team with some of the photographs from his book. For more, you can purchase the book by clicking here or you can find it at Algonquin Park and in certain book stores.
