Wildlife of
New Brunswick

The dominant Acadian mixed-forest biome, combining temperate hardwoods (e.g., sugar maple, yellow birch, American beech) with conifers (e.g., red spruce, hemlock, balsam fir), plus extensive managed and regenerating forest landscapes.

Widespread across most lowlands and uplands; the primary terrestrial biome province-wide.

Cooler, more conifer-dominated forests (spruce-fir, with some birch) and near-boreal communities in northern New Brunswick and higher elevations (e.g., portions of the Highlands).

Most prominent in the north and in higher-elevation interiors; patchy to regionally extensive.

Large river networks (Saint John River system, Miramichi, Restigouche) with associated floodplains, lakes, streams, and coldwater habitats supporting migratory fish and diverse riparian communities.

Linear and basin-wide throughout the province; strongest presence along major valleys and watersheds.

Peatlands (bogs, fens), forested wetlands, marshes, and Fundy/Gulf coastal salt marshes; important for water storage, carbon, and migratory birds.

Scattered province-wide; concentrated in low-lying areas, along river floodplains, and in coastal zones.

Highly dynamic coastal and nearshore marine systems of the Bay of Fundy (strong currents and tidal flats), plus the Gulf of St. Lawrence/Northumberland Strait shorelines and adjacent shelf waters supporting rich benthic and pelagic productivity.

Along the entire coastline; especially influential in the Bay of Fundy region.

Very limited high-elevation, cold-climate vegetation and subalpine conditions on the highest peaks (e.g., around Mount Carleton), transitioning from boreal forest to stunted spruce-fir and open, wind-exposed communities.

Tiny, highly localized areas at the highest elevations; not a broad provincial biome.

Extensive Acadian forest matrix covering most of the province; includes natural stands, secondary growth, and managed forestry landscapes.

Hardwood-rich stands (maple-birch-beech) most common in warmer/lowland sites and fertile river valleys (notably parts of the Saint John River basin).

Spruce-fir and mixed conifer stands more common in northern areas, higher elevations, and cooler/wetter sites; includes balsam fir, red/black spruce, cedar pockets.

Open-canopy mixedwoods and edge habitats created by natural disturbance and forestry; often important for browse, songbirds, and early-successional species.

Early-successional shrub communities on disturbed sites, powerline corridors, regenerating cuts, and some coastal barrens; often blueberry/ericaceous shrubs in poorer soils.

New Brunswick Highlands and interior uplands (e.g., Mount Carleton area) with cooler climates, steep slopes, and headwater streams.

River gorge and coastal rock exposures (including Fundy-area cliffs) providing nesting/roosting sites and specialized plant niches.

Major systems including the Saint John, Miramichi, and Restigouche with important salmonid habitat, riparian forests, and floodplain dynamics.

Numerous natural and reservoir lakes/large waterbodies (e.g., Grand Lake, headwater lakes in the Highlands) supporting fish, waterfowl, and shoreline wetlands.

Small ponds, beaver ponds, and kettle/impoundment waters common across forested landscapes; important amphibian breeding habitat.

Province-wide mix of peatlands, forested wetlands, floodplain wetlands, and coastal salt marshes; critical for water quality and biodiversity.

Peat-accumulating bogs with sphagnum, ericaceous shrubs, and stunted conifers; common in low-lying and poorly drained areas.

Freshwater marshes on floodplains and lake margins, plus coastal salt marshes (notably in Fundy and Gulf settings) that support shorebirds and waterfowl.

Forested wetlands (e.g., cedar, spruce, or hardwood swamps) in lowlands and along slow-moving waters; often high in structural complexity.

Estuarine zones where rivers meet the sea (e.g., Saint John River estuary area) with brackish habitats, mudflats, and high productivity.

Coastline spanning the Bay of Fundy and Gulf/Northumberland Strait, including tidal flats, coastal wetlands, dunes in places, and nearshore habitats.

Sandy and gravel beaches particularly along the Gulf of St. Lawrence/Northumberland Strait side; important for coastal recreation and shorebird use.

Common along Bay of Fundy coasts with bedrock platforms, boulder fields, and tidepools shaped by extreme tidal range and strong wave/current energy.

Adjacent shelf waters beyond the immediate coastline (especially connected to the Scotian Shelf/Bay of Fundy systems) supporting pelagic food webs.

Benthic habitats including mud, sand, gravel, and rocky substrates in bays and on the nearby continental shelf; important for invertebrates and groundfish.

Farmland concentrated in river valleys and certain lowlands (notably the Saint John River valley), creating a patchwork of fields, hedgerows, and drainage features.

Urban habitats around centers such as Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton, including riverfront development and port/industrial shorelines.

Expanding low-density residential and mixed-use areas around major cities and towns, often interfacing directly with forest and wetland edges.