Description

The Skunk’s Misery Natural Area is a 2,900+ acre (1200+ hectare) complex of upland forest, swamp and tallgrass prairie located along the Thames River approximately 60 km southwest of London, Ontario. Skunk’s Misery is one of the largest and most significant forested blocks remaining in southwestern Ontario. It has been identified as a Carolinian Canada site, Provincially Significant Wetland, Area of Natural and Scientific Interest and a Nationally Important Bird Area.
A fall forest at Skunk's Misery
Forest at Skunk's Misery (photo by NCC)

Over 700 species of vascular plants have been recorded from the Skunk’s Misery Natural Area, and this area has one of the highest diversity of significant species in southern Ontario. This species diversity is a result of large, intact, diverse vegetation types and connections to the Thames River. Over 50 provincially rare species have been documented, including 24 federally-listed Species at Risk. Skunk’s Misery has been identified as an Important Bird Area due its national significance for endangered or threatened bird species including the Acadian Flycatcher and the Hooded Warbler. Other species targeted for conservation in the Skunk’s Misery Natural Area include threatened Eastern Hognosed Snake, endangered Five-lined Skink, threatened Blanding’s Turtle and endangered Nodding Pogonia, a sensitive orchid species.

Potential expansion of agricultural operations and incompatible forestry are the highest overall threats to this Natural Area, the latter having been identified as the greatest threat to the viability of Cerulean Warbler and other woodland birds. Emerald Ash Borer, Garlic Mustard and White-tailed Deer are other native and non-native species whose hyperabundance could pose a threat to the biodiversity of Skunk’s Misery, while fire suppression is the most significant threat facing the rare tallgrass prairie remnants found in the Natural Area. In the absence of conservation management, the community is becoming dominated by shrubs and the forest canopy is closing in.

Conservation goals for Skunk's Misery include protecting and restoring old growth forest, enhancing habitat for area sensitive birds, protecting and restoring tallgrass prairie and habitat for grassland species, maintaining and recovering viable populations of Species at Risk, and creating functional linkages to the Thames River.

NCC has partnered with the Thames Talbot Land Trust to develop a Natural Area Conservation Plan. This plan has identified the key areas in need of conservation action to ensure the long term viability of Skunk’s Misery and its myriad of species. Thames-Talbot Land Trust (TTLT) through collaboration with other local partners interested in the conservation of Skunk’s Misery, including County of Middlesex, LTVCA, private landowners and other partners, will lead the implementation of the Skunk's Misery Natural Area Conservation Plan with NCC playing a supporting, advisory role.

This Description is taken from the Nature Conservancy of Canada Website (direct link here).

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