Jump to content

Shubenacadie Wildlife Park: Difference between revisions

Edit links
Coordinates: 45°05′37″N 63°23′35″W / 45.0936208°N 63.393184°W / 45.0936208; -63.393184
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→Animals: rm dated and out of date statement
 
(41 intermediate revisions by 25 users not shown)
Line 10: Line 10:
|coordinates = {{Coord|45.0936208|-63.393184|type:landmark_scale:2500|display=it}}
|coordinates = {{Coord|45.0936208|-63.393184|type:landmark_scale:2500|display=it}}
|area = {{Convert|40|ha|abbr=on}}<ref name="zoo_main"/>
|area = {{Convert|40|ha|abbr=on}}<ref name="zoo_main"/>
|num_species =
|num_species =53
|num_animals =
|num_animals =123
|largest_tank_vol =
|largest_tank_vol =
|total_tank_vol =
|total_tank_vol =
Line 17: Line 17:
|members =
|members =
|exhibits =
|exhibits =
|website = {{URL|http://wildlifepark.gov.ns.ca/}}
|website = {{URL|http://wildlifepark.novascotia.ca/}}
}}
}}
The '''Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park''' is part of Nova Scotia's Provincial Park System. It is a wildlife park in [[Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia|Shubenacadie]], [[Nova Scotia]], Canada. The {{Convert|40|ha|sing=on}} park includes animals, an interpretive centre, hiking trails, a picnic area and playground.
The '''Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park''' is a government-operated wildlife park located in [[Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia|Shubenacadie]], [[Nova Scotia]], Canada. The 40-hectare park includes animals, an interpretive nature centre operated by [[Ducks Unlimited Canada]], hiking trails, a picnic area and playground.


==History==
==History==


The park began in the late 1940s as a refuge for orphaned white-tailed deer run by Eldon Pace. By the early 1950s there was so much interest from the public that the park officially opened in 1954. Mr. Pace was the superintendent of the park until 1988. Over the decades the Park has expanded and developed into one of Nova Scotia's most popular tourist sites. Throughout the park's history countless orphaned and injured animals, birds and reptiles have been cared for and rehabilitated. From the beginning, the Park has been educating visitors about wildlife and environmental issues with thousands of school children participating in onsite education programming.
The park began in the late 1940s as a refuge for orphaned white-tailed deer run by Eldon Pace. By the early 1950s, there was so much interest from the public that the park officially opened in 1954. Mr. Pace was the superintendent of the park until 1988.


Over the decades the park has expanded and developed into one of Nova Scotia's most popular tourist sites. Throughout the park's history countless orphaned and injured animals, birds and reptiles have been cared for and rehabilitated. From the beginning, the park has been educating visitors about wildlife and environmental issues with thousands of school children participating in onsite education programming.
⚫
Between 2003 and 2008 the park was regulated as a game sanctuary under the Wildlife Act (R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 504).<ref name="wildlife_sanctuary"/> In 2008 the regulations were changed to officially designate the park as a Wildlife Park under the act.<ref name="wildlife_park"/>

⚫
Between 2003 and 2008 the park was regulated as a game sanctuary under the Wildlife Act (R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 504).<ref name="wildlife_sanctuary"/> In 2008 the regulations were changed to officially designate the park as a wildlife park under the act.<ref name="wildlife_park"/>

The park is open 9 am to 6:30 pm seven days a week between May 15th and October 15th, and 9 am to 3 pm weekends only between October 16th and May 14th.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About your visit |url=https://wildlifepark.novascotia.ca/find_us.asp#hours |access-date=4 Sep 2023 |website=Shubenacadie Wildlife Park}}</ref>


