Wildlife is lovely to see, but not touch
By: Sophie Daly, John Hopper, Stephanie Taylor and Kim Tremblay
Ottawa has a variety of wildlife throughout the region – from turtles to deer.
Here are five areas in the Ottawa-Gatineau region to check out to enjoy nature and see some wildlife.
Located along the Ottawa River, the Britannia Conservation Area is home to a range of wildlife.
Within the range is a pond called Mud Lake. Mud Lake is home to racoons, frogs, turtles and foxes.
Britannia is also a bird-watching hotspot year-round. Almost 250 bird species have been spotted within this area – that’s 74 per cent of bird species recorded in the Ottawa-Hull naturalists’ region.
The National Capital Greenbelt has over 100 kilometres of trails to explore. The Stony Swamp trails branch into four different paths allowing hikers to see many animals such as birds, beavers and chipmunks.
Hikers have seen white-tailed deer along the Old Quarry Trail. Frogs and turtles can be seen along this trail in the warmer months.
The Jack Pine Trail passes over ponds where you can see ducks and beavers.
It costs nothing to hike these trails, but they are conservation regions, so leave the dog at home.
Dow’s Lake is an inner-city park operated by the National Capital Commision. The greenspace offers a variety of outdoor activities, as well as acting as a natural habitat for wildlife within the city.
Dow’s Lake is home to a plethora of different species of fish, including bass, bluegill, trout and carp. The lake is also home to a variety of aquatic birds such as loons, ducks and geese.
Every May, the Dow’s Lake Pavillion hosts the famous Canadian Tulip Festival annually- the largest tulip festival in the world. Over 300,000 tulips are planted in solidarity with those who sacrificed themselves during the Second World War.
The greenspace is located just north of Carleton University, making Dow’s Lake a popular destination amongst students in Ottawa.
A year-round nature park that is less than an hour drive east of Ottawa where you can see a variety of Canada’s wildlife on a 12-kilometre self-drive safari.
The park has animals roaming like deer, elf, bison, caribou and other animals. You can pick up a bag of carrots at the entrance so you’re able to feed animals when they come up to your car.
Tickets can be bought online before arriving. Day passes, guided tours and cocktail tickets can be purchases as well as accommodations bundles.
The Dominion Arboretum is part of the Central Experimental Farm of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The Arboretum covers 64 acres of land between the Rideau Canal, Prince of Wales Drive and Dow’s Lake.
While walking down its many winding paths, hikers can explore its wildlife consisting of turtles, fish, deer and foxes.
The Arboretum is also home to many species of birds including ducks, hawks, berry-loving songbirds, waxwings and sparrows. Hikers can go on a tour with a tour guide, who can identify the birds around the arboretum.
Entrance to the Arboretum is free. Hikers can visit with their dogs as long as they are leashed.
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