This was on the North side of the St.John river with respect to Fredericton. Yoho lies on the South side. As always pay attention to burn times, and camp fires.

Did you know that the ruby throated humming birds have been known to migrate over 4000 km from Alaska to Central America ?

Did you know bats have wings made of folds of skin stretched between elongated fingerbones and the body ?

Did you know an average-sized Canadian bat, the little brown bat Myotis lucifugus, weighs about 8 g in summer (the mass of two nickels and a dime) and has a wingspan of about 22 cm ?

Did you know the black bear has flexible lips and a long manipulative tongue that help it to gather tiny food items such as blueberries and ants ?

Mini Factoid: The red fox is not always red.

Mini Factoid: The beaver is the largest rodent in North America.

Did you know the chipmunk spends up to three months collecting the large quantities of seeds it needs to survive the winter ?

Mini Factoid: The Eastern Grey Squirrel finds buried nuts by using its highly developed sense of smell, rather than by memory.

Mini Factoid: The moose is the largest member of the deer family—it can weigh up to 800 kg.

Mini Factoid: The raccoon will consume practically any food item, plant or animal.

Did you know the muskrat is so named because it produces a yellowish, musky-smelling substance that it deposits along travel routes, probably as a means of communication ?

Mini Factoid: The porcupine is born with soft, barbless quills that harden and can be erected within hours of birth.

Mini Factoid: The coyote is one of the few mammals whose range is increasing, despite extensive persecution by people.

Mini Factoid: The white-tailed deer is well-known for the habit of flipping its tail up over its back, revealing the tail’s white underside and white buttocks.

Mini Factoid: The snowshoe hare has a brown coat in summer and a white coat in winter.

Mini Factoid: The cougar is the second largest cat in the Americas.

Did you Know the striped skunk can spray a bad-smelling musky odour as far as 6 m as a defence ?

Mini Factoid: The woodchuck is also known as a groundhog.

Mini Factoid: Red-bellied Snakes do not lay eggs. Females have 3 to 12 young in late summer, born alive. The young start life at 7 to 10 cm long, and grow to 20 to 30 cm as adults.

Mini Factoid: Garters are excellent swimmers too, moving over the surface of the water with an undulating motion. Some people call them water snakes. They eat a variety of small animals such as salamanders, fishes, frogs, worms and mice.

Min Factoid: The snapper is our biggest freshwater turtle, up to 35 cm shell length.

Snappers only come out on land in late June and early July to dig a nest and lay eggs. Leave them alone.

Mini Factoid: The Bullfrog is a large frog attaining lengths in excess of 6 inches.

Did you know the Red-backed Salamander along with all salamanders within the family Plethodontidae are lungless ? Nearly all of their respiration takes place through cutaneous gas exchange. This means that they breathe through their skin.

Did you know Wood Frogs are found from Alaska through much of Canada where winters are very severe. They survive by being able to withstand being frozen down to -5°C (23°F) or lower. They do this by increasing the amount of glucose stored in their cell fluids. The high concentration acts as antifreeze, lowering the freeze point.

section two- main page

Lake Stewardship: An Attitude

The term stewardship refers to an understanding that what we do on land and in the water affects the lake. It is a recognition that the lakes are vulnerable and that we must individually and collectively assume responsibility for their care.

What Can an Individual do ?

• Don't let your house intrude upon the lake. Locate new buildings to preserve natural vegetation between the house and the lake. This helps filter sediments and nutrients out of the surface runoff.
• Don't put a road or a wide path down to the lake. Curve any path you do build. Consider a wooden stairway rather than a path or road.
• If you want a sandy beach for swimming, buy a lot with a natural beach rather than dumping fill and sand into the lake.
• Avoid water front structures that require much tree clearing, excavating, or filling.
• Think twice before putting in a lawn. Maintain a wide buffer zone of natural vegetation as possible between the lawn and the water's edge.
• Avoid pesticide, herbicides and fertilizers.
• Don't burn brush or leaves on a slope from which the ashes can wash into the lake.

Source: Yoho Echo by Carol Cunningham

Source: Excerpts from a Citizen's Guide to Lake Protection

Yoho Lake Scout Reserve

The Yoho Lake Scout Reserve 280 ha (692 acres) is located approximately 15 Km South West of Fredericton, off highway 640. Driving from Fredericton, take the Hanwell Road. Just past the swamp at 15km you are at the reserve. At exactly 20 Km from the old Trans Canada highway bypass you will see the Yoho Lake Road on your left. The Yoho Lake Scout Camp's main Lodge is located on the access road just past the Yoho Lake Road. It is about 1 km in.