==Animals==
==Animals==
[[File:Sable Island Horses.jpg|thumb|left|Sable Island Horses at the [[Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia|Shubenacadie]] Wildlife Park]]
The park is home to about 90 species of mammals and birds including [[Arctic wolf]], [[Dall sheep]], [[Indian Peafowl|Indian peafowl]], [[Sable Island pony]], [[moose]], [[American black bear|black bear]], [[Great Horned Owl|great horned owl]], [[coyote]], [[red fox]], [[white-tailed deer]], [[groundhog|woodchuck]], [[beaver]], [[Turkey Vulture|turkey vulture]], [[Peregrine Falcon|peregrine falcon]], [[Red-tailed Hawk|red tailed hawk]], [[Bald Eagle|bald eagle]], [[raccoon]], [[porcupine]], [[grey wolf]], [[cougar]], [[snowshoe hare]], and [[Eurasian Magpie|European magpie]].<ref name="zoo_animals"/>
The park is home to over 50 species of mammals and birds, many of which have permanent injuries or cannot be released into the wild.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Our Animals |url=https://wildlifepark.novascotia.ca/animals/ |access-date=4 Sep 2023 |website=Shubenacadie Wildlife Park}}</ref>

The full list of mammal species displayed at the park includes the [[Dall sheep]], [[Bighorn sheep]], [[Goat|Goats]], [[Moose]], [[Elk]], [[Red deer]], [[White-tailed deer]], [[Eastern coyote|Eastern coyotes]], [[Wolf|Wolves]], [[Red fox|Red foxes]], [[American marten|American martens]], [[American mink]], [[Fisher (animal)|Fisher]], [[North American river otter|North American river otters]], [[Striped skunk]], [[North American beaver|North American beavers]], [[Groundhog|Groundhogs]], [[Patagonian mara]], [[Porcupine]], [[Snowshoe hare]], [[Bobcat|Bobcats]], [[Cougar]], [[Eurasian lynx]], [[American black bear|American black bears]], and the [[Raccoon|Raccoons]].<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Our Mammals |url=https://wildlifepark.novascotia.ca/animals/our-mammals.asp |access-date=4 Sep 2023 |website=Shubenacadie Wildlife Park}}</ref>

The full list of birds displayed at the park includes the [[American kestrel|American kestrels]], [[Bald eagle|Bald eagles]], [[American barn owl|Barn owl]], [[Barred owl|Barred owls]], [[Black vulture|Black vultures]], [[Great horned owl|Great horned owls]], [[Peregrine falcon|Peregrine falcons]], [[Red-tailed hawk|Red-tailed hawks]], [[Turkey vulture|Turkey vultures]], [[Emu]], [[Common raven]], [[Reeves's pheasant|Reeves's pheasants]], [[Himalayan monal|Himalayan monals]], [[Swinhoe's pheasant]], [[Cheer pheasant]], [[Lady Amherst's pheasant]], [[Golden pheasant|Golden pheasants]], [[Silver pheasant|Silver pheasants]], [[Mikado pheasant|Mikado pheasants]], [[Helmeted guineafowl]], and [[Mrs. Hume's pheasant]].<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Our Birds |url=https://wildlifepark.novascotia.ca/animals/our-birds.asp |access-date=4 Sep 2023 |website=Shubenacadie Wildlife Park}}</ref>

Additionally, the park also has several captive waterfowl, including [[Barnacle goose|Barnacle geese]], [[Black swan|Black swans]], [[Cackling goose|Cackling geese]], [[Canada goose|Canada geese]], [[Mute swan|Mute swans]], and [[American Pekin|American Pekins]]. Due to the worldwide outbreak of [[Avian influenza]], these birds, along with the [[Peafowl]], have been temporarily taken off display.

Shubenacadie Wildlife Park was formerly home to the only [[Sable Island horse|Sable Island horses]] in captivity, until they died in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davie |first=Emma |date=3 Oct 2019 |title=The last Sable Island horse in captivity has died |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/last-sable-island-horse-in-captivity-has-died-1.5306607 |access-date=4 Sep 2023}}</ref>


==Shubenacadie Sam==
==Shubenacadie Sam==
[[File:SubenacadieSammakesprediction2024crop.jpg|thumb|left|[[Shubenacadie Sam]] and mascot make the winter prediction, 2024]]
The Wildlife Park is home to [[Shubenacadie Sam]], the first groundhog in North America to make a prediction on [[Groundhog Day]] thanks to Nova Scotia's [[Atlantic Time Zone]]. The [[groundhog]]'s prediction happens at 8 am in a public ceremony that draws several hundred people to the park every year since 1987 and is now broadcast on Facebook and Twitter.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Shubenacadie Sam |url=https://wildlifepark.novascotia.ca/shubie-sam.asp |access-date=4 Sep 2023 |website=Shubenacadie Wildlife Park}}</ref>


