Watching Wildlife in Ontario

Ospreys nest along Ontario's lakes and rivers, the source of the fish that make up most of their diet.

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Ontario offers a wide diversity of wildlife for those who choose to look for it. No matter where you are, or the time of year, wildlife viewing opportunities are plentiful throughout the province.

Ontario's wealth of species includes songbirds and shorebirds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and insects.

If you have always wanted to hear the howl of a wolf or get a glimpse of a Ringed Seal, Wild Turkey or a Bald Eagle, think "Ontario."  All of these experiences are available within our borders.

The reason for this range of wildlife is the variety of Ontario's habitats.  The province's one million square kilometres features landscapes that vary from arctic coasts to bustling urban centres. Northern bogs and southern marshes, rare alvars, and the vast boreal forest of the Canadian Shield are just a few more of the diverse habitats that are home to a rich assortment of plants and animals.

In Southern Ontario, the Carolinian forest, for example, boasts more native tree species than the temperate rainforests of British Columbia. In the Carolinian forest you will also find uncommon warblers, the Virginia Opossum and the Southern Flying Squirrel.

The natural features of Ontario can be separated into four broad ecological zones. Each zone has its own unique climate, vegetation, geography, landform and wildlife.

Ontario's four ecological zones are: 

Watching spiders is an excellent way to introduce children to wildlife viewing. Kids love spiders!

• The Hudson Bay Lowlands, comprising the low-lying areas south of Hudson and James bays 
• The Ontario Shield, part of the Canadian Shield including the boreal forest 
• The Mixedwood Plains, consisting of the southern part of the Canadian Shield and all of southern Ontario 
• The Great Lakes, which support thousands of wetlands.

All of these habitats and the species that depend on them represent Ontario's rich biodiversity. This biodiversity is what makes Ontario an outstanding choice for wildlife watchers.

Related Sites

Please visit the following external websites for more information about watching wildlife in Ontario.

Government

• Ontario Parks
• National Wildlife Areas
• Conservation Ontario
• Ontario - Yours to Discover

Nature, Wildlife, Hiking Areas

• Hike Ontario
• Niagara Escarpment Commission (see travel button)
• Bruce Trail Association
• Oak Ridges Trail Association
• Ontario Trails Council
• Ontario's Greenbelt - Places to See

Associations

• Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters
• Northern Ontario Native Tourism Association

Unique Viewing Opportunities

• Important Bird Areas
• Ontario Field Ornithologists
• The Hawk Migration Association of North America
• Moose - Algonquin Provincial Park
• Wolves - Algonquin Provincial Park Wolf Howl
• Field Botanists of Ontario

Other Links

• Ontario Nature
• Boreal Forest
• Royal Ontario Museum
• Carolinian Canada

Note: The websites linked to (listed above) are created by or for organizations outside of the Ontario government, and those organizations are responsible for the information contained within their respective sites. These sites might not be available in French. Any specific comments or inquiries regarding those sites should be directed to the individual organization.

• Northwestern Ontario Wildlife Viewing Guide (PDF, 2 MB)