The Thomas Tract

A short hike from Frontierland, this area is one of the few tracts of undisturbed Carolinian forest left in Ontario. Identified as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, this location presents a great opportunity to practise ‘no-trace’ Scouting and is a wonderful hiking destination from any of the sites at Camp Sylvan.  Keep an eye out for unique plant and animal life, such as the spectacular Pileated Woodpecker (a protected species) and the Tulip tree. 

Check out the Carolinian Canada website for more information including information on rare and at-risk species, indicator species, and further lists.

Read on for some background information about the kinds of things you might see in the Thomas Tract.  There are also a few images on the Thomas Tract Photos page.

While it seems that the "experts" may argue about the exact contents of a Carolinian forest, most agree that of the tree species contained in it, Sassafras and Tuliptree are dominants. Some Flowering Dogwood in the understorey often occurs. It is likely that the areas would have had a lot of American Chestnut at one time. Co-dominants include Black Walnut, Black Oak, White Oak, Red Maple, Pignut Hickory, and Black Gum.

Canadian Carolinian areas boast a greater number of both flora and fauna species than any other ecosystem in Canada. It is estimated that some 2,200 species of herbaceous plants are found there, including 64 species of ferns, at least 110 species of grasses, and over 130 different sedge species. There are 70 species of trees alone.

Over two centuries of settlement, forest clearing and urban development have spared less than 5% of the original Canadian Carolinian woodland.  Carolinian forest is one of Canada’s most threatened habitats. More than 40 per cent of the national list of endangered and threatened species occur in the Carolinian zone – more than in any other Canadian life zone. Throughout the Carolinian Zone, agricultural and residential pressures have caused extensive wildlife habitat destruction.

The pileated woodpecker is about 15 inches in length and is one of the largest woodpeckers found in North America. It has a black body, a red crest, white stripes on its neck and black and white stripes on its face.  While seeking insect food in dead or diseased trees, it creates large and somewhat oblong holes. It has yellow bristly feathers over its nostrils that keep out wood chips. It has a long, sticky tongue; a long, sharp pointed bill and yellow eyes. Males and females are similar, but males have a red forehead, and females have a gray to yellowish brown forehead.

Tuliptree, also known as tulip-poplar, yellow poplar, white-poplar, and whitewood, is one of the most attractive and tallest of eastern hardwoods. It is fast growing and may reach 300 years of age on deep, rich, well-drained soils of forest coves and lower mountain slopes. The wood has high commercial value because of its versatility and as a substitute for increasingly scarce softwoods in furniture and framing construction. Its value for lumber and furniture resulted in significant logging in the early days of settlement. It is also valued as a honey tree, a source of wildlife food, and a shade tree for large areas.

Visit Thomas Tract Photos to see some pictures of the area, its flora and fauna.