A large variety of wildlife choose to call The Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park home. Year-round mammals such as red squirrels, raccoon, groundhog, porcupine, skunk, and snowshoe hare live in the park and raise their families here. Other mammals such as white-tailed deer, moose, black bear, bobcat, lynx, and coyote can occasionally be spotted as they pass through the park.
We see anywhere from 35 to 50 different species of birds in the park annually. Many species of birds choose to live here all year. Blue jays, crows, barred owls, great blue heron, black capped chickadees and downy woodpeckers are a few of the many species that can be found in all seasons. In the late spring, our trails come alive with migratory warblers that choose to stop here to raise a family before continuing their journeys. In late summer, the Bay of Fundy becomes a critical staging ground for migratory shore birds such as semipalmated sandpipers who are refueling before they make their non-stop flight to South America. The Park has also been blessed with a pair of nesting peregrine falcons since the spring of 2009.
Our intertidal zones are teaming with life if you know what to look for. When the tide is at its lowest, guests can spot creatures such as the Atlantic rock crab, barnacles, sea snails, hermit crabs, and even sea anemones! Despite the chocolate-brown sediment in our water, many species of fish take advantage of the rich nutrients that our tides provide. Tommy cod, Skate fish, American eel, striped bass, raven fish, and squid lurk just below the surface. Harbour seals and porpoises can often be seen following the tides as they search for an opportunistic meal.