Natural History of the South Eastern Avalon

Renews to St. Vincents's

Jeff Harrison, Trepassey and Montreal

Land Mammal Checklist

__ Woodland Caribou (C)

__ Moose* (C) 1904

__ Arctic Fox** ( R)

__ Red Fox (U)

__ Black Bear (R)

__ Polar Bear** (R)

__ Ermine (U)

__ Mink* (U)

__ River Otter (U)

__ Canada Lynx (R)

__ Red Squirrel* (C) 1963

__ Beaver (U)

__ Meadow Vole (U)

__ Boreal Redbacked Vole (U)

__ Muskrat (U)

__ House Mouse* (U-C)

__ Norway Rat* (U-C)

__ Snowshoe Hare* (U-C) circa 1860

__ Common (Masked) Shrew* (C)

Notes:

1). Woodland Caribou, including the Avalon Caribou herd, are in major decline across all of Eastern Canada

2). It is surprising to see the occasional Beaver lodge on the barrens; presumably they find enough small deciduous trees to survive on

3). Vole populations vary over numerous years according to their breeding cycles

* Introduced with date of introduction where known

**Arctic Fox and Polar Bear very occasionally come down on icebergs and heavy pack ice which occasionally reaches the southern Avalon in spring; “Bear Cove” is most likely named after a nomadic Polar Bear than a Black Bear; in few years ago an Arctic Fox hung out around Cape Race for many months

Legend:

C = Common: expect to see if one seeks them out in suitable habitat

U = Uncommon: occasionally found when one seeks them out in suitable habitat

VU = Very Uncommon: recorded some years in suitable habitat

R = Rare: unlikely to be seen; few records