9 durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, June 30, 2022 | MALEEHA SHAHID FOR REGIONAL COUNCILLOR WHITBY PROUDLY CANADIAN! From my family to yours, I hope that you have a great Canada Daywith your friends and family. We live in the greatest country in the world - LET'S CELEBRATE THAT MALEEHASHAHID.CA info@maleehashahid.ca | 905.442.4548 @electmaleeha more people." But often times, more people means more misbehaviour. "In 2021 there was a huge uptick in visitors and in incidents as well," Simpson said. The increase in violations prompted Parks Canada and Ontario Parks to work together, on the #ForTheLoveOfParks social media campaign, to educate visitors on ways to experience a safe and enjoyable visit. INCREASED VIOLATIONS INCLUDE: • Littering and dumping. • Human-wildlife interactions -- feeding wild animals and approaching wildlife. • Off-trail hiking. • Removal of natural materials including flowers, rocks, driftwood and more. • Swimming in undesignated areas. • Vandalism. • Visitor safety issues including lack of supplies, equipment, and knowledge of necessities for hiking or camping. • Visitor unpreparedness -- lack of reservations and prebooking for parking or camping sites. • Illegal parking. • Aggression toward park staff. This year more organizations, such as Conservation Ontario, have joined the campaign. Durham has plenty of conservation areas and parks. SOME DURHAM CONSERVATION AREAS Petticoat Creek Conservation Park, Pickering. Lynde Shores, Whitby. Crow's Pass, Scugog. Bowmanville Westside Marshes, Bowmanville. Purple Woods, Oshawa. Heber Down, Whitby. Greenwood Conservation Area, Ajax. "Park rules may differ a little bit," Simpson said. "For the most part, we're trying to relay the same types of messages to visitors." The campaign features a two- pronged approach: First, it encourages visitors to be properly prepared in order to best enjoy their visit. "We want them to call ahead, visit the website, make reservations if that's a requirement and find out about seasonal hazards such as ticks," Simpson said, adding she had just gone for a hike in RNUP with her pants tucked into her socks to keep the insects away. Secondly, visitors should learn the park rules, which are in place to ensure visitor safety and the well-being of the species living within the park. "Some things are pretty obvious," Simpson said. "Like, please don't leave your litter. But some of the messages are a little bit more tricky for people to understand." Litter can become choking hazards to wildlife and contaminate the soil, Simpson said. To report illegal dumping, call 416-282-1019. Tips may be left anonymously. Some other messages • Stay on designated trails: Venturing off trails poses many risks such as ticks, poison ivy, trampling certain areas and spreading invasive species. • Take only photos: Each natural object has an important role in a park's ecosystem and they should be left in the park. • Keep wildlife wild: Give wild- life their space. Wild animals can be unpredictable, so it's best to admire them from a distance. • Keep dogs on a leash. • Be kind and respectful of staff and other visitors. Visit pc.gc.ca for more information. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Since more visitors are checking out Ontario's parks than ever before, Durhamregion.com wanted to share the latest campaign to help make Durham's natural areas most enjoyable. NEWS Continued from page 1 'IN 2021 THERE WAS A HUGE UPTICK IN VISITORS AND IN INCIDENTS AS WELL' Sarah Simpson is a public relations and communications officer with Rouge National Urban Park, which is operated by Parks Canada. Parks Canada photo SCAN THE CODE to read more Durham news online.