On June 11, Sudbury’s Dr. Jacqueline Litzgus, a renowned herpetologist, was among eight dedicated conservationists awarded the Ontario Nature Conservation Leadership Award by Ontario Nature.
Litzgus is a longtime professor at Laurentian University and describes in her biography the joy she takes in the privilege of turning her childhood fascination into a career.
“I grew up catching snakes, turtles and toads in the forests and creeks near my house. As a professor, I have the opportunity to share my passion for these animals and their conservation with students in the classroom and in the field.”
It is this conservation effort for which Litzgus has been awarded the Ontario Nature Conservation Leadership award, honouring her knowledge and research into species at risk biology and conservation planning. An expert on turtles and snakes, Litzgus has contributed to many species at risk reports for provincial and federal species at risk committees.
The award is presented by the Federation of Ontario Naturalists/Ontario Nature, which was officially created in 1931, and holds at its core a vision of an Ontario “where nature inspires and sustains us for generations to come,” and the organization considers itself “the voice for the protection of wild species and wild spaces in Ontario.”
The award recipients are those the organization said are “building a natural legacy for future generations and are owed a debt of gratitude for their tireless efforts.”
You can find more information about Ontario Nature here.
