What animals may you see while walking in Stanley Park?
Raccoons, Squirrels (Eastern grey & Douglas) coyotes, fish, frogs, crayfish, snake & turtles.
What should I do if someone reports a dead or injured animal?
Report to a Park Staff Member, Volunteer, or phone wildlife service 604-257-8510.
What are the mounds of dirt I see in the Park?
These are molehills. Moles are burrowing animals, and as they dig their homes a pile of dirt accumulates at the surface. There is no action by the Park to get rid of them, as they are considered part of the ecology and not pests.
What kinds of swans are on the lagoon?
Mute swans (Cygnus olor). They are an exotic species brought from the U.K. They are also native to Asia. You can identify a mute swan by its "S"-shaped neck, it's bright orange bill, and the black knob at the base of the bill. They also like to swim with their wings slightly raised and fluffed.
Were there ever black swans in the Park?
Australian black swans (Cygnus atratus) arrived in the Park in 1901, a gift from the New South Wales Zoological Society Zoological Gardens in Australia. These swans were smaller, less aggressive and less adaptable than the mute swans, and eventually died off.
Do the swans get fed?
The Park Board feeds the swans in the early morning to ensure that they will eat nutritious food. There are also, technically, too many swans on the Lagoon. In the wild, only one pair would inhabit a lake this size, therefore if the swans depended on the Lagoon for all of their food needs they would soon strip it of everything, and/or starve to death.
Can the swans fly?
The swans are pinioned (wing tendons clipped) to keep this introduced species from spreading to other parts of the province. Unlike clipped wings, it is a permanent surgery. Some may find this cruel but it is the only way to ensure that a non-native species does not spread. Feral populations have caused a lot of damage in other areas of the continent.
Are there swan babies at Lost Lagoon?
No, not in 2002. Several nests were made and several eggs were laid but never hatched. In 2001, four cygnets were born on June 13 to a two year old pen (female) that was born on the Lagoon in 1999. As mute swans don't usually reach sexual maturity until three or four, this successful clutch was a little miraculous. Unfortunately, only one of these cygnets survived (after being removed from Lost Lagoon and protected by Ziggy Jones of the Park Board).
What is the natural food of ducks?
Different ducks eat different things. Mallards and wood ducks, both dabbling ducks, and the most common ducks on the Lagoon in the summer, eat mostly aquatic invertebrates, plants, seeds and snails. There is plenty of food for them, NATURALLY.
What kind of chipmunk is that? (Douglas squirrel)
What you see is not a chipmunk but a Douglas squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii). It is the native squirrel of the pacific coast area. Chipmunks live at higher altitudes so there are none in the Park. The black and gray squirrels you see are not native. The original 16 squirrels were released here in 1914 as a gift from the New York Parks Department.
Are there bald eagles in the Park?
Many people don't realize that we have many bald eagles living, feeding and possibly nesting in Stanley Park. Always keep your eyes open for a large bird soaring overhead. It is very common to see gulls and crows mobbing eagles because they consider them predators and are trying to drive them from their territory. In the Park, bald eagles are often spotted on snags (dead branches) around Beaver Lake, near Third Beach, by the Pavilion and soaring above Lost Lagoon.
Description:
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus (sea eagle) leucocephalus (white head)) has a 6. 5-8 ft wingspan (bigger than most adult men). The female bald eagle is larger than the male, usually by 2-3 inches. Her head is blockier and less rounded than the male's. It is virtually impossible to mistake an adult bald eagle for another bird; it's white head, brown body and piercing yellow eyes are unmistakable. Immature bald eagles can be a little bit more difficult to identify as they do not come in to full plumage until they are 5-7 years old. While immature, bald eagles often look very "salt and peppery" with mottled white and brown patches, a dark beak, which will later turn yellow and dark eyes, which also turn yellow when the eagle reaches maturity.
Are there great blue herons (Ardea herodias) in the Park?