Forest Trail

This trail starts just north of the Yoho Lake Scout Campsites. Take the trail on the right hand side. It curves down and round to the Yoho Lake road and Yoho Lake. This is one of the longer scout trails and bypasses old haul logging roads and snowmobile trails. The one on the Right can be used to get back to the Scout Campsite. For more information on the Nature Trail and the species and bio-diversity found along the trails please refer to the Yoho Lake Scout Reserve Nature Trails Guide.

Yoho Scout Private "Walking" Trails > Outline Part 1

Yoho Scout Private "Walking" Trails > Outline Part 2

Maple Ridge Trail

This trail starts just north of the Yoho Lake Scout Campsites. Take the trail on the left hand side. It curves down and round past the Interpretation Center and back to the Scout Campsites. For more information on the Nature Trail and the species and bio-diversity found along the trails please refer to the Yoho Lake Scout Reserve Nature Trails Guide.

Yoho Scout Private "Walking" Trails > Outline Part 1

Yoho Scout Private "Walking" Trails > Outline Part 2

Loon Watch Trail South

This trail starts where the Forest Trail meets the Yoho Lake Road. Across the road, the Loon Trail follows the lake shore line and heads north to the Scout Lodge, where it become the Loon Watch Trail West. For more information on the Nature Trail and the species and bio-diversity found along the trails please refer to the Yoho Lake Scout Reserve Nature Trails Guide.

Loon Watch Trail West

This trail starts just south of the Yoho Scout Lodge. Take the trail to the right and follow the shoreline west. Taking a Left instead takes you along the Loon Watch Trail South. For more information on the Nature Trail and the species and bio-diversity found along the trails please refer to the Yoho Lake Scout Reserve Nature Trails Guide.

Yoho Scout Private "Walking" Trails > Outline Part 1

Yoho Scout Private "Walking" Trails > Outline Part 2

Michael Meade Trail

The Michael Meade Trail and Campsites are located on the first left access road off the Yoho Lake Road. There is the Yoho Scout Interpretation centre just before the Scout campsites.

Yoho Scout Private "Walking" Trails > Outline Part 1

Yoho Scout Private "Walking" Trails > Outline Part 2

Bird Watching Challenge

Source: Yoho Echo by Cathy MacLaggan

Can you spot some new species for the Yoho Bird List ? If you do let me know. To get started all you need are binoculars and a bird identification book (e.g. A Field Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies by Roger Tory Perterson).

Partial List of common birds sighted at Yoho Lake:

Partial Bird List
American Bittern	Herring Gull	Eastern Wood-Pewee	Solitary Vireo
* Black-Capped Chickadee	* Ring-Billed Gull	* Northern Raven	White-Eyed Vireo
Double-Crested Cormorant		Common Redpoll	Bay-Breasted Warbler
White Winged Crossbill	Common NightHawk	American Redstart	Blackburnian Warbler
* American Crow	Broad-Winged Buteo Hawk	American Robin	Black-Throated Green Warbler
* Brown Creeper	* Sharp-Shinned Hawk	Spotted Sandpiper	Black-Throated Blue Warbler
Ring-Necked Duck	Great-Blue Heron	Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker	Chestnut-Sided Warbler
Dovekie	Ruby-Throated Hummingbird	Spotted Scaup
Mourning Dove	* Blue Jay	* Pine Sisken	Black and White Warbler
Black Duck	* Grey Jay	Common Snipe	Canada Warbler
Wood Duck	* Northern Junco	Song Sparrow	Cape May Warbler
Bald Eagle	* Slate-Coloured Junco	White-Crowned Sparrow	Magnolia Warbler
* Purple Finch	American Kestrel	White-Throated Sparrow	Nashville Warbler
* American Goldfinch	Eastern Kingbird		Northern Parula Warbler
Northern Flicker	Belted Kingfisher	* European Starling	Yellow Warbler
Alder Flycatcher	* Golden-Crowned Kinglet	Barn Swallow	Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Great-Crested Flycatcher	Common Loon	Tree Swallow	Northern Waterthrush
Least Flycatcher	Purple Martin	Scarlet Tanager	American Woodcock
Olive-Sided Flycatcher	American Merganser	Common Tern	* Downy Woodpecker
Canada Goose	Hooded Merganser	Hermit Thrush	* Hairy Woodpecker
Common Grackle	Red-Breasted Merganser	Swainson's Thrush	* Pileated Woodpecker
Horned Grebe	* Red-Breasted Nuthatch	Wood Thrush	Cedar Waxwing
* Evening Grosbeak	White-Breasted Nuthatch	Veery	Winter Wren
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak	Osprey	Red-Eyed Vireo	Common Yellowthroat
* Ruffed Grouse	Ovenbird	Philadelphia Vireo
Greater Black-Backed Gull	Great Horned Owl	Blue-headed Vireo

Note: Year-round residents are noted with a *, the other birds are found here during the summer months while nesting, but migrate to the warmer climates in the winter.

