What are the top places to observe wildlife during a cruise on the Saint Lawrence River?
Québec is famous for its never-ending forests and wild, natural spaces. These forests are filled with beautiful animals, and guests cruising along the majestic Saint Lawrence River are likely to spot a few in their natural habitat. Here are some of the four-legged friends you may be lucky enough to see when visiting Québec.
In this article, you will learn all about:
- The animals to look out for in Saguenay
- The many species that inhabit Gaspé’s Forillon Park
- The fluffy animals living on Îles-de-la-Madeline
- Montréal’s urban fauna
Meet the king of the forest in Saguenay
The mighty moose is also called the king of the forest, and for good reason! The tallest and second-largest animal in North America (second only to the bison) is truly a sight to behold. A male specimen can weigh up to 700 kg and its average height can reach up to 2.1 m. Talk about a tall, dark and handsome stranger! Visitors hoping to spot a moose can give it a try by visiting the Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay at dusk or dawn during July, or again in the fall.
Mooses aren’t the only animal to look out for when checking out the park. Take a stroll on any trail for a glimpse of one of the many porcupines that live the area. Better yet, follow one of the rivers and look out for beaver dams along the way. Be sure to look hard: beavers may look a bit clumsy, but they are fierce swimmers. Blink and you’ll miss the sight of them gliding graciously just above the surface of the water before diving back in as soon as they hear a noise!
Now it doesn’t get much more Canadian than that!
Spot the elusive black bear in Forillon National Park
As soon as your ship docks in Gaspé, head for Forillon National Park. Why? Well, with 43 species of mammals having chosen the park as their home, there’s plenty of wildlife observation to be done! Watch out for moose, woodchucks, beavers, red foxes, snowshoe hares, and even bats. Many of which love to peek their heads out to say hello!
While the black bear is fairly common in the Forillon Park, you’re probably unlikely to see one. These burly animals are fairly timid and discreet, and key keep well away from all human activity. Keep your eyes peeled though, as you never know!
Get ready for the cuteness overload in Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Given its fairly small size, the archipelago is home to a surprisingly wide variety of birds and mammals. It is a prime site for birdwatching, and twitchers from all over the province gather here to observe birds as they nest on its red sand cliffs, sandy beaches and in its beautiful forests.
However, here’s an interesting fact you probably didn’t know about the Îles-de-la-Madeline’s area. A mink farm was founded way back in the days, and a few of the animals escaped to avoid being turned into outerwear. Which means there is now a small mink population around the lagoon in Havre-aux-Basques! Harbour seals can also be spotted around the islands, as well as as hares, which were reintroduced to the area in the early 90s. So make sure you add this port of call to the itinerary to get your fill of cute and fluffy creatures.
Going urban in Montréal
Animals don’t exactly limit themselves to the confines of Québec’s national parks. Plenty of small (and big) furry friends call Montréal their home. The sight of a few humongous red squirrels, fat pigeons and wobbling ducks barely registers among the local population. But did you know that foxes, raccoons and skunks are commonly spotted? Residents have also been able to observe deer and coyotes roaming the streets of the city. And the rare snowy owl was even caught on a traffic monitoring camera located in the west of the Island. Probably late for work!
For a true urban fauna experience, read all about Montréal’s eco-grazing project and have a picnic surrounded by sheep right in the heart of the metropolis.
While nobody can guarantee that you’ll be lucky enough to see a moose or a black bear, one thing is certain: those hoping to observe wildlife maximize their chances by choosing Québec as a travel destination.
And if you prefer feathery friends, do read our article on the best birdwatching destinations along the Saint Lawrence River.
Find out more about the Cruise the Saint Lawrence sustainable development guidelines on our sustainability page.