Wildlife in Ontario's Sunset Country (Part 1)

Have you ever wondered about what kinds of birds and animals live in the Boreal forest of Ontario's Sunset Country? Whether you have or not, this story is the first in a series that summarizes the major animal and bird species (and other critters) that call the Boreal forest home. From the largest animals, such as moose, to the smallest, like voles and mice, every creature of the woods is integral to the Boreal forest ecosystem's healthy functioning. Predators and prey are intertwined in a circle of life that binds them together. If we missed any significant creature in this article, let us know, and we'll add it to the list.

This is part one of a multi-part series of articles and focuses on the biggest mammals you might see in the Boreal.

Moose: The Canadian moose (Alces americanus) is an iconic symbol of the Boreal and easily the largest of any mammal up here. They range across most of Sunset Country but are much more concentrated in the region's northern half. Wolves prey on moose, while calves are targeted by both wolves and bears. Because of their large size, moose require a lot of food and therefore must roam far and wide to find it. Their extremely long legs help them walk through deep snow and escape predators. Moose can run fast when they want to. If you're lucky, you may see one off the side of the road or along the shoreline while fishing. Keep a safe distance and never antagonize or stress the animal by chasing it in a boat. 

Size: Moose vary in size, with an average weight of 700-800 pounds. Large bulls can weigh close to, or even over, 1,000 pounds.

Diet: Moose eat about 70 pounds of food per day, with a diet of aquatic plants, young tree shoots, and other non-grass vegetation.

Range: They occur across Sunset Country but are more abundant in the northern half of the region.

Whitetail Deer: Our most plentiful large mammal is the whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus), distributed across most of Sunset Country except in the far northern regions. Towns and cities here have resident populations of whitetail deer; some cities, like Kenora, have hundreds of "urban" whitetails that live within city boundaries their entire lives. Deer are herbivores and eat just about any vegetation they find palatable. Those that live in cities and towns also gladly accept handouts, but feeding them isn't recommended.

Size: Whitetails can vary a lot in size, and in our region, they are on average larger than those in more southern climates, primarily as an adaptation to the cold. They usually weigh between 150-175 pounds, with the giant bucks tipping the scales at over 300. 

Diet: Deer are herbivores and can eat up to 2,000 pounds of vegetation annually. They have specialized stomachs that let them digest different foods depending on the time of year and what is available. Shoots, flowers, forbs, fruit, hay, and corn are staples.

Range: White-tailed deer are a very common sight across the populated areas of Sunset Country, especially in the southern half of the region. If you visit, you will definitely see a lot of deer on your trip.

Black Bear: Another fairly common sight for tourists in Sunset Country is the black bear (Ursus americanus). Ontario is estimated to have around 150,000 bears, half of which likely live in the province's northwestern part. Black bears are powerful animals but largely eat a vegetarian diet, though they will eat almost anything. Never approach or try to feed these creatures, as it could end up badly for you, especially if a sow thinks you are a danger to her cubs. Black bears come in several colour phases, including the common black colour; they can also be brown, cinnamon, or even blonde, although that is quite rare. Some black bears have white spots, almost always on their chest.

Size: Like deer, black bears vary in size, with some large male boars weighing over 500 pounds! The average male weighs around 300-350 pounds, and sows weigh between 150 and 250 pounds, although some mature sows weigh over 300.

Diet: Bears are omnivores, meaning they eat a variety of foods, including berries, grasses, roots, insects, and meat. Since they hibernate in the winter, spring, summer, and fall are dedicated to eating so they can survive the winter on stored fat reserves. Bears are significant predators of moose calves and whitetail fawns in the spring.

Range: Bears range across the Sunset Country region, though larger populations tend to be farther south, where forage is better and the growing season is slightly longer. You have a good chance of seeing a bear on your trip, but enjoy them from a safe distance.

Red Fox: Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are another frequent sight in Sunset Country. While the coats of these intelligent creatures are most often red with white on the chest or and the tip of the tail, colour phases can be a darker grey and sometimes even black, but these are quite rare. Foxes are very cagey and have excellent hearing, which makes them deadly hunters. 

Size: Red foxes are relatively small, which helps them stay hidden while hunting. In most cases, these animals are around 3 to 3.5 feet long with a weight of between 15-20 pounds but larger animals do exist, and some may weigh more depending on the type and availability of food.

