Îles de Contrecoeur National Wildlife Area
Description | Management | Map of the Area | Summary Table | Contact Information
Îles de Contrecoeur National Wildlife Area, American Wigeon © Benoît Audet, Environment Canada
Description
The Îles-de-Contrecoeur National Wildlife Area (NWA) is made up of 22 small and low-lying islands surrounded by marshes and seagrasses distributed along a 10-km stretch of the St. Lawrence River 35 km northeast of Montréal. Established in 1981 by Environment Canada, its purpose is to conserve a remarkable network of emergent and submerged seagrass beds and islands with high nesting potential for waterfowl in the Montréal region.
With its landscape of grassy plains, the wildlife area is dotted by low-lying alluvial islands, many of which become fully submerged during the spring freshet. Exposed to seasonal variations in water levels in the St. Lawrence, these islands are covered mainly by high grasses and, in some cases, a few trees such as willow, Silver Maple and Red Ash. Reed Canarygrass, which is popular among waterfowl for nesting, covers entire islands in places.
Swathes of swampland populated with cattail, arrowhead and submerged water-milfoil beds lie around the islands, linking them together and providing food to thousands of ducklings, adult ducks and other water birds during breeding and migration. The wildlife area is home to more than 205 plant species, as well as 78 bird and 12 mammal species. A number of species at risk, including the Short-eared Owl, are also observed here on occasion.
These islands are the largest nesting site in Quebec for the Gadwall and nearly a dozen other dabbling duck species, including Northern Pintail, American Wigeon and Mallard. Other species observed in the NWA include American Bittern, Virginia Rail, Marsh Wren, Wilson's Phalarope, Red-winged Blackbird, Swamp Sparrow, and Yellow Warbler. The archipelago additionally supports an impressive colony of approximately 13 000 pairs of Ring-billed Gulls. With respect to mammals, the muskrat is a common sight in the Contrecoeur islands. Striped Skunks, raccoons and Red Foxes are also observed, along with shrews, voles and bats.
The wildlife area is exposed to a number of threats and management challenges, including disturbance due to unauthorized activities on the islands, the presence of invasive alien species like Common Reed and Purple Loosestrife, the discharge of heavy metals into the St. Lawrence, and accidental spills.
More information on Îles de Contrecoeur NWAis provided in the summary table below.
Management
National Wildlife Areas (NWAs) are protected and managed according to the Wildlife Area Regulations under the Canada Wildlife Act. The primary purpose of NWAs is the protection and conservation of wildlife and their habitat. For this purpose, and according to the legislation, Environment Canada can prohibit all activities in a NWAthat could interfere with the conservation of wildlife. Consequently, most NWAs are not accessible to the public and all activities are prohibited. Nonetheless, Environment Canada has the ability to authorize some activities, whether through public notice or the issuance of permits, as long as these are consistent with the management plan goals for the NWA. For more information, consult the NWAs Management and Activities section.
Due to the fragility of wildlife species and island environments, access to the Îles-de-Contrecoeur NWA is generally prohibited except under the authority of a permit issued by the Minister, such as for waterfall hunting in the fall.
In addition, permits may be issued for research activities in keeping with the priorities set out in the management plan for the wildlife area. Permits may also be issued for other conservation activities such as surveys, or the enhancement or restoration of habitat.
Priority will be given to collaborative activities with local agencies and organizations to promote the protection and the conservation of wildlife species and their habitat in the NWA. For example, initiatives could be launched or continued with the following entities: universities or research centers to address gaps in scientific knowledge; the province to implement recovery measures for species at risk (particularly those falling under provincial jurisdiction); or non-governmental organizations or municipal authorities to build public awareness of the wildlife area's objectives.
More information on access and permitting for Îles de Contrecoeur NWA can be obtained by contacting the Environment Canada regional office.
Map of Îles de Contrecoeur National Wildlife Area
Summary Table for the Îles de ContrecoeurNWA
| Protected Area designation | National Wildlife Area |
| Province/territory | Québec |
| Latitude/longitude | 45°22’N 73°15’O |
| Size in hectares (ha) | 312 ha |
| Reason for Creation of protected area | Protection of a remarkable network of emergent and submerged seagrass beds and islands with high nesting potential for waterfowl in the Montréal region. |
| Date created (Gazetted) | 1978 – Legal description |
| International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Management Category | Ia – Strict Nature Reserve: protected area managed mainly for scientific purpose or to protect wildlife ressources.
|
| Additional designations | |
| Keystone or flagship species | Gadwall, Ring-billed Gulls, Wilson's Phalarope |
| Listed Species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) | A number of species at risk in Canada frequent the site on occasion, including the Short-eared Owl, Barn Swallow and Caspian Tern. |
| Main habitat type | Wetlands: Emergent grasses and shallow marshes. |
| Faunistic and floristic importance | Important site for migratory birds, particularly waterfowl, in the Montréal region. |
| Invasive species | Flowering Rush, Common Reed, and Purple Loosestrife. Zebra and Quagga mussels live in the surrounding waters. |
| Additional links | Birds: Northern Pintail, Mallard, Virginia Rail, Marsh Wren, Red-winged Blackbird, and Yellow Warbler. Mammals: Muskrat, Striped Skunk, Raccoon, Red Fox, Shrew, Vole, and Bat. |
| Main threats and challenges | Disturbance due to unauthorized activities, the presence of invasive alien species, island erosion, the discharge of heavy metals into the St. Lawrence, and accidental spills. |
| Management Agency | Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service) |
| Public access and usage | Access prohibited except for waterfowl hunting during the fall. |
Note: If there is a discrepancy between the information presented on this web page and any notice posted at the NWA site, the notice prevails as it is the legal instrument authorizing the activity.
Environment Canada – Quebec Region
Canadian Wildlife Service
Ecosystem Conservation
801-1550, avenue d’Estimauville
Québec, Québec
G1J 0C3
Toll Free: 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only)
Email: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca
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