Wildlife

Red foxes

Emblematic of Parc Jean-Drapeau, red foxes are mammals which have orange-hue fur with white under the throat and stomach, a pointed muzzle, erect ears and bushy tail.

Foxes are omnivores but their diet is mainly carnivorous. They consume rodents and rabbits, but they also eat insects, fish or fruit. They are opportunistic, with the ability to adapt to very diversifed environments and change their eating habits in relation to the time of the year.

Interesting fact

The mammal population at the Parc was so considerable it led to quite a few problems, including ones related to maintenance and mobility on the islands. As a result, Parc Jean-Drapeau, in conjunction with the Foundation de la faune, artificially introduced red foxes on its site for the purpose of rebalancing and controlling the overpopulation of rodents on the premises.

Groundhogs

There is an abundance of groundhogs at Parc Jean-Drapeau and they have gained notoriety worldwide, especially during the Canadian Grand Prix. It's not unusual to see them moseying along the trails or lolling in the sun on a warm summer day.

They have a dark brown, reddish fur and sturdy claws, which are a big help when they dig their burrows.

Interesting fact

Groundhogs are of help to many animals that reuse the groundhogs' burrows as a shelter to protect themselves from predators or bad weather.

Bees

Parc Jean-Drapeau called on the Alvéole organization to set up two beehives in the rose garden of the Hélène-de-Champlain pavilion on Île Sainte-Hélène.

Urban beekeeping is increasingly popular, a rise that correlates to the interest in local food production, as well as a general concern about the fate of pollinators that are responsible for the pollinating of a third of our overall food production.

For the complete rundown on beehives at the Parc, to learn more about the Parc's beehives or urban beekeeping, please read the Alvéole blog.

Insects

The next time you're touring the Floralies Gardens, you can take a look at the insect hotels on the site. These tiny cedar houses can accommodate many insects, including solitary bees - also called wild bees - carpenter or mason bees, which are big pollinators. They are the first to pollinate flowers and fruits in the spring. There are more than 350 species in the province of Québec.

The upper area (attic) of the hotels can accommodate ladybugs and lacewings, which are great for eating aphids, insects that are harmful to plant life.

The insect hotels at Parc Jean-Drapeau are made by Atelier Zabie.