Fauna

Burns Bog fauna (animals)

To many animal species, Burns Bog holds the key to life and death. In the past century, the bog has become a refuge for animals that otherwise would have become extinct. As city development spreads into the lands these animals call home, their lives continue to be threatened.

Not all animals within the bog's boundaries thrive within its acidic-peat center. The areas near the bog's borders feature forested regions that have grown for centuries. As a result, Burns Bog is home to many one-of-a-kind animals.

This diverse landscape, with high dry areas and low wetlands, makes Burns Bog home for an array of animal life. The bog is a haven for many of its tenants. Its occupants include over 150 species of birds. One of these is the endangered Greater Sandhill Crane. This magnificent bird is on the endangered species list as only 600 are left in all of British Columbia. The Greater Sandhill Crane uses the bog for migration and spends about four months in the bog before heading south for the winter. But the time here is well spent as this bird builds its nest on mats of sphagnum. Greater Sandhill Cranes can grow to stand shoulder height to a full-grown human. These waterfowl use the wetlands for their nesting and feeding grounds. Flocks of these birds used to blacken the sky, but now only 20 Greater Sandhill Cranes are left in this part of the country.

Burns Bog is a critical refuge for many species, particularly the Greater Sandhill Crane. The land is vital to its survival. One pair of cranes needs at least 800 acres of land in order to survive.

Burns Bog offers almost 10,000 acres of habitat for this endangered species. The Bog harbors the only known population of Southern Red-Backed Voles in the province. This tiny, mouse-like animal was thought to be extinct in the 1940s in Canada until a recent sighting of the Vole in the bog contradicted this theory.

Burns Bog's land area supports more than 28 species of mammals. Among them are:

Black Bear – Bears can find all the nourishment the need in the bog, including plants, insects and small, mouse-like animals.

Blacktail Deer – Deer enjoy eating fresh grass, herbs and shrubs.

Red Fox – Used to occupy the bog, but may have disappeared as human development eats away at the edges of the land.

Bobcat – One of the many large mammals that lives in the bog.

Coyote – The droppings of these animals can be seen all over the trails of Burns Bog.

Beaver – Beavers enjoy the wet environment and build dams and lodges throughout the bog.

Red-Tailed Hawk – One of the many raptors that reside in the bog. These live in the bog's forest perimeter.

Porcupine – Like the Red Fox, porcupines used to occupy the bog, but may have disappeared as human development eats away at the edges of the land.

Southern Red-Backed Vole – This creature is so tiny, it can easily fit into the palm of a hand.

Deer Mice – Very common animal in Burns Bog.