Diet: Foxes eat a variety of foods, including roots and berries, but they usually prefer small rodents and other small mammals. Extremely intelligent foxes living near human populations, such as farms, pose a threat to chickens and similar livestock. Hence, the saying "that's like the fox guarding the henhouse" is easy to understand. 

Range: Red foxes are very successful breeders and they can range across all regions of Ontario's Sunset Country. Each fox has a "home" range, which, in most cases, it stays in its entire life. 

Timber Wolves (Gray Wolf): Wolves (Canis lupus) are a relatively rare sight in Sunset Country. Despite our healthy populations, they generally avoid people at all costs. You are more likely to see a "lone wolf" over a pack of them, although during the winter months, sighting a pack of wolves on lake ice happens more frequently. Wolves are social animals that live in packs and work together; they efficiently hunt larger mammals such as deer, woodland caribou, and moose. Wolves have no natural predators, but their populations rise and fall with prey availability. 

Size: Timber wolves vary greatly in size with large males weighing 150 pounds or more. Females are much smaller, weighing between 80-100 pounds. 

Diet: As carnivores, wolves prefer meat and prey mostly on larger mammals such as deer, which they take down together. In a pinch, wolves will also eat smaller mammals when available or even berries when they can't find meat.

Range: Across Ontario's Sunset Country.

Woodland Caribou: Now a protected species, woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are rare, and you'll likely see one only in remote areas such as a northern fly-in outpost. Economic activities, especially forestry and mining, have caused significant habitat disturbance in some areas, and this is the species' major threat. Excellent swimmers, woodland caribou prefer the rough side of the boreal forest and survive on a variety of vegetation. This is the only deer species in which both females and males grow antlers.

Size: Woodland caribou are medium-sized ungulates, weighing 150 pounds for females and up to 325 pounds for large males. They stand between 4 and 5 feet tall at the shoulder. Caribou can have large antlers in some cases, close to 3 feet long.

Diet: Caribou range widely and eat what is available in an area at the time of year they browse. Winter diets can include bark and lichens, while summer diets add grasses and mosses to the mix along with readily available lichens.

Range: Woodland caribou live in northern, remote parts of Sunset Country, extending up to the Arctic tundra. Your chance of seeing one is slim, so if you do, consider yourself very lucky!

Canadian Lynx: Our most common "big cat" up here is the beautiful Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis). An efficient predator year-round, lynx have many adaptations that help them survive in the Boreal. Consider yourself lucky if you do see one, as they are shy and stealthy. It's a real treat when you get to see a mother and young, generally the only time you'll see them in a group. A lynx looks similar to a bobcat, but it has notable differences, including hips well above its shoulders, back legs noticeably longer than its front legs, larger fur-covered feet, fewer spots, and longer ear tufts. While some bobcats live in the southern part of the region, it is unlikely that what you are seeing here is anything but a Canadian Lynx.  

Size: Males are slightly larger than females, around 2.5 to 3.5 feet long and weighing approximately 20-30 pounds. Females are about 20% smaller.

Diet: Lynx are strictly carnivores, preying on snowshoe hares, small rodents and, in Sunset Country, ruffed grouse. Occasionally, they eat reptiles and insects. Lynx have also been known to take down small or injured whitetail deer, though this is rare. Their numbers generally rise and fall with prey availability.

Range: Across Sunset Country, often living in thick, remote patches of Boreal away from human development. 

Cougar: Extremely rare in Northwestern Ontario, cougars (Puma concolor) are much larger than lynx and therefore much more dangerous animals. While their numbers have dwindled over the past decades, they still have several sightings every year. If you see a cougar, keep your distance and consider yourself extremely lucky. These big cats can pose a threat to humans in certain situations, so respect that and act accordingly. 

Size: Males are much larger than females, averaging 6 to 6.5 feet long, with the largest reaching up to 8 feet. Females are usually 5 to 5.5 feet long, so still big! Males can weigh up to 180 pounds, though most are around 125-140 pounds, while females weigh 80-100 pounds. At full speed, a cougar can run up to 80 km/h, so running away is not really an option. 

Diet: Cougars compete with wolves for large mammals such as whitetail deer and moose. They will also eat smaller rodents, snowshoe hare and grouse. 

Range: In thick patches of Boreal where moose and whitetail deer are readily available. When prey numbers are down, cougars move closer to populated centers to find food. 

That's the end of part one of a series of articles on the animals, birds, and other critters that live in the Boreal forests of Ontario's Sunset Country.

Read part 2 here.