A Range of Cape Breton Birds and Mammals Spotted Around Cabot Shores During Winter
As you walk out the door of Cabot Shores’ lodge rooms, yurts, domes or chalets, you are likely to see Cape Breton wildlife during winter. Eagles perch on spruce trees high above Church Pond, moose stand in the apple orchard or wonder along the Beaver Cove and Indian Brook. All kinds of sea and mountain birds travel through the airspace of Cabot Shores 55 acre nature sanctuary.
Forest and mountain birds appear while you snowshoe or walk along hiking trails here and in the Cape Breton Highlands. Whether on snowshoes, or hiking, you’ll often hear squirrels before you see them, as well see grouse, blue jays, finches, and even the occasional owl (a full list of Cape Breton birds spotted during winter was prepared by an expert birder, Rinchen Boardman).
Other local residents include ducks and geese, beavers, and even the otter, white rabbit or red fox are local residents. Very rarely we’ve seen coyotes off in the distance, along Eagle Feather Beach or you can hear them howling far off in the Cape Breton Highlands or the Indian Brook Wilderness. And recently, the rare Canadian Lynx was spotted at night in a forest between the lodge and the Forest Yurt.
Moose Crossing the Cabot Trail
You don’t have to go to the Cape Breton Highlands or hiking trails to see Cape Breton wildlife. On many occasions it walks right across the road. Recently, just after the blizzard of February, 2024, Darren Cooke, had a hunch about the moose. Darren’s family has been along the Cabot Trail since the 19th century and Darren is knowledgeable about local fishing, as well as moose habits:. “All this snow will bring the moose down from the Cape Breton Highlands. Often they’ll come down to Indian Brook or at Jersey Cove near Englishtown.” And sure enough darren took a photo of a couple of moose crossing the road.
And then heading through deep snow into the spruce trees along highway 312, just 8 km from Cabot Shores, which is on the Cabot Trail at Indian Brook
Winter weather brings out Cape Breton wildlife near Cabot Shores along the Cabot Trail at Indian Brook. The street address is 30 Buchanan Drive and Darren Cooke is a “Buchanan” on his mother’s side and that family has lived along the Cabot Trail for over a century. it best: Sure enough, the February blizzard of 2024, caused the moose to descend from the Cape Breton Highlands in search of food and shallower snow. Darren saw them crossing the Cabot Trail on highway 312
Moose Wonderings around Cabot Shores and along Indian Brook
Cape Breton Wildlife as Prey or Predator?
Hiking late in the day near sunset, our friend John Henry, a Mi’kmaq elder, explained prey vs predator to Dr. Paul: “‘it’s getting dark and you have to decide whether you are prey or predator. It’s an attitude, it’s action or re-action. There’s bear out here after dark, I think it’s time to head back.” Well there are bears and John Henry was exaggerating to make a point (we’ve had 5 black bear sightings here in 20 years and they ran away, the only danger we’ve seen is when the the Bear Mama is with Cub!…but in terms of prey and predators around Cape Breton, here’s what we’ve seen.
On and off for a few weeks, the Fox was seen by day near the Cedar Yurt and by night and early morning creeping around near the Churt next to the chicken coop. Fortunately the Red Fox wasn’t successful in the hunt for chickens. Unfortunately for the chickens, two other predators came on the scene. One winter a Bobcat jumped the fence and killed Chickens before being chased by one our dogs.
The worst predator so far was the smallest, a white Weasel that killed Chickens inside the Churt, the ones that couldn’t get away. This winter, our cat named Leif went head to head with the Weasel and scared the Weasel away, so our Chickens aren’t prey.
The Rarely Seen Canada Lynx
Last Tuesday, Louis saw a Canada Lynx going from out of the woods, toward the Lodge and then up the driveway towards the Forest Yurt and Louis’ shop. Louis wasn’t able to get a photo but we followed its tracks, which are notable compared to a Fox or Coyote or dog. The Canada Lynx have little pads that have the effect of snowshoes, making them at adept at going through the snow,
Canada Lynx no longer inhabit the mainland of Nova Scotia and we have its picture from a “Recover Plan” document put out by the province. On Cape Breton there are estimated to be 50-500 Canada Lynx and we advised the Province of our sighting.
The Canada Lynx is a predator for Grouse, which are plentiful at Cabot Shores, but their main prey is Snowshoe Hare. Below is the Hare which we’ve seen around our yurts, both in winter when it’s white and in spring when it is greyer.
Finally, one of the key winter predators on Cape Breton is coyote. We’ve seen them from a distance sprinting along Eagle Feather Beach. and seen them
chasing a deer and even a moose skeleton skinned. They aren’t a hazard on Cape Breton but it is critical that people don’t feed them.
These geese don’t have obvious predators during winter but their eggs and goslings are prey for eagles but that’s a story for spring.
