Great Horned Owl / Grand-Duc d'AmériqueGreat Horned Owl:

• is a very early nester, with egg laying and incubation underway well before the snow disappears
• makes little effort to construct nests or even to repair suitable existing ones
• does not move far from the area in which it was born
• may be seriously injured when attacking large-size prey

There are few rural residents, hunters, or vacationing city dwellers who have not either observed this magnificent bird in the woods or listened on a still evening to its legendary hooting—a soft yet vibrant whoo-hoo-ho-o-o.

Here are just a few of the mammals that can be found in the Rideau River Watershed...

RaccoonsRaccoon Facts

• Raccoons have adapted well to city life. While raccoon families can be fun to watch, they can also come into conflict with property owners and residents.
• Raccoons are found in urban, rural and wilderness areas in almost all parts of Ontario.
• As omnivores, raccoons feed on grubs, insects, small rodents and other small animals, eggs, fleshy fruits (like grapes), nuts and vegetables (like corn). They will also eat from garbage and composts.
• Raccoons breed from January to April; gestation is eight weeks, whelping season is March to June, litter size averages three to five young, which are mobile at seven to eight weeks old and are weaned by late summer. The cubs may stay with the mother over the winter. Occasional late births may occur in mid-summer.

Rideau Watershed: Threatened SpeciesSome of the species at risk identified in RVCA conservation lands are:

• Butternut tress,
• Blunt-lobed woodsia,
• Black ratsnake,
• Ribbon snake,
• Milksnake,
• Blandings turtle,
• Loggerhead Shrike,
• Black tern,
• Least bittern,
• Stinkpot turtle,
• Map turtle,
• Eastern wolf,
• Monarch butterfly, and
• Williamson Emerald (S3)