[All] Fw: Jefferson Salamanders were targeted in Ontario

Tue Jan 23 11:36:58 EST 2018

 Here is some issues for consideration threatening Jefferson Salamanders. 
Lulu 

   ----- Forwarded message ----- From: "Lanteigne" <water.lulu at yahoo.ca> To: "Catherine Fife - CO" <cfife-co at ndp.on.ca> Cc:  Sent: Tue, 2 Jan 2018 at 5:25 PM Subject: Fw: Jefferson Salamanders were targeted in Ontario   Hello
  Here is info specific to Jefferson Salamanders. 
I raised these concerns with the NEB and Ontario Ombudsman.  
  The Jefferson salamander's habitat range was all along Line 10. 
I have proof of conflicts of interest between Hamilton Conservation and Enbridge. http://www.enbridge.com/stories/hamilton-conservation-authority-cootes-to-escarpment-ecopark
As well as Enbridge and Hamilton Police http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/group-protests-enbridge-donations-to-hamilton-police-1
There are a number of vernal ponds that may be impacted by the re-route of Line 10 through the Hydro Corridor.  Google earth mapping clearly shows the location of kettle ponds and other suitable habitats in the area. 
Below is how the Ontario MNR systematically killed these animals. 
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I believe the greatest killer of the Jefferson Salamanders in Ontario was the Government itself and I have evidence to support it. 
First off: This is how easy it is to simply identify the difference to confirm presence of a Jefferson Salamander. They lay eggs in a small clusters that are visibly different in size and look than other salamander types.  Jefferson Salamanders are the only salamander breed that emerges and lays eggs in the first warm rains of March when temperatures are 4 degrees Celsius or higher.  Other breeds of mole salamanders emerge and breed in mid April, so eggs of any potential hybrids would reasonably be much smaller than ones laid in March simply because the mate only showed up later on.  Here is a youtube video to illustrate how visually, egg masses of Jefferson Salamanders are easily identified.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCkcdNyjPeU
Another non lethal way to test the DNA is to put a fabric fence between salamander and pond and do a drop pit trap and take a toe or tail clip. The salamanders can regrow these body parts. 
Instead of doing non-lethal approaches the Ontario Government had allowed the destruction of egg masses instead to verify the presence of true Jefferson DNA.  In the attachment is a permit for 60 eggs that were removed from Hidden Valley in Kitchener.  They killed these animals simply to verify if they were there. Because the egg masses were "non viable" aka rotten by the time they reached Mr. James Bogart at the University of Guelph, he stated the salamanders didn't exist here.  Mr. Neil Taylor of the KW Field Naturalists and I joined others who lobbied to secure re-testing using the drop pit method and it turns out they found one of the highest populations of Jefferson Salamanders in Hidden Valley. Related articles here:
http://www.reptilescanada.com/showthread.php/21442-ON-Press-Naturalist-questions-salamander-secrecy?s=f8dc7dc5f270bcdb0f7385fdf244f34c
In the attachment is the 2009 Ontario Draft Recovery Strategy for Jefferson Salamanders.  The document shows how the ministry was oddly focused on the idea of only protecting "true" jeffersons or "purebreed" types and demanded DNA analysis as a means to identify the species negating the obvious visual differences that experts had noted for years.  On page 15 it states; 
Many of the recovery team members are associated with or work for regionalconservation groups or authorities. In May 2003, workshops were run by MNR inHalton Region and Waterloo Region. These workshops were attended by RecoveryTeam members and provided instruction on egg mass identification and outlined theprotocol for obtaining samples for genetic analyses.Aurora District MNR has produced a Guideline for Applicants for Wildlife ScientificCollectors Authorizations (2007). This guideline includes detailed direction on collectionmethodologies and study design requirements that are directly applicable to A.jeffersonianum. MNR and the recovery team have worked extensively with a number ofconsultants, the aggregates industry and conservation authorities in providing directionon collection methodologies and protocols.
This Draft Recovery Strategy document was part of my affidavit for the NEB to review.  I also included this 2011 report by Cossaro which states in the summery the following passage:
Of 87 sites known to have JJ or LJJ salamanders, only about one third still have extant populations of Jefferson Salamanders (JJ), many have fewer individuals of Jefferson Salamanders than originally thought. Unisexual LJJ females outnumber Jefferson females, often by a wide margin. The absolute number and proportion of JJ to LJJ have declined in virtually all ponds where repeated tissue samples have conclusively identified JJ from unisexual LJJ.

This in my view indicates it was the testing that killed them. Testing that was promoted by the MNR. 
As of July 6 2017, Jefferson Salamander Hybrids were designated as a protected species in Ontario so why did they bother killing them if they were all worthy of protection? http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTMyNjI2&statusId=MjAxNDQ5&language=en
In the fall of 2009, it was Hamilton Conservation Authority who knowingly poisoned two of the largest habitats of Jefferson Salamanders along the potential route of Enbridge's pipelines. This was after someone infested the ponds with invasive carp that were first noticed in the ponds as far back as 2005. Details here: http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/na0413-rr-salamanders/wcm/6c0c740b-ace5-462c-99d1-94ec4c932faf

Why did it take 5 years to remove fish?
How much money does Enbridge donate to the conservation authorities of this area? 
Do conflicts of interest exist?
Louisette Lanteigne700 Star Flower Ave.Waterloo Ont.N2V 2L2 

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