Wildlife of
Prince Edward Island

Acadian (maritime temperate) forest mosaic: mixed conifer-hardwood stands, woodlots, regenerating second-growth, and riparian forests shaped by a cool, humid, coastal climate.

Inland and upland areas across the island; substantial but fragmented due to agriculture and settlement.

Small rivers and streams draining to estuaries, plus ponds, small lakes, and impoundments; cool-water systems with riparian corridors and wetlands at stream mouths.

Widespread but mostly small in area; concentrated in drainage networks and lowland basins.

Freshwater wetlands (marshes, shrub wetlands, bogs) and coastal salt marshes associated with barrier systems and estuaries; key for water filtration and bird habitat.

Patchy but common along low-lying coasts and in poorly drained inland depressions.

Nearshore and shelf waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence/Northumberland Strait: eelgrass meadows, sandy and muddy seabeds, tidal inlets, and productive coastal food webs supporting seabirds, fish, and invertebrates.

Surrounds the entire province; dominant by area when including adjacent coastal waters.

Second-growth mixed woodlots and larger forest blocks typical of the Acadian region; important for songbirds and deer.

Hardwood patches (e.g., maple, birch, poplar) on well-drained sites and in mixed stands, often in regenerating areas.

Conifer and mixed-conifer stands (e.g., spruce, fir, pine) on cooler or poorer soils; includes plantation-influenced areas in places.

Hedgerows, shelterbelts, and small woodlots embedded in farmland, providing connectivity for wildlife across agricultural landscapes.

Old fields, hayfields, and semi-natural meadow-like areas that can support grassland birds where managed appropriately.

Coastal scrub and early-successional shrub communities on dunes, bluffs, and abandoned fields.

A mix of inland freshwater wetlands and coastal wetlands, often forming complexes with ponds, streams, and estuaries.

Salt marshes in sheltered bays and estuaries and freshwater marshes around ponds/slow streams; key for waterfowl and shorebirds.

Peat-forming wetlands in poorly drained areas; acidic, nutrient-poor habitats with specialized plants.

Short rivers/streams flowing to estuaries; habitat quality closely tied to riparian buffers and land use in watersheds.

Numerous small ponds (natural and human-made) used by amphibians and waterfowl; often connected to wetlands.

Small lakes and larger ponds/reservoir-like waterbodies (limited in number/size compared with mainland provinces).

Drowned river mouths and tidal inlets (notably around Charlottetown and many bays), mixing fresh and salt water; vital nursery habitat.

Highly indented coastline with bays, spits, and dunes; strong land-sea coupling and storm-driven shoreline dynamics.

Sandy barrier beaches and dune-backed shores used by shorebirds; sensitive to erosion and human disturbance.

Localized rocky or cobble sections and eroding bluffs, especially where glacial deposits and bedrock are exposed.

Predominantly sandy/muddy substrates in nearshore and straits, with benthic invertebrate communities supporting fish and seabirds.

Coastal waters immediately offshore (more sheltered than Atlantic-facing coasts), supporting pelagic and nearshore species.

Extensive cropland and pasture (notably potato rotation systems) shaping habitat fragmentation, runoff dynamics, and field-edge ecology.

Built-up centers (e.g., Charlottetown, Summerside) with modified shorelines and fragmented green space.

Low-density residential areas around towns with mixed lawns, woodlots, and coastal development pressure.