National Wildlife Week

Exploring Habitats

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Canadian Habitats

Celebrate with the Canadian Wildlife Federation throughout National Wildlife Week (April 7 to 13, 2024) as we explore Canada’s vast habitats like mossy wetlands, prairie grasslands, dense forests, marshes, meadows, woodlands and the Arctic tundra! Discover which species rely on these regions and what you can do for wildlife!

Boreal Forests

Did you know that the boreal forest is used by nearly half of the birds in North America each year?

Stretching more than 5,000 kilometres from Newfoundland and Labrador in the east to Yukon in the west and extending south 1,000 km from the edge of the Arctic tundra, the boreal region occupies more than half of Canada's land area. It is one of the largest forest ecosystems on the planet, and it shelters thousands of species. Many of the species that we think of as being particularly Canadian—Black Spruce, Jack Pine, Moose, Caribou, Gray Jays, Loons, Wood Frogs and Lake Trout—are part of the boreal ecosystem. The boreal region also contains more than 1.5 million lakes and many of the main river systems in the country. Learn more about the benefits the boreal region provides that extend beyond its borders.

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Wetlands

Did you know that Canada has a quarter of the world's wetlands?

Wetlands are found along the shores of oceans, lakes, and rivers, dotted across the prairies, and in countless poorly drained depressions throughout Canada. Wildlife that inhabitat this area ranges from aquatic creatures like salamanders, snakes, turtles, frogs and fish, to smaller mammals living around marshes like shrews, lemmings, voles, muskrats and beavers. Predators include minks, otters, Bobcats, the elusive Cougar and the Grey Fox! Wetlands are also beneficial for birds, being home to more than 100 species of birds! Without wetlands some species would disappear altogether. It would also affect how our water is purified and controlled. Check out Hinterland Who’s Who to learn more about swampy areas.

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Prairie Grasslands

Did you know that grasslands are among the most endangered ecosystems in the world and cover less than a quarter of their original area?

The grasslands ecosystems are largely found in Canada in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This mind-bending place supports an incredible amount of life. You could see a Ferruginous Hawk swoop down to capture a Richardson’s Ground Squirrel or a rattlesnake glide past a prickly pear cactus and a herd of bison grazing on feathery blue grama grass. Learn more about these resilient and critically important regions.

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Ocean

Did you know that oceans supply huge amounts of oxygen?

Ocean plants (especially tiny phytoplankton) provide more oxygen than rainforests — between 30 and 50 per cent of the planet's supply. Oceans are bodies of salt water that cover nearly three-quarters of the globe's surface. The planet's huge ocean consists of seven connected oceans: the Arctic, Antarctic, North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic and Indian oceans. Also included are seas, such as the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean. Oceans and seas can be 10 kilometres deep and are home to species like the Beluga Whale, Walrus and Narwhal. Learn more about species that inhabit the ocean like the North Atlantic Right Whale.

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Arctic Tundra

Did you know that the Arctic tundra has very low precipitation levels (between 15 to –25 centimetres including melting snow, which is drier than most deserts? The tundra also has high winds and no sunlight for as many as 163 days! These conditions create a harsh climate, which results in about 20 adaptable species of mammals living on the Arctic tundra.

In Canada, the Arctic tundra can be found in Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northeastern Manitoba, northern Ontario, northern Quebec and northern Labrador. Nearly 2,000 species of plants, mainly mosses, sedges, grasses and flowering plants, form the vegetation of the tundra. Due to harsh climate conditions, very few species thrive here, however, there are a few that call it home, at least for a few months of the year. These include the Snowy Owl, Peary Caribou, Arctic Wolf, Muskox, Arctic Hare, Ogilvie Mountains Collared Lemming, Arctic Fox, and of course the Polar Bear. Learn more about the coldest of the biomes!

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What is National Wildlife Week?

In 1947, Canadian Parliament officially proclaimed the week of April 10 as National Wildlife Week. April 10 is the birthday of the late Jack Miner, a Canadian conservationist known by some as the "father" of North American conservationism. "Wild Goose Jack,” as he was often referred, was one of the first conservationists to determine the migratory paths of North American birds and is credited with helping to save the iconic Canada Goose from the brink of extinction.

While we won’t all save an animal from extinction, we can all have a positive impact on our wildlife and the places they call home when we #DoMoreForWildlife.

jack miner

Let’s #DoMoreForWildlife!

Download the #DoMoreForWildlife calendar, designed to help us take action for Canada’s wildlife all year. Get monthly calendar updates and daily shareable actions. Don’t miss out on the action – get notified on this month’s items.

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Celebrate with our themed Adopt-an-animal collection!

This collection celebrates the species commonly known for the different habitats we are exploring, from moose to Painted Turtles, Bison to Snowy Owls. What a great way to learn more about Canada’s wildlife by sharing an adopted friend with a loved one – or yourself!

Adopt an animal