Here are a few examples of the many wildlife viewings that can be found at Northland Paradise Lodge and throughout the Temagami area at various times of the year. We encourage all of our guests to carry either a film format or digital camera (a tripod is optional) with them at all times. Subject matter can cover a wide range of sightings from animals as small as a mouse to those as big as a moose and as common as a beaver or as elusive as a timber wolf. Other interesting photos could be of insects, amphibians, bees & butterflies, songbirds, snakes, loons, birds of prey or perhaps a fish in a stream.

May I suggest that you try to compose your pictures with a minimal amount of unwanted background to ensure a clear and sharp image of the desired subject. Please include all relevant information such as your preferred subject title, descriptive text, time & date, location, and your name & address with your submissions. Only your first name and town (i.e. Moose in swamp, taken at 8:25 a.m., on July 15, 2004, Cassels Lake, by Bob from Toronto) will be posted on this site. Pictures for inclusion should be in a 300 X 225 pixel jpeg size with a quality rating of 75.

I will post all clear and identifiable pictures received from past and present guests of anything that is big or small and walks, flies or swims (in its natural environment). Unless otherwise noted, all pictures were taken by my wife and myself.

The Ring Neck Snake (Diadophus punctatus) is probably the most elusive of Ontario's snakes. A very small, pencil-thin snake at 8 to 10" in length and with both sexes being a flat grey in color, it can be very difficult to view. Neck rings vary from an off-white to light yellow (as seen here) and the underside varies from light yellow to light orange. It can be found under old logs and other decaying plant matter where it feeds mainly on slugs, mosquitoes and other small invertebrates. It is non-venomous and does not bite but is instantly capable of great speed when suddenly alarmed. August 6, 2010. Approx. 35 to 50 mm lens, 1/30 second at f 5.6, hand held.

One of our customers managed to get close enough to a blue heron this past summer of 2009 to get this awesome photo while they were trolling their fishing boat along the shoreline. Normally, a very wary bird, it is nearly impossible to take good quality photos of them. Karen K. was using her 6 meg Kodak Easy Share Z 612 at telephoto setting for this once in a lifetime shot.

This garter snake was seen enjoying the heat of the sun while sitting on top of a beaver house. Unafraid of me, I was able to maneuver around to get this photo before it slithered away into the grass. Returning back by the same beaver house an hour later, I noticed it was again sitting there soaking up more sunshine. August 7, 2009. Approx. 50 mm. lens, 1/250 second, f4, hand held.

Some of my family were here on a September vacation and snapped this photo of a cow moose standing along the tree line on Hwy. 11 south of town when they were returning to southern Ontario. As warm as the weather is in mid September, you can easily see the new growth of dark hair starting on her shoulders that will keep her warm and alive during -40 C temperatures in the coming winter. Photo taken on approx. September 17, 2008 by Bruce A., Kingsville, Ontario. Technical data not supplied.

They're gross, they're disgusting and they're just plain creepy! They're dock spiders. Everyone has seen them and possibly fell over themselves while attempting to avoid them. They are also harmless. With a span of up to 3 inches in both directions, they can easily be spotted living on, around and under docks and patios near the water, where they feed on small crawling and flying insects including dozens of mosquitoes all summer. August 30, 2008. Approx. 50 mm. lens, 1/500 second, f 5.6, hand held.

Almost invisible due to its camouflage coloring, this toad was observed in the dropped pine needles in the old growth forest. By moving very slowly, I was able to bring the camera close enough for this shot. Note the tiny suction cups that it has for "fingers" and used for gripping leaves and twigs. August 17, 2008. Approx. 28 to 50 mm lens, macro, f 8 at 1/125 second, hand held.

It's been a couple years since this female loon has successfully hatched a pair of chicks and now she proudly brings them around to show her new family to everyone. She will readily approach my boat to within a distance of 8 feet while she constantly assures the chicks that it is safe to do so. July 15, 2008. Approx. 50 to 75 mm. lens, f4, 1/250 sec., hand held.

A dragonfly emerges from its pupa cocoon and rests to dry. However, this was an unusually windy day and the tips of the wings (first to emerge) dried before the rest of the insect could leave the pupa casing. This doomed it from being able to fly, eat a countless number of black flies and procreate before dying at summer's end if it would have been able to emerge normally as thousands of other dragonflies had already done in the past few weeks. June 24, 2008. 28 mm macro lens, f 8, 1/250 sec., hand held.

The fisher is probably the most aggressive and determined carnivorous predator in the forest. Its body and tail are very close to the size of a red fox but it has much shorter legs and a less bushy tail. Extremely agile and "quick as lightning" in the water, on land or in the tree tops, there is nothing that can escape its capture once it decides what it wants for its next meal. A fisher has been known to chase a bear away from its freshly caught prey. One of the fisher's favorite meals is porcupine ... alive and still moving. Although the quills will stick into the fisher's skin, it is not affected by them and rarely will it ever swell up and turn red as expected of any other animal that messes with a porcupine. This photo was taken in February, 2008 when it was seen near a bait station for other fur bearing animals on my trapline. Technical data was not recorded.