Loon Calls

Loons nest from early May to mid July. During this time, nesting and rearing of the young can be unsuccessful if nests are washed away by waves (e.g. from boats, Seadoo's) or if the loons are disturbed. The chicks are particularly vulnerable until they learn to dive and avoid "trouble". We can help ensure the loons remain on the lake by leaving their nesting areas undisturbed, especially during the early weeks of summer.

Summer Hummers

Ruby Throated humming birds arrive in New Brunswick between May 18 to May 21. They usually leave by the third week of September. Feeders should be placed in a sunny location. Don't worry about the birds staying too late in the season due to feeders - the birds urge to migrate will win every time. For feeder nectar, start with 1/4 cup of white sugar to 1 cup of water, and increase the amount of nectar as hummer activity increases. The solution should be boiled, then cooled before filling the feeder. An extra batch can be kept in the fridge for a short time. It is important to keep the feeder clean.

Did you know that the ruby throated humming birds have been known to migrate over 4000 km from Alaska to Central America. A few years ago, I witnessed a hummer flying across the middle of the bay of Fundy - amazing !. In New Brunswick, the Ruby Throated is by far the most common species of humming bird, but in 1933, a Rufous humming bird was discovered visiting Grad Manan. This was the first recorded sighting in New Brunswick. Have fun watching these feisty little devils!

Note: For a larger bird check list please refer to the Yoho Scout Reserve Nature Trails Guide . There are reportedly over 88 distinct species of birds noted in the area.

Mammal Watching Challenge

Source: HinterLandWhosWho

Mammals include humans.

Mammals are warm-blooded animals that have mammary glands and a four-chambered heart. They give birth to live young (as opposed to laying eggs) and are either partially or completely covered in hair.

The teeth of most mammals come in a variety of shapes and sizes designed for chewing many kinds of foods. (Humans, for example, have incisors for cutting, molars for crushing, etc.)

Plus, mammals have larger brains than other vertebrates of equal size, making them most capable learners. Which is why you were able to read that last fascinating fact.

Partial List of Mammals sighted at Yoho Lake:

Mammal List
Little Brown Bat	Porcupine
Beaver	Marten
Black Bear	Moose
Cougar
Eastern Chipmunk	Muskrat
Eastern Coyote	Racoon
White-tailed Deer	Eastern Gray Squirrel
Red Fox	Striped Skunk
Snowshoe Hare (rabbit)	Woodchuck

Source: Yoho Scout Reserve Nature Trails Guide .

Reptile Watching Challenge

Source: HinterLandWhosWho

If somebody asks you what the difference between an amphibian and a reptile is, here’s what you can tell them:

Amphibians and reptiles are “ectotherms." This means that they don’t generate their own body heat—instead, they get their body heat from their surroundings. They’re also both vertebrates, meaning they have a spine or backbone. But that’s where the similarities end.

In Canada, reptiles lay their eggs on land, whereas many amphibians lay theirs in water. (Not all amphibians and reptiles lay eggs, though; a large number of species give birth to live young.)

The skin of most amphibians is not waterproof like reptile skin. And although most amphibians have lungs, the majority can also breathe through their skin and the lining of their mouth, whereas most reptiles do not.

And here’s one more bit of information before you explore this section: The word “amphibian” means “two lives,” referring to the change that many frogs and salamanders undergo from tadpole to adult form.

Partial List of Reptiles sighted at Yoho Lake:

Reptile List
Northern Red-bellied Snake
Maritime Garter Snake
Eastern Smooth Green Snake
Northern Ringneck Snake
Northern Ribbon Snake

Source: Yoho Scout Reserve Nature Trails Guide .

Amphibian Watching Challenge

Partial List of Amphibians sighted at Yoho Lake:

Amphibian List
Blue-Spotted Salamander	American Bullfrog
Yellow-Spotted Salamander	Wood Frog
Red -Spotted Newt	Wood Turtle
Eastern Redback Salamander	Blanding's Turtle
Eastern American Toad	Snapping Turtle
Green Frog	Eastern Painted Turtle
Pickeral Frog

Source: Yoho Scout Reserve Nature Trails Guide .

Fish Watching Challenge

Partial List of Fish sighted at Yoho Lake:

Fish List
American Eel	Golden Shiner
Banded Killifish	Landlocked Salmon
Blacknosed Dace	Pearl Dace
Blacknose Shiner	PumpkinSeed Sunfish
Brook Trout	Redbreasted Sunfish
Brown Trout , Brown Trout	Smallmouthed Bass , Smallmouthed Bass
Brown Bullhead	White Sucker, White Sucker
Common Shiner	Yellow Pirch , Yellow Pirch

Note: the following are species at risk is some provinces.

