Pelee Island is one of Ontario’s most botanically significant sites, and features several Nature Conservancy of Canada protected zones, and three Provincial Nature Reserves; Lighthouse Point Nature Reserve, Fish Point Nature Reserve, and their newest project, a 62-acre wetland reserve. The Island is home to numerous species at risk, including both flora and fauna, as well as insects, snails, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Keep a look out for the gray fox, the great blue heron or its close cousin the white egret, and the rarely spotted blue racer snake! Pelee Island is also a major attraction to bird enthusiasts from all over the globe. It’s prime location is in the crosspath of two major migratory systems, the Atlantic and the Mississippi Flyways. Another closely followed migration is that of the Monarch butterflies that find a safe haven on Pelee Island as they make their journey south to Mexico for the winter. The shallow nature of Lake Erie creates a favourable microclimate on the island that extends the growing season by two weeks when compared to the surrounding mainland. Typically warmer than the rest of Canada, the average annual temperature of 9.8 degrees Celsius and allows for almost 200 frost free days a year. Geographically, Pelee Island rests on the same line of latitude as northern California’s wine country at 41 degrees and is actually further south than 27 of the United States. For these reasons, Pelee Island has evolved into one of Southern Ontario’s agricultural treasures and can be referred to as “The Key West of Canada”!
