The Geo. Langman Sanctuary (formerly Wildlife Sanctuary) is located in the Township of Oro-Medonte, just minutes outside of Orillia and a short hop across the roadway from Bass Lake Provincial Park, and is owned and operated by the Orillia Fish & Game Conservation Club. The sanctuary is open daily during most of the year and is free to visit, though donations are welcome.
Map
The property is located along the Bass Lake Sideroad and begins at the 14th Conc. of Oro Medonte (click map for an interactive online map). On the property are a large variety of bird species, including waterfowl like the mute and trumpeter swan pairs, Canada geese, and mallard ducks. Smaller bird species such as yellow finch, redwing blackbird, and many others are also in abundance. A number of varieties of pheasant, and a pair of peacocks and wild turkeys round out the the array of birds.
Spring is mating season, and for the last few years both sets of swans have produced babies. Usually in late May to early June you’ll see the cygnets from the swan parents. Before that,
you may see (if you are lucky, since the trumpeters tend to chase away the geese and attack the goslings) the baby geese, and sometimes the baby ducks.
Besides birds, there are small mammals (rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels and others), often turtles and frogs and the Northern Water Snake.
On the grounds, up the hill, can be found the home of the Orillia Fish & Game Conservation Club who maintain and fund this wetland area. The club has built a number of outlook platforms around the marsh, and has created a 6 km nature trail through the area, which is open for public use. (see the OFGC Page) These are busy people who give their time to look after this natural wetlands. It’s a lot of work, but over the years we’ve watched as various trails are added and shored up, signs put in place in patches of native plants as well as watched the various outlook decks appear, one after another.
When you visit the sanctuary, be sure to bring the kids. This is a wonderful place to teach the kids about nature. Please be kind and don’t feed the birds what isn’t allowed. Swans can be fed corn and greens (lettuce, etc.); small birds (finches, chickadees, etc.) can be fed seed, but it’s really best not to put seed down. If you want to help feed the birds, leave seed in containers at the shed for the caretakers to put out where it’s best used. Rabbits can also be fed greens, and sometimes apple. Never feed anything to the wildlife that they shouldn’t be given – if you are in doubt, then don’t feed them.
Bread is not good for birds or waterfowl. They like it, and they will eat it, but it will fill them up and they won’t eat their proper food. Bread does not provide good nutrition for birds. There is a product produced for swans to receive proper nutrients called “swan pellets” but we personally have yet to find any in our location.
Why People Shouldn't Litter
Be kind to the environment too – please don’t leave any trash behind; don’t throw things in the pond or marsh, like kleenex or tissue, plastic bottles or bottle caps, candy wrappers, etc. Most of the time, these things can be a detriment to the wildlife who live here, and some will even try to eat them possibly causing internal damage or worse, death. Once we found gimp strings partially braided – obviously dropped unintentionally, but these sort of things are easily gobbled up by the larger birds who don’t know any better and can cause damage to them.
We found this poor fellow at the edge of the swan pond with no way to remove the wadded tissue from his beak.
Please help to keep the area clean. If you see litter, please put it in the trash bin, located near the Peacock enclosure.
Most of all, enjoy the natural world around you. This is one of my favourite places in all Simcoe County.
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George Langman Sanctuary 