Who Lives in the Fraser?
Over 100 different species can be found in the Fraser estuary alone! Explore the image below and to see if you can find 11 species living within this habitat. When you’re done exploring, click the Protect button in the menu to the right to return to the map.
Bigleaf maple
Acer macrophyllum
You know me by my huge maple leaves and ‘helicopter seeds’ – that’s right, I’m a bigleaf maple tree! Not only am I the biggest maple tree in Canada, but I’m also a very important part of estuary habitats. I provide food and shelter for many other plants and animals, such as bats, birds, and mosses
Brown-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
I am a wildflower called brown-eyed Susan. Look at how bright and cheerful my colours are! I prefer drier soil, so you can find me growing in areas around the Fraser River when water levels are low. I provide food and shelter for birds, bees, and other pollinators.
Bumble bee
Bombus
Bzz, bzz. I am a bumble bee! I love to visit places with lots of different flowers, so I can drink a variety of nectar. Brown-eyed Susan happens to be one of my favourites! Nectar gives me the energy to do a very important job: helping plants grow by pollinating them.
Freshwater mollusks
Mollusca
We are a group of animals that include clams, mussels, and snails. Even though we are small, we are a very important part of estuary habitats. We provide food for other animals and help to keep the water clean from rotting things
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
I am a great blue heron. My long legs, curved neck, and dagger-like bill help me stalk fish, and catch them with lightning speed! Even though I look really big, I only weigh as much as a 2L bottle of pop. Why? Because my bones are hollow!
Little brown bat
Myotis lucifugus
I am a little brown bat. Some people fear me, but I think it’s because they haven’t had a chance to get to know me! Like my name suggests, I am very small and only weigh as much as two quarters. At night, I work hard to keep bug populations in check by eating them. In the daytime, I roost in trees, caves, or buildings.
Pacific chorus frog
Pseudacris regilla
Ribbit, ribbit. I am a Pacific chorus frog, also known as a Pacific treefrog. I may be small, but you can hear me day and night, and I’m especially loud around sunset. I can even change the colour of my skin, depending on how hot and bright my environment is!
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Check out my beautiful colours! I am a rainbow trout. You can recognize me from the red stripes on my sides, and the speckles that cover my entire body. Most of the time I like to live in freshwater, but sometimes, I can migrate into saltwater! Can you think of another fish that does this?
River otter
Lontra canadensis
I am a river otter. I am very playful and an excellent swimmer! Sometimes, I can be found sliding in the mud or snow, or playing in the water. Beware: even though I am very cute, I have razor sharp teeth and claws to help me catch slippery prey, like fish.
sturgeon
Acipenser transmontanus
I am a white sturgeon. Even though I kind of look like a shark, and I can grow up to 3m long and weigh over 180kg, I’m not as scary as I seem. In fact, I have no teeth! Instead, I use my whisker-like feelers (barbels) to find food and my toothless mouth to slurp it up.
Western Sandpiper
Calidris mauri
Jeet, jeet! I am a western sandpiper. You’ve probably seen me foraging for shrimp and insects on the mudflats at low tide. My long, thin bill has a slightly curved tip that helps me to slurp up these tasty treats
An estuary is where fresh water from a river meets salt water from the ocean. This special place provides important habitats for many different plants and animals.