A local author named Doretta Groenendyk released a book about Shubenacadie Sam titled "Groundhog Night" in September 2022, which tells a story about Sam visiting the animals in the park and preparing for his appearance on Groundhog Day.<ref>[https://miramichireader.ca/2022/12/groundhog-night-shubenacadie-sams-shadow-by-doretta-groenendyk/ Carrie Stanton, "Review: Groundhog Night: Shubenacadie Sam’s Shadow by Doretta Groenendyk", ''Miramichi Reader'', December 15, 2022]</ref> The story is also displayed on signs around the park, for visitors to read as they visit the animal enclosures.
The Wildlife Park is home to [[Shubenacadie Sam]], one of the first groundhogs in North America to predict the weather for the upcoming year. Each February 2 at sunrise Sam leaves his house and checks for his shadow. This fun event always attracts a large crowd eager to see what the spring holds in store for us.


==Greenwing Legacy Centre==
==Greenwing Legacy Centre==


The Shubenacadie Wildlife Park is also home to the Greenwing Legacy Centre. This collaboration between Ducks Unlimited Canada and The Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park opened in 2006. Follow the yellow duck prints to discover the wonder of wetlands! The centre is home to many interactive displays about the importance of wetlands, as well as live wetland critters and a gift shop.
The Shubenacadie Wildlife Park is home to the Greenwing Legacy Centre, a collaboration project between Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry. The centre offers educational programming and interactive activities such as bird-watching, as well as a gift shop, and it maintains and operates the St. Andrew's Marsh Trail and several other wetland walking trails.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Wetland Centre |url=https://wildlifepark.novascotia.ca/wetland-centre.asp |access-date=4 Sep 2023 |website=Shubenacadie Wildlife Park}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 50: Line 65:
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


<!--
<ref name="zoo_animals">
<ref name="zoo_animals">
{{cite web
{{cite web
|url=http://wildlifepark.gov.ns.ca/animals/index.asp
|url = http://wildlifepark.gov.ns.ca/animals/index.asp
|title=The Animals
|title = The Animals
|work=gov.ns.ca
|work = gov.ns.ca
|publisher=Nova Scotia Natural Resources
|publisher = Nova Scotia Natural Resources
|accessdate=6 May 2012
|accessdate = 6 May 2012
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120506112831/http://wildlifepark.gov.ns.ca/animals/index.asp
|archivedate = 6 May 2012
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
-->


<ref name="wildlife_sanctuary">
<ref name="wildlife_sanctuary">
Line 80: Line 100:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Official website|http://wildlifepark.gov.ns.ca/}}
*{{Official website|http://wildlifepark.novascotia.ca/}}


{{Zoos of Nova Scotia}}
{{Zoos of Nova Scotia}}



[[Category:Zoos in Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Zoos in Nova Scotia]]

Latest revision as of 18:37, 18 November 2024

Shubenacadie Wildlife Park
Map
45°05′37″N 63°23′35″W / 45.0936208°N 63.393184°W / 45.0936208; -63.393184
Date opened1954
LocationShubenacadie, Nova Scotia, Canada
Land area40 ha (99 acres)[1]
No. of animals123
No. of species53
Websitewildlifepark.novascotia.ca

The Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park is a government-operated wildlife park located in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, Canada. The 40-hectare park includes animals, an interpretive nature centre operated by Ducks Unlimited Canada, hiking trails, a picnic area and playground.

History

[edit]

The park began in the late 1940s as a refuge for orphaned white-tailed deer run by Eldon Pace. By the early 1950s, there was so much interest from the public that the park officially opened in 1954. Mr. Pace was the superintendent of the park until 1988.

Over the decades the park has expanded and developed into one of Nova Scotia's most popular tourist sites. Throughout the park's history countless orphaned and injured animals, birds and reptiles have been cared for and rehabilitated. From the beginning, the park has been educating visitors about wildlife and environmental issues with thousands of school children participating in onsite education programming.

