Other Wildlife

Moose (Alces alces) can occasionally be seen. Their habitat is marginal until well upriver.

Woodland caribou and barren ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are seen in small numbers in the Twin lakes area. Hunting pressure makes them less abundant harder to see as they avoid human contact.

The red bat (Lasiurus borealis) is rare.

Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are fairly common and beaver (Castor canadensis) are present in fresh water and expanding in population size. Porcupine are present in low numbers.

Two species of hare live in the region: the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) and the arctic hare (Lepus arcticus). The arctic hare is the more common of the two.

The arctic fox (Canis lagopus) is cyclical and increasing in number. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is also present.

The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is a resident in low numbers near town. Wolverines are present but never abundant.

Mink (Mustela vison), martens (Martes americana), fishers (Martes pennanti), ermine (or short-tailed weasel) (Mustela erminea), and the least weasel are present.

The lynx (Felis lynx) population is recovering but seldom seen.

Black bears (Ursus americanus) are occasionally seen some distance from town. Barran ground grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) are also occasionally seen. The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) population is stable with about 1200 bears.

The collared lemming (Dicrostonyx torquatus) is cyclical and is sometimes very common.

Gapper's red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi), the heather vole (Phenacomys intermedius) and the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) are common.

The house mouse (Mus musculus) and norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) live near the grain terminal at the port of Churchill. The meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius) is present in moist meadows or grassy areas.

Four species living in the area are the pygmy, arctic (Sorex arcticus), masked (Sorex cinereus)and water shrew (Sorex palustris).

Bearded seals (Erignatus barbatus) are increasing in population size.

Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are the most common seal and their population size is increasing.

The population of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) is steady in numbers.

River otter (Lutra canadensis).

Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) are common in the river estuary in early July through August.

One minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) was seen in 1990.

There have been a few bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) sightings–one seen in 1984, 1988, 1991 and 2002 after 100 years absence.