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The Parks / Ontario / St. Lawrence Islands National Park

Animal life differs from mainland to island because only animals that do not hibernate in winter can cross the ice to reach the islands - squirrels, mice and some shrews are in this group. Larger animals such as fox, deer, porcupine and even coyote make their home on the largest park islands, each island having its own particular mix of species depending on its size, vegetation and human use. The number of black rat snakes has declined because much of their traditional habitat has disappeared.

Fencing in the dens where they hibernate allows the park officials to monitor their population. Efforts are also made on behalf of the common tern that was losing its nesting sites to gulls that have been inclined to take over the few suitable sites before the terns arrive. Since the gull is much bigger and tends to swoop before landing, a network of fishline has proven a successful deterrent for the gull but not for the smaller tern. Records are also kept of the frog, the marshbird and the songbird populations.