This is the second largest long-legged bird found in the west (next to sandhill crane). The great blue heron has grey-blue feathers and a long neck, legs and bill. The adult has a white forehead and a six foot wingspan. The heron eats fish, small mammals, frogs, large insects, even ducklings and rats. It usually nests in a colony. Great blue heron habitat can be found in marshes, streams, ditches, and tidal mudflats. There is a heron colony near the main tennis courts and VPB offices, with numerous nests (a map of the nests can be found on the Great Blue Heron section of this Web site.
For quite a few years the colony was located near the Aquarium but a few years ago the herons abandoned this site. The usual causes for heron colony abandonment are human disturbance or persistent bald eagle attacks. No one knows for sure why this colony picked up and left this site, but there are possibilities from both sources of disturbance. Canadian Wildlife Service staff had ventured into the nests to take some eggs for their toxicology study, there was loud machinery used near the colony and bald eagles were present as well. Fortunately, the herons remained in the park and started building nests near the Park Board offices. Over the last 6 years there have been several bald eagle attacks on the heronry at the Park Board Offices.
Great blue herons do not mate for life; the females choose a new mate every year. You can find the nests near the VPB office by looking for whitewash below trees and listening for the machine-gun like sound ("ack-ack-ack") of young herons. The great blue heron is a threatened species on the Pacific Northwest Coast, due to loss of habitat and the newly-emerging threat from bald eagles.
Is there a rat problem and what is being done about it?
Yes, as all of the left over food that is meant for other animals attracts the rats. Rats carry many diseases that are transferable to humans and pets. The way to stop a rat infestation is to stop creating the abundance of food. There is nothing official being done to limit the rat population in the Park. Natural predators like coyotes, crows, herons, eagles, hawks etc. take care of the rats and we, as Eco Rangers do our best to educate visitors about not feeding.
Are there coyotes (Canis latrans) in Stanley Park? Are they dangerous?
There are most likely up to about 10, but it nearly impossible to tell as they have a wide home range and are not monitored. They are generally not dangerous to humans. However, a coyote that has been fed previously or is being fed, could bite or approach you looking for a handout, and unleashed dogs could be attacked.
Please don't feed wildlife!
Stay away from coyotes and if approached, make yourself look as large as you can, make lots of noise, and slowly back away; never run.
Do I have to be concerned about coyotes while taking my dog for a walk?
It is the owner's responsibility to keep pets safe and leashed at all times. Coyotes are naturally timid around humans, but many are becoming habituated and will approach people looking for food. Do not use an extendable leash, as coyotes have been known to snatch small dogs while 20ft away from their owners. Although many dogs are bigger than coyotes, small dogs can be prey. If you see a coyote and feel that your dog is threatened pick it up and move to a more populated area. Don't let your dog wander around in bushes.
What happened to all the raccoons in the Park?
In June 1998, raccoons were hit by canine distemper. This wiped out almost the entire population in the Park. Raccoons are nocturnal animals and usually are never seen in the daytime. Because of human feeding, raccoons have learned that if they sleep at night, there are humans that will feed them in the daytime. Canine distemper is an airborne disease. When the disease hit the Park, the population was at such high numbers and the raccoons lived in such close proximity, that the disease was able to spread quickly. June is kit month and some females were denned up having their young and missed the outbreak.
Where do raccoons live?
Raccoons prefer denning sites in places like stumps, logs, caves, garages, attics, culverts, and hollow trees. You can see raccoons around Ceperley Meadow, Prospect Pt. and the Miniature Railway.
What happened to the striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in the Park?
It is thought that the increase in the number of coyotes in the Park may have caused the skunks to move out to nearby neighborhoods. Skunks are a natural prey of coyotes. They also could have been hit by the distemper outbreak of 1998.
Where do the birds go in the winter?
Many birds migrate in the winter. Birds, such as songbirds, fly up here in the spring and summer to nest and in autumn and winter they fly south to warmer places to find food. Other birds, such as ducks, nest in the North in the spring and summer, and fly here for the winter. You can see thousands (up to 6-7 thousand) of birds on Lost Lagoon during the winter!
What kind of fish and turtles are in Lost Lagoon?
