Pelicans to Polar Bears Book

A Few Tips About Watching Wildlife in Manitoba

(Text condensed from Pelicans to Polar Bears, by Catherine Senecal. 1999.  251pp.)

From the rugged Canadian Shield of the east - where forests abound with black bears and warblers - to the lush prairie mountains of the west, from the starkly beautiful landscape of the Hudson Bay coastline - home to beluga whales and caribou - to the grasslands of the south, Manitoba offers some of the most varied and accessible wildlife viewing in Canada.

Whether you choose to drive the province's highways, binoculars at hand, or fly over forest and marshland to reach secluded lakes, whether you paddle its scores of rivers or hike trails chosen from hundreds of options, you will find sites to suit your interests.

Spring brings more than a million birds through the province - hundreds of thousands of Canada and snow geese, an amazing array of warblers and remarkable congregations of hawks.

In summer you may find a solitary wolf ambling across a highway or a ringed seal bobbing its head up in a northern river estuary.

Fall is prime time to see and hear elk or see Churchill's world famous polar bears.

Winter offers the chance to ski past a bull moose or see a snowy owl fly silently over the prairie. These are only a few of the wildlife experiences described within.

The Art of Wildlife Viewing

Manitoba is rich with wildlife viewing opportunities, yet there are no guarantees when watching wildlife. Animals tend to avoid people and veteran wildlife watchers stress that success takes patience and determination. Understanding the habits of the animals you seek is a great beginning, but the best rewards come from looking in the right place at the right time in the right way.

What to Take

Wildlife watchers should be armed with Manitoba maps (highway, topographical and/or air photos depending on your destination), field guides, a detailed map for canoe routes or unmarked hiking trails and a compass or GPS device. Maps are available from the Land Information Centre (Map Sales outlet) in Winnipeg. Provincial park maps are available at Manitoba Natural Resources offices. Binoculars or spotting scopes are a great help. In summer, wear hats and light- weight clothing and bring water and sunscreen. In winter, wear lined boots, layers of clothing and effective head, face and hand coverings.

For More Information About...

• Where to watch wildlife in Manitoba, obtain "Pelicans to Polar Bears: watching wildlife in Manitoba", by Catherine Senecal.  Heartland Publications Inc., P.O. Box 103, RPO Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3M 3S7. This book is also available in most bookstores in Manitoba for approximately $10 (Cdn.).
• Wildlife, travel services, accommodation and more, call Travel Manitoba at 1-800-665-0040 ext. EW9.
• Provincial parks and natural areas, visit the Parks and Natural Areas website.
• National parks in Manitoba, call Parks Canada at 1-888-748-2928 or visit.
• Birding, natural history outings and programs visit the Manitoba Naturalists Society or telephone (204) 943-9029.
• Manitoba Wildlife Federation, call (204) 633-5967.
• Lodges and outfitters in Manitoba, visit the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters website.
• Canoe route maps, topographical maps and air photos are available from the Land Information Centre, Manitoba Natural Resources at (204) 945-6666. 

Available from Heartland Publications, Winnipeg, or most bookstores in Manitoba.