Wild, Wild East - Part 7

Most of Boreal fauna can be more easily seen in Northeastern Canada, where human population is less dense. Even in the blaksoil prairies there are numerous tiny islands of unploughed grasslands and wetlands. Large areas of relatively unspoiled taiga cover most of Canada, except for the more "civilized" parts along the US border and the Great Lakes.

Moose (Alces americanus), Riding Mt., Manitoba.

One of the best places to see boreal animals is Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, Canada. It has an unusual diversity of habitats, from open prairie to bogs, and from small patches of hardwood forest to wet spruce woods.

Moose (Alces americanus), Riding Mt., Manitoba.

Elk (Cervus canadensis wapiti) and porcupine (Erethyzon dorsatum), Riding Mt., Manitoba.

Willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), Wapusk National Park.

Another outstanding point of meeting landscapes is the western coast of Hudson Bay. Because of cold currents, the timberline occurs further south here than in any other non-montane place in the World, except for parts of Russian Far East. Narrow stripe of tundra stretches along the coast to the latitude of Glasgow, Copenhagen and Moscow.

Willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), Wapusk National Park.

Arctic (Vulpes lagopus) and red (V. vulpes) foxes, Churchill, Manitoba.

Tepee of Cree Indians, Wapusk Nat'l Park.

In Cape Churchill area and nearby Wapusk Nat'l Park, tundra and taiga species interact in borderline zone. For example, Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is common in rocky tundras around Churchill, but just a mile away, in the forest, it is replaced by smaller snowshoe hare (L. americanus).

Snowshoe hare, Wapusk NP.

Arctic hare, Churchill, Manitoba.

Polar bear, Wapusk National Park.

The most famous inhabitants of Churchill area are polar bears (Ursus maritimus) of Hudson Bay population. Unlike their relatives in the High Arctic, they spend summer in the taiga, and emerge on the coast in October. Here they wait for the bay to freeze over, sleeping in bushes or seaweed, feeding on berries or garbage, and entertaining tourists.

Polar bear, Churchill garbage dump.

Polar bears, Cape Churchill, Manitoba.

Trans-Labrador Highway.

One of the most scenic parts of Northeastern Canada is 1200 km-long Trans- Labrador Highway.

Manicougah meteor crater, Quebec.

End of the Trans-Labrador Highway.

Lake Melville.

Mostly unpaved, this road is not an easy drive.

Muskrat Falls, Labrador.

This road passes near the largest meteor crater in North America, a few large waterfalls, and through taiga forests full of wildlife, before ending in New River, an Innu village at Lake Melville.

Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), Quebec.

Young male spruce grouse (Falcipennis canadensis), Trans-Labrador Highway.

Moose, Trans-Labrador Highway.

In October, dozens of spuce and ruffed grouse can be seen on highway shoulders, as they swallow small pebbles to mulch food in their stomachs during the winter.

Adult male spruce grouse, Labrador.

Porcupine, Trans-Labrador Highway.

Porcupine, Trans-Labrador Highway.

The landscape of Northern Canada is largely shaped by two species of rodents: beavers (Castor canadensis), who create ponds and lakes, and porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum), who control tree growth and forest composition. Both are easy to see, especially in remote places like Labrador Peninsula.

Porcupine, Trans-Labrador Highway.

Beaver, Trans-Labrador Highway.

I am yet to see the most interesting part of Canada - its Arctic islands. I'm yet to figure out a way to travel there without spending thousands of dollars on local flights. As soon as I get there, this page will be updated.

Playing beavers, Trans-Labrador Highway.

Mountains of Northern Labrador.

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