Wildlife

Here are just some of the many species which live within the Woodland Caribou Provincial Park...

Birds

Tree Swallow

Tree swallows are social birds who nest close together and create​ large swarms for migration. They are currently not at risk however do suffer from certain threats. Some include pollution / pesticides and loss of habitat through the clearing of dead trees.

Gray Jay (Whiskey Jack)

Gray jays are considered the unofficial national bird of Canada. They are an inquisitive species and are not at risk. Threats to the species mainly revolve around climate change and pollution.

Bald Eagle

Bald eagles are one of the largest birds of prey in Canada. These species can see four times farther than humans! They are listed as a special concern on the Ontario Endangered Species list.
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Shashawaanipisi
  • Length: 12 - 15 cm
  • Wingspan: 30 - 35 cm
  • Diet: Primarily feed on flying insects
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Kweekweeshee
  • Length: 27.5 - 30.5 cm
  • Wingspan: 40 - 45 cm
  • Diet: Primarily feed on plants and small animals
  • Forms life-long breeding pairs
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Meekeesee
  • Length: 71 - 96 cm
  • Wingspan: 200 cm
  • Diet: Feeds on birds, mammals, and fish
  • Lifespan can reach up to 40 years 

Common Nighthawk

Common nighthawks are neither a hawk nor strictly nocturnal. The species have relatively small bills and large heads. They are listed as a special concern on the Ontario Endangered Species list.

Black-backed Woodpeckers

Black-backed woodpeckers have extraordinarily strong beaks which are used to pry/hammer at bark to build nests and find food. Threats to these birds mainly includes loss of habitat through fire suppression.
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Payshk
  • Length: 22 - 24 cm
  • Wingspan: 53 - 57 cm
  • Diet: Crepuscular species feeding on insects at dusk and dawn
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Puhpuhsay
  • Length:  ~ 23 cm
  • Wingspan: 12 - 13.5 cm
  • Diet: Primarily beetle larvae and other small insects

Cervidae

Woodland Caribou

The Woodland Caribou play an important role in the Provincial Parks culture and ecology. These Caribou are the same species as the reindeer found in Eurasia. They are listed as threatened on the Ontario Endangered Species list.

Moose

Moose are considered the largest deer in the world and swim several kilometres in the water. Their species mortality is primarily associated with hunting and predators.
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Atik
  • Weight: 110 - 210 kg
  • Height: 100 - 120 cm (at the shoulder)
  • Diet: Vegetation such as horsetails and shrub leaves are eaten in the summer. Ground and tree lichens are primarily eaten during the winter season. 
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Moos
  • Weight: 350 - 500 kg
  • Height: 150 - 200 cm (at the shoulder)
  • Diet: Primarily revolves around deciduous twigs, leaves, and sedges. Moose can also use their mouths to break young trees in order to reach high branches for food

Bats

Little Brown Bat
The WCPP is home to six bat species. The little brown bat is the most common species found within the Park. The species was just recently listed as endangered on the Ontario Endangered Species list. Their biggest threat is called white-nose syndrome caused by an invasive fungus.
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Bapakwaanaajiinh
  • Weight: 4 - 11 g
  • Body Length: 4 - 5 cm (at the shoulder)
  • Wing Span: 25 - 27 cm
  • Diet: These small species usually feed on other small flying insects such as: flies, mosquitoes, and beetles

Mustelidaes

American Marten

The American Marten are a nocturnal and solitary animal with extremely strong scent glands. These animals provide an income for trappers with their relatively high-priced fur. Some common threats to the species include trapping, loss of habitat, and habitat fragmentation.

Wolverine

The Wolverines have large home ranges of primarily undisturbed land. Tracks are often seen in winter however the species are seldom observed. Wolverines are considered one of the most powerful mammals of its size. They're even capable of driving large predators away from their kills.
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Wabishayashee
  • Weight: 650 - 1400 g
  • Body Length: 49 - 68 cm (including tail)
  • Diet: The species primarily feeds on small mammals such as voles, mice, and red squirrels. American Martens will also eat birds, eggs, snowshoe hare, amphibians, berries, and insects
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Kweekwuhuhkay
  • Weight: 7 - 27 kg
  • Body Length: 65 - 87 cm 
  • Diet: Wolverines primarily eat carrion (decaying animals) but may also hunt living prey. They supplement their carnivorous diet with vegetation such as berries and roots
  • Wolverines are even known to take down large prey such as weakened caribou

Turtles

Western Painted Turtle

The western painted turtle is one of two species of turtles which can be found within the WCPP. They can live up to 40 years in the wild and are listed as not at risk on the Ontario Endangered Species List.

Snapping Turtle

The snapping turtle is not known to be a great swimmer and have been observed walking on the bottom of waterbodies. The species can live well up to 100 years in the wild and viciously snap at predators for defense.
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Miskwaatesi
  • Size: 9 - 25 cm (shell length)
  • Colour: A dark green to black upper shell (carapace) with red markings along the side
  • Diet: The omnivorous species feed on algae, vegetation, insects, frogs, and fish
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Mikinaak
  • Size: Up to 49 cm (shell length)
  • Colour: Upper shell (carapace) is brown, green, black, and bottom shell (plastron) is yellow
  • Diet: The species are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders
  • Commonly feed on algae, vegetation, insects, frogs, and fish
  • The Majority of their diet is dead animals or plant matter

Snakes

Red-Sided Gartersnake
The red-sided gartersnake is one of two subspecies found within the WCPP. The red-sided gartnersnake is also unique to Northwestern Ontario.  These species flick their tongues to pick up scents and sense vibrations through the ground. Common threats include flooding or freezing of hibernaculum.
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Kinepik
  • Size: Can grow over 1 metre in length
  • Colour: Dark green to black with a yellow stripe down the back on each side. Vertical red or orange markings between the back and side stripes
  • Diet: The species primarily feeds on leeches and frogs

Amphibians

Leopard Frog

The leopard frog is the most widespread frog species in Canada. The species has a call that is similar to a finger rubbed on a wet balloon. Some common threats to leopard frogs include loss of habitat and pollution.

Blue-Spotted Salamander (photo: Erin Aldrich)

The blue-spotted salamander are considered the most northern living salamander in Ontario. They are capable of creating a noxious secretion to ward off predators and can detach / regrow their tails then grabbed by a predator.
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Omakakii
  • Size: 5 - 10 cm long
  • Colour: Green or brown with dark spots resembling leopard markings
  • Diet: The species will eat anything that fits in their mouths
  • Primarily feeds on insects and other invertebrates
  • Hunts by pouncing on prey
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Ogiikadaanaangwe
  • Size: 7 - 14 cm
  • Colour: Black or dark grey with blue spots
  • Diet: The adult species eat invertebrates such as insects, spiders, worms, and slugs
  • Larvae normally eat mosquito larvae and water invertebrates

Find out more at the Woodland Caribou Provincial Park Exhibition at the Heritage Centre!