Between 2003 and 2008 the park was regulated as a game sanctuary under the Wildlife Act (R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 504).[2] In 2008 the regulations were changed to officially designate the park as a wildlife park under the act.[3]

The park is open 9 am to 6:30 pm seven days a week between May 15th and October 15th, and 9 am to 3 pm weekends only between October 16th and May 14th.[4]

Animals

[edit]
Sable Island Horses at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park

The park is home to over 50 species of mammals and birds, many of which have permanent injuries or cannot be released into the wild.[5]

The full list of mammal species displayed at the park includes the Dall sheep, Bighorn sheep, Goats, Moose, Elk, Red deer, White-tailed deer, Eastern coyotes, Wolves, Red foxes, American martens, American mink, Fisher, North American river otters, Striped skunk, North American beavers, Groundhogs, Patagonian mara, Porcupine, Snowshoe hare, Bobcats, Cougar, Eurasian lynx, American black bears, and the Raccoons.[6]

The full list of birds displayed at the park includes the American kestrels, Bald eagles, Barn owl, Barred owls, Black vultures, Great horned owls, Peregrine falcons, Red-tailed hawks, Turkey vultures, Emu, Common raven, Reeves's pheasants, Himalayan monals, Swinhoe's pheasant, Cheer pheasant, Lady Amherst's pheasant, Golden pheasants, Silver pheasants, Mikado pheasants, Helmeted guineafowl, and Mrs. Hume's pheasant.[7]

Additionally, the park also has several captive waterfowl, including Barnacle geese, Black swans, Cackling geese, Canada geese, Mute swans, and American Pekins. Due to the worldwide outbreak of Avian influenza, these birds, along with the Peafowl, have been temporarily taken off display.

Shubenacadie Wildlife Park was formerly home to the only Sable Island horses in captivity, until they died in 2019.[8]

Shubenacadie Sam

[edit]
Shubenacadie Sam and mascot make the winter prediction, 2024

The Wildlife Park is home to Shubenacadie Sam, the first groundhog in North America to make a prediction on Groundhog Day thanks to Nova Scotia's Atlantic Time Zone. The groundhog's prediction happens at 8 am in a public ceremony that draws several hundred people to the park every year since 1987 and is now broadcast on Facebook and Twitter.[9]

A local author named Doretta Groenendyk released a book about Shubenacadie Sam titled "Groundhog Night" in September 2022, which tells a story about Sam visiting the animals in the park and preparing for his appearance on Groundhog Day.[10] The story is also displayed on signs around the park, for visitors to read as they visit the animal enclosures.

Greenwing Legacy Centre

[edit]

The Shubenacadie Wildlife Park is home to the Greenwing Legacy Centre, a collaboration project between Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry. The centre offers educational programming and interactive activities such as bird-watching, as well as a gift shop, and it maintains and operates the St. Andrew's Marsh Trail and several other wetland walking trails.[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park". gov.ns.ca. Nova Scotia Natural Resources. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  2. ^ "Shubenacadie Game Sanctuary Regulations, NS Reg 129/77". canlii.org. Canadian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Shubenacadie Wildlife Park Designation". gov.ns.ca. Government of Nova Scotia. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  4. ^ "About your visit". Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. Retrieved 4 Sep 2023.
  5. ^ "Our Animals". Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. Retrieved 4 Sep 2023.
  6. ^ "Our Mammals". Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. Retrieved 4 Sep 2023.
  7. ^ "Our Birds". Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. Retrieved 4 Sep 2023.
  8. ^ Davie, Emma (3 Oct 2019). "The last Sable Island horse in captivity has died". CBC. Retrieved 4 Sep 2023.
  9. ^ "Shubenacadie Sam". Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. Retrieved 4 Sep 2023.
  10. ^ Carrie Stanton, "Review: Groundhog Night: Shubenacadie Sam’s Shadow by Doretta Groenendyk", Miramichi Reader, December 15, 2022
  11. ^ "Wetland Centre". Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. Retrieved 4 Sep 2023.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Shubenacadie_Wildlife_Park&oldid=1258205494"