4 Seasons Cottage Resort near Algonquin Park
To see and do in the area
- Wildlife -

From the official web site - http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/ (except as noted)

“Along with Algonquin's diversity in habitats comes an associated diversity in plant and animal life. 45 species of mammals, 262 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles and amphibians, 50 species of fish, and approximately 7000 species of insects are known to occur within Algonquin's boundaries! In addition, there are well over 1000 species of plants and another 1000 plus species of fungi growing in the Park!” Following are brief write-ups on 5 of the most popular mammals and the very popular wolf howls..

Beaver

• “Beaver viewing is best in October when they are repairing their dams and laying in their winter food piles and are often quite active during the day. In summer, when most people visit Algonquin, beavers are seldom visible until just before sunset. They are so common, however, (just about any low lying wet area or weedy lake has them) that you don't have to go very far out of your way to find a place to sit and watch them some evening. The Beaver Pond Trail itself is an excellent spot to watch beavers and so is the Mizzy Lake Trail (especially if you join a conducted Evening Walk led by the naturalist staff).”

Black Bears

• From the Ontario Ministry of natural resources web site (http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/bears/ ) “Black bears are large, powerful animals. Adult males can weigh 120 - 280 kg (250 - 600 lbs.)… There are about 75,000 to 100,000 black bears in Ontario…. Black bears are active from mid-April to late fall in most parts of the province… Black bears are generally timid and avoid encounters with people, but they can come into conflict with people especially when natural foods are scarce…”. Chances are that you will not see one of the Park’s 2,000 black bears during your visit; but, if you do please be extremely careful as black bears can be very dangerous.

Deer (White-tailed)

• “Algonquin used to be the place to come and see deer but since the late 1960s, because of maturer forests and several strings of bad winters, deer have been relatively scarce in the park. This is not to say that sighting a deer is unusual nowadays but it is no longer the guaranteed certainty it was twenty years ago.

• The best chances for seeing deer are on early morning cruises along Highway 60. Then too, particular animals occasionally hang around certain spots along the highway and are often seen again and again throughout the day for weeks on end. Information about any such "hot spots" can be obtained by enquiring at the Visitor Centre.”

Moose

• The moose, North America's tallest land mammal, stands up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) high at the shoulder, with an adult male weighing up to 450 kg (992 lbs.). A 1980 moose census put the Algonquin Park population at over 2,000 animals.

• Since the late 1970s Algonquin has become the best place in Ontario, perhaps North America, to see moose. Best viewing is in May and June, right along Highway 60. During those months many moose discover the slightly salty water in the road side ditches (resulting from winter sanding operations) and, since they have been starved for sodium all winter, they stay around to take advantage of the unexpected bonanza.

• (Unfortunately, this also creates a serious hazard for motorists who are unaware of the danger of hitting moose on the road at this time of the year. Every year 30 moose are killed and as many vehicles seriously damaged in collisions. Almost all of these could be avoided if drivers took the warning signs seriously, kept a constant watch for moose eye shine, and never exceed 80 km per hour).”

Wolves

• From the Wolves Ontario web site - http://www.wolvesontario.org/wolves/facts.shtml : “In the Algonquin Park region, recent genetic studies on what were thought to be gray wolves (Canis lupus) have revealed that they are in fact part of a remnant population of the endangered red wolf which used to range throughout the eastern half of North America…. Wolves in Ontario tend to be between sixty pounds (27 kg) and one hundred pounds (45 kg) with the heavier wolves ranging in the north of the province… Wolves’ fur ranges in colour from gray brown to white to black. The tip of a wolf’s tail is often coloured black… Radiocollared wolves have been tracked ranging more than 700 kilometres (440 miles)… A wolf’s sense of smell is 100 times more sensitive than a human’s… Noted wolf biologist, L.D. Mech stated that "wolves can hear as far as 6 miles [9.6 kilometres] away in the forest and ten miles [16 kilometres] away on the open tundra.”.

Wolf Howls (Public)

• “Wolf howling expeditions take place in August, when an accessible pack of wolves is located, and when weather permits. Naturalist staff will guide you through a memorable night of listening to wolves answer human imitations of their howls. For more information on wolf howling, the Friends of Algonquin Park produce a publication called Wolf Howling in Algonquin Provincial Park. This publication, and any others, can be ordered from The Friends or bought at various locations within the Park.”

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