Banded Killifish Newfoundland population is protected under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). More information about SARA, including how it protects individual species, is available in the Species at Risk Act: A Guide.

Commonly Asked Questions and Questions of Interest.

Source: speciesatrisk.gc.ca and dnr.cornell.edu

Tree Naming Challenge

Partial List of Trees:

Tree List
Acer saccharum Marsh. (sugar maple)	Prunus nigra Ait. (Canada plum)
Alnus serrulata (Ait.) Willd. (hazel alder)	Prunus serotina Ehrh. (black cherry)
Betula cordifolia Regel (mountain paper birch)	Quercus macrocarpa Michx. (bur oak)
Betula glandulosa Michx. (dwarf birch)	Salix nigra Marsh. (black willow)
Cephalanthus occidentalis L. (button bush)	Taxus canadensis Marsh. (Canada yew)
Cornus alternifolia L.f. (alternate-leaf dogwood)	Thuya occidentalis L. (eastern white-cedar)
Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. (American beech)	Tilia americana L. (American basswood)
Fraxinus americana L. (white ash)	Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. (eastern hemlock)
Fraxinus nigra Marsh. (black ash)	Ulmus americana L. (American elm)
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. (red ash)	Viburnum edule (Michx.) Raf. (squashberry)
Hamamelis virginiana L. (witch-hazel)
Juglans cinerea L. (butternut)
Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch (ironwood)
Picea rubens Sarg. (red spruce)
Pinus resinosa Ait. (red pine)

Source: CFS (Canadian Forest Service).

Shrub Naming Challenge

To be written.

For wild flowering:

• Trees
• Shrubs
• Sub-Shrubs
• Woody Vines

Wild Flower Naming Challenge

To be written.

For more information on wild plants, please visit Ontario Wildflowers website.

Insect Naming Challenge

To be written.

Insects are the most diversified living organisms in forests, but they are nevertheless likely to go unnoticed. More than 35,000 insect species have been recorded to date in Canada, and it is predicted that an equal number of species remain to be identified.

Insects of Eastern Canada 's Forests can be found here.

Diseases of Eastern Canada 's Forests can be found here.

Insects in Aquatic Ecosystems, a Harvey High School (HHS) Student Project.

Edible Wild Plants

Partial List of Edible Wild Plants:

• Be sure of your identification of the wild edible plant BEFORE you eat it! Some wild edible plants have very poisonous look-alikes.
• You may be allergic to some wild edible plants. If you are at all unsure if you will be allergic to a particular plant, eat just a little bit at first.
• *YOU* are 100% responsible for properly identifying and properly preparing wild edible plants that you eat.

Edible Wild Plants List
Blueberry (fruit)	Wild Carrot (roots)
Garlic Mustard (green plant)	Wild Garlic (whole plant)
Gooseberries (fruits)	Wild Leeks (whole plant)
Indian Cucumber Root (tubers)	Agave Root (root)
Jerusalem Artichoke (tubers)	Wild Edible Fungi
Mayapple (fruit)
Nettles (young whole plant) (& cordage)
Ostrich Fern (fiddleheads) (young plants)
Trout Lily (tubers)

Source: WildwoodSurvival.

Poisonous Wild Plants

Partial List of Poisonous Wild Plants:

Poisonous Wild Plant List
Baneberry, Red (Actaea rubra)	- Berries are poisonous.
Hemlock, Bulb-bearing Water (Cicuta bulbifera)	- *DEADLY POISONOUS*
Hemlock, Water (Cicuta maculata)	- *DEADLY POISONOUS*
Ivy, Poison (Toxicodendron radicans)	- Poisonous to touch.
Milkweed, Common (Asclepias syriaca)	- The milky sap is poisonous.
Sumac, Poison (Toxicodendron vernix)	- Poisonous to touch.

Source: OntarioWildflowers

Species at Risk

Source: Environment Canada

Which species are at risk in Canada?

According to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, there are currently 487 plant and animal species at risk in Canada. The Whooping Crane, the North Atlantic right whale, the monarch and the blue ash are just a few examples. Another 13 species are already extinct.

A good source is the Environment Canada Species at Risk Web site. It addresses some of the following questions:

• How do we know that these species are at risk?

• Why do some species become at risk in Canada?

• What is Canada doing to recover and protect its species?

• What can we do individually to help species at risk?

Everyone can help these species by doing simple and concrete things on a daily basis.