I managed to snap just this one photo of a beaver with some fresh-cut birch twigs that he had gathered in the boat ramp. We had heard him a few minutes earlier and managed to sneak close enough (6 feet) to get this picture before he slapped the water with his tail when the flash went off and then disappeared. September 19, 2007. Approx. 80 mm lens, 1/125 second, f2.5, auto flash, hand held.

This photo was used as the cover photo for the autumn edition of the 2008 North Bay and Area Sideroads magazine

I photographed this male spruce grouse while riding some local ATV trails on September 15, 2007. These birds are much easier to approach than their cousins, the ruffed grouse. I was able to walk to within 10 or 12 feet of it before it seemed to care about my presence. Approx. 100 to 135 mm. lens, 1/125 second, f4, hand held.

This is one of countless monarch butterflies that were observed feeding on the sweet nectar of the purple bergamot flowers in the garden over the past few days. Although they are arriving several weeks ahead of their usual schedule, they are on their annual migration trip to Mexico for the winter. Could this be an indication of an early or long winter ahead? August 7, 2007. 200 mm. telephoto, 1/160 second, f4, hand held..

What species of moth or butterfly do you think this might become when it's an adult? I found this caterpillar recently and cannot put a name to it. It is about 2 1/2 to 3" long and was climbing along a limb on a jack pine tree. August 2, 2007. 50 mm., 1/200 second, f-8, hand held.

UPDATE: I've been told that this caterpillar will spend the winter in a cocoon before emerging as a Luna Moth next spring. It will grow to 6" (15 cm) wide and 5 to 6" long and the overall color is light green, similar to its sides right now. In the present stage, it feeds on birch leaves which were also growing beside the jack pine.

I seen this snapping turtle making its way across the parking lot in the rain. When the rain slowed enough to not endanger the camera, I got this pic before releasing it. Although it appears rather large in this photo, it was only a couple pounds. September 23, 2006.

It definitely pays to carry a camera at all times! On August 21, 2006, I had to run uptown for a few minutes and decided to take the camera. On the way back (a total distance of 1/2 km from the lodge), I snapped this picture of a bear that was eating grass on the side of the road. It also was aware of my presence but it chose to ignore me and I walked up to about 12 or 15 feet before squeezing off the shutter release. 1/500 second, hand held.

As common as garter snakes are across most of North America and also in the Temagami area, ones with this checkered pattern instead of the usual dark stripes are relatively rare. This picture was captured in the driveway on August 15, 2006.

This female hummingbird was seen sipping nectar in Marg's Bergamot flowers on August 1, 2006. Somewhat shy at first, it soon realized that I wasn't a danger and carried on its business with little regard to my presence. To completely stop any wing movement, this picture was taken at 1/2000 second at f4 and zoomed in with a 200 mm telephoto lens on a tripod.

This adult American Bald Eagle was perched in a tree along the shoreline of the lake when we rounded the point in the boat. It flew along the shoreline for approximately 500 yards (meters) before landing in this dead tree where I managed to get just this one picture before it took flight again and disappeared over the trees. In twenty years of lodge life, this is the first one I've ever seen in the Temagami area but it was easily recognized in flight by the white feathers on both its head and at the base of its tail. The bright yellow legs that were extended just before landing in the tree were another give-away. 200 mm telephoto lens, no tripod, July 29, 2006.

The "resident" pair of loons are back on the lake again this summer. The male, pictured here, will easily let a boat get close enough for pictures like this. July 13, 2006. Hand held at approx. 135 mm.

The female loon is just as easy to approach with a boat as the male is. July 13, 2006. Hand held at approx. 135 to 200 mm.

The evening light was fading fast and I had to use a less-than-preferred shutter speed to get enough light exposure for this picture of the male loon. The blur of the rapid wing movement is obvious but it's still a good shot. July 13, 2006. Hand held, approx. 135 mm at 1/100 second.

This is one of a half dozen turkey vultures that were sitting on a rock and scavenging the skeletal remains of some fish that I had cleaned earlier in the day. A large bird of approximately two feet in height and three feet in length, they are usually very timid and it is rare to approach one at this close range. When I returned an hour later, the birds were gone and there wasn't any indication that there had ever been any fish bones left at that location. This picture was taken with a 200 mm telephoto lens and without a tripod on June 27, 2006.

This young fox pup was the more curious of the three that I came upon while driving on a local gravel road. The parent(s) were not to be found but I'll assume they were not too far away. Shy, but inquisitive, he did pose long enough for this picture on June 3, 2006.

This pair of mallards, the drake following the hen, were seen scouting out a possible nest site in a marshy area. Springtime is the best time of year to see the drake in his finest mating plumage. Focusing entirely on the pursuit of the propagation of the species, they also appear to throw caution to the wind and can easily be photographed at this time of year at a much closer range than can be attained later on in the summer. Once the site is decided upon and the nest is built, the hen will be nearly impossible to distinguish from the background cattails that blend so well with her feathers. April 15, 2006.

