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Mud Lake Microbes: The Unseen World

Mud Lake Microbes: The Unseen World
Colpidium is one of the microbes that we may see today at Mud Lake..
Colpidium is one of the microbes that we may see today at Mud Lake..

On this walk, we'll explore the history of Mud Lake and identify some of the creatures that live there. Beth collects samples of the lake water in specimen jars, in which you can observe small critters with the naked eye and with a magnifying glass. Beth will transfer a few drops of water to a microscope slide, and you'll have a chance to look at those through the microscope to see some of the lake's tiniest inhabitants.



Giacomo Panico interviewed Beth Tyler on CBC's In Town and Out on May 4, 2024. Listen

Location
Route

We'll meet on Cassels St. at the northern entrance to the Mud Lake Trail, which is about halfway between Britannia Rd. and the Britannia water purification plant. We'll be take a short walk along Cassels St. where it borders Mud Lake and then we'll go to our microscope station where we can take turns looking at the microbes.


There is on-street parking available along Cassels St.

About the walk leader

Beth is an amateur microscopist who enjoys exploring the unseen world around us and sharing it with others. Beth has spent a fair amount of time exploring the environment of Mud Lake and learning its history.


Beth's YouTube Channel

Guide:

Beth Tyler

When:
Date:Sat Oct 11, 2025
Time:12:00 PM
Duration: 1 hour
Language: English
Where:
Start:Cassels St near Mud Lake Trail
End:Same
Area:Britannia
Distance:0.5 kms
Accessibility:

The route is mostly paved; there are some rough patches at the edge of the road.

Walker Sign-up

This walk requires you to sign up to attend or join a waitlist if walk is full. Please submit your email and the number of walkers that will be attending with you below.

Gallery
Colpidium is one of the microbes that we may see today at Mud Lake.. Trail entrance to Mud Lake from Cassels St. Looking through the microscope on the shore of Mud Lake. Some of the microbes that can be seen under the microscope in a sample of water from Mud Lake. Kids check out the video of the microscopic life in Mud Lake. The specimen jars with samples of water and living organisms from the edge of the lake can be seen on the table. Beth prepares a slide with a Mud Lake water sample for viewing through the microscope. Beth Tyler leads the Mud Lake Microbes walk in 2024. One of the many waterfowl that inhabit Mud Lake.
Volunteer to Marshal This Walk