The turtles are generally red-eared sliders. These were common in pet stores (and are not native) and some people let them go in Lost Lagoon. Pet stores stopped carrying them in 1998 because they were found to carry Salmonella. Advise people not to try to pick them up as they may carry the disease. Native fish in Lost Lagoon include stickleback and sculpins; carp and catfish (brown bullheads) have been introduced.
What is that black and green duck on the lagoon?
It is a hybrid between a mallard and a domestic duck.
Where can I see the most wildlife?
A variety of wildlife can be seen around Lost Lagoon, but more can be seen around Beaver Lake. Animals like the red-winged blackbird, the great blue heron, and wood ducks can be seen in the daytime. At night, bats and owls are about.
Which trees are most commonly seen in the Park?
The common temperate rainforest trees you can find in Stanley Park are Douglas fir, western hemlock, western red cedar, big-leaf maple, and vine maple.
What is lichen?
Lichen is an organism made up of a symbiotic relationship between fungus and algae. In many cases the fungus and the algae, which together make lichen, are found separate. But many lichens include a fungus that is not found outside of its lichen form.
What is a nurse stump/log?
A nurse stump or log is a dead tree, which is used by other plants and animals. The dead wood has a lot of nutrients and seeds sprout quickly in the rotting wood. You can see them almost everywhere. Many of the big stumps left over from when the Park was logged now have other trees and bushes growing out of them. As the wood breaks down, the new plants root in the earth.
What is a wildlife tree?
A wildlife tree is any living or dead tree that provides habitat for animals. This includes most trees but some people do not realize that various creatures often use many dead trees. A good example can be seen on Tatlow Walk on the right side coming from the Lagoon. Remove these trees and one removes all of the critters that used it for food, water, shelter, nesting etc. etc.
How many times does a crab moult?
Crabs can moult up to 15 times in its life. Moulting is the precursor to the prolonged embrace of a male and female and the production of copious quantities of eggs.
Where can I get more information about the park wildlife and/or vegetation?
The best information can be obtained from the Lost Lagoon Nature House.
Tell me about nature walks in the Park.
Hosted by Lost Lagoon Nature House:
Discovery Walks (different each week)
Time/Place: every Sunday at 1 pm/Nature House
Rates: $5 ($3 for Members)
What does "skunk cabbage" (Dracontium foetidum) look like and what was it used for?
Mostly noticeable in March and April in almost every swampy or mucky place. They look like soft yellow sheaths when young and have a sickish smell when open. They have a large number of small greenish flowers. The leaves are the largest of any native plant. First Nations people used the large thick leaves to line steam cooking pits. The roots would be eaten in the Spring to prevent starvation. Black bears may eat all or part of the plants.
What does salal (Gaultheria shallon) look like and what was it used for?
The leaves are oval & evergreen. The flowers are white to pink, urn shape and 5-toothed on a on a loosely flowered stem. The stem is red, glandular and hairy. The fruit is berry-like, hairy and edible. First Nation people used to make syrup and dried cakes to eat in winter months.
What do the racoons, skunks and coyotes eat?
Racoons & skunks are omnivorous, eating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, insects and small birds and animals.
Coyotes are also omnivores, but are mostly meat eaters, hunting small mammals such as mice, voles and squirrels.
Where are the eagles's nest?
(See map inside the Nature House). One is near the junction of Cathedral Trail & Bridle Path Trail; the other is north of the Miniature Railway. Both are in large Douglas firs.
What kind of squirrels are there in the park?
The small reddish brown squirrel is the native Douglas squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii), most commonly seen in the more heavily wooded areas of the park.
The grey and black squirrel, often see in more open area, are the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)which were introduced to the park around 1909 from the New York City Parks Department (Central Park) as a gift to the city of Vancouver.
How can I tell a lesser scaup from a greater scaup?
A lesser scaup has a purplish gloss to its head and a small bump at the back - at the crown. The greater scaup has a greenish gloss to its head and a smoother head. The lesser scaup is more common on Lost Lagoon. The females are very similar in appearance.
What are the small black "ducks" with the white bills and distinctive bobbing movement as they swim?
These are American coots (Fulica americana), and are actually NOT ducks. They belong to the rail family, which include cranes and herons. On land, you can see that they have "chicken feet" instead of webbed feet.