We now have another animal in the woodshed looking for a free meal. This female mink has been spotted on different occasions either stealing the marten's food stash or sniffing around the firewood in search of mice. Since then, I've been leaving small chunks of meat for both the marten and mink to enjoy. A very timid animal, the mink was much more difficult to photograph but I finally managed to sneak this picture on December 18, 2005.

This female marten (sable) has taken up residence in our woodshed and has been hiding chunks of meat in the woodpile, presumably for consumption through the coming winter. I've never known these animals to "plan ahead" like this but I noticed her cutting the pieces of moose off the bones of one that I had cut and wrapped after a successful hunt and had temporarily left outside. She is a very inquisitive animal but fiercely protective of her food supply whenever I venture into the woodshed if she's there. This innocent looking picture was captured between snarls on November 27, 2005 when she was back in the woodshed for another meal.

Adult beaver swimming in its pond. The picture was taken in the late afternoon, giving the characteristic blue shine to its wet fur. October 29, 2005.

Adult male loon (Gavia immer) swimming near the docks in front of the lodge. 200 mm telephoto lens, with a tripod. July 30, 2005.

Adult male loon spreading his wings, possibly as a stretching exercise. This display is often seen just before it dives on a search for bait fish. 200 mm telephoto lens, no tripod. August 10, 2005.

Adult male loon doing his "water walking dance" just off our docks. 200 mm telephoto lens, no tripod. July 29, 2005.

A mother loon with her two new chicks swimming in the bay in front of the lodge. This particular loon is familiar with people in boats and isn't afraid when approached by them. July 10, 2005.

Bumble bee enjoying a sweet meal of nectar in Marg's Bergamot flowers. July 31, 2005.

A male smallmouth bass guarding his nest site, May 28, 2005. Notice the yellow mass of eggs on the rocks that the female came in and laid this morning.

Update: Monday, June 6, 2005. The eggs have hatched this morning and there are literally hundreds of tiny black minnows swimming in an invisible "stovepipe" straight up from the nest site. From watching bass nests in previous years, I can say that by tomorrow, they will be spreading out all along the shoreline in ever increasing distances and within 3 or 4 days, the male bass will abandon the young fry to fend on their own. Within a week, there will be very few of them seen along the docks as many will be eaten by predators such as perch and sunfish and the few remaining survivors will move into deeper waters.

Whitetail deer, crossing Hwy.11 near the hospital in New Liskeard. I think it was a doe. Taken on May 19, 2005.

Cow moose and yearling bull calf along Hwy. 11 near Marten River. Notice the typical brown face of the cow (sex identification characteristic) and the bare skin patches on the shoulders which are typical of all moose suffering from a heavy tic infestation. Moose will rub problem areas to ease the itching caused by the feeding tics but it wears the hair off and can cause severe hypothermia leading to frostbite and possibly, eventual death in winter months. This cow, although appearing malnourished, was fortunate to survive. In the spring, the tics will drop off, live in swamps and marshy areas for the summer then attach themselves to the legs of another moose in the late fall and spend the winter feeding on that host animal. Picture taken on May 2, 2005.

Female painted turtle laying eggs on the gravel shoulder of a local road. Taken on June 16, 2004.

Bull moose in roadside swampy area on Hwy.11 just south of town. Taken in spring, 2004.

Bull moose in marshy area on Hwy. 11 just north of North Bay. Note the early horn formation. Taken in spring, 2004.

Young male lynx, almost camouflaged, waiting for prey to appear. Taken in summer of 2003.

Male Pilleated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), in early spring, cutting a hole on the south (sunny & warm) side of a tree to access the resident carpenter ants for a meal. Ants will migrate into the root system of dead or dying trees for the winter (where it is warmer and has less temperature variations) before they go into a much reduced level of activity. In the spring, they begin to migrate back up the trunk again but stay on the south side of the tree where it is warmer, before taking up summer residency in the higher parts of the tree where woodpeckers will drill for them on all sides of the trees. With the arrival of warmer spring days, it is much easier for these birds to find nourishment. The smaller top hole is where he started to excavate for ants but soon realized they were a few inches lower. Woodpeckers have an amazingly acute sense of hearing and can listen to and locate ants feeding on wood fiber inside a tree from almost unbelievable distances of up to fifty feet (over 15 m). Hunters and hikers that become "directionally challenged" on an overcast day in the forest at any time of the year can look for both fresh and older signs of woodpecker activity at the base of trees (usually, but not always, cedar or spruce and almost certainly on the southerly warmer side) to assist themselves in finding their way back to familiar surroundings. I took this picture a few winters ago. And yes, I knew exactly where I was.

Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator), male, at the window birdfeeder. Taken a few winters ago.

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