Great Bear Plains is a region extending from Great Slave Lake through to the Mackenzie Delta, characterized by short, cool summers and long, very cold winters, with predominant open, stunted stands of black spruce and tamarack, underlain by shale and limestone with extensive permafrost, and supporting wildlife like caribou, moose, and bear.
Zone
Prairie
Common Name
Great Bear Plains
CEC Level III Code
3.3.1
CEC Level II Code
3.3 Taiga Plains
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Great Bear Plains, CEC 3.3.1, Great Bear Plains ecoregion |
| Geographic Range | The Great Bear Plains region begins at the northwestern shores of Great Slave Lake and extends northwesterly through the Northwest Territories to the Mackenzie Delta. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Great Bear Plains climate is characterized by short, cool summers and long, very cold winters, with mean annual precipitation ranging between 200 and 300 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The terrain is generally below 350 meters above sea level, underlain by shale and limestone strata, and covered by undulating moraine and outwash deposits with extensive, discontinuous permafrost. |
| Vegetation Cover | The predominant vegetation consists of open, very stunted stands of black spruce and tamarack, with a ground cover of dwarf birch, willow, ericaceous shrubs, and moss, and low shrub tundra is also common. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Great Bear Plains are home to caribou, moose, grizzly and black bears, wolf, coyote, arctic and red fox, snowshoe hare, muskrat, and beaver, along with common birds like spruce grouse, raven, osprey, and waterfowl. |
Eco snapshot
The predominant vegetation consists of open, very stunted stands of black spruce and tamarack, with a ground cover of dwarf birch, willow, ericaceous shrubs, and moss, and low shrub tundra is also common.
The Great Bear Plains are home to caribou, moose, grizzly and black bears, wolf, coyote, arctic and red fox, snowshoe hare, muskrat, and beaver, along with common birds like spruce grouse, raven, osprey, and waterfowl.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter / early spring | Early food as soon as conditions allow; safe places to emerge | Protect early-blooming native patches; avoid spring pesticide use; leave some leaf litter and stems until warmer weather is established |
| Spring | A ramp-up of nectar/pollen; nesting sites | Plant or protect early bloomers; keep some bare, well-drained soil for ground nesters; add a small container planting if ground planting is difficult |
| Summer | Steady bloom; water; shade/shelter on hot/windy days | Maintain continuous flowers; provide a shallow water source with landing stones; avoid mowing/clearing all flowers at once |
| Late summer / fall | “Last chance” nectar/pollen; places to overwinter | Prioritize late-blooming natives; stop deadheading some plants so they can set seed; leave stems standing for cavity nesters |
| Winter | Undisturbed shelter | Don’t over-tidy: leave stems, seed heads, and some natural debris; plan next season’s bloom sequence |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: Early-blooming shrubs and low plants (often more reliable than seed alone).
Summer bridge: Mid-season wildflowers that thrive in sunny openings.
Fall finisher: Late bloomers (where they can mature) to extend food availability before winter.
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Alders are fast-growing trees in the genus Alnus that are especially useful in damp spots and along edges where you want quick cover and early-season pollen for insects.
Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.
Birches are graceful trees in the genus Betula, known for their often light-colored bark and early-season pollen and catkins that support springtime insects.
Blueberries and huckleberries (genus Vaccinium) are berry-producing shrubs with spring flowers that can support pollinators and later feed people and wildlife—great for gardens, schoolyards, and even large containers.
Clovers are small, easygoing plants in the genus Trifolium that can add nectar and pollen to gardens, lawns, and pots while helping cover bare soil.
Fireweed is a tough, fast-growing wildflower in the genus Chamerion that brings bright pink blooms and lots of pollinator activity to sunny, open spaces.
Fleabanes (genus Erigeron) are easygoing wildflowers with daisy-like blooms that can brighten gardens, schoolyards, and balcony pots while offering steady nectar and pollen for many small pollinators.
Goldenrods are tough, sunny wildflowers in the genus Solidago that light up late-season gardens with golden blooms and provide reliable nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading.
Kinnikinnick is a tough, low-growing evergreen groundcover in the genus Arctostaphylos (often called bearberry) that forms a tidy mat and offers small spring flowers followed by red berries.
Manzanitas are tough, beautiful western shrubs with urn-shaped flowers that can feed early-season pollinators and evergreen leaves that keep gardens looking good year-round.
Poplars, aspens, and cottonwoods (genus Populus) are fast-growing trees best known for their fluttering leaves and soft “cottony” seeds. They can support early-season pollinators with spring catkins, but they’re also big, thirsty, and often short-lived in small yards—so they’re best chosen with space and roots in mind.
Rushes are tough, grass-like wetland plants (genus Juncus) that thrive in damp soil and help create calm, sheltered habitat at the edges of ponds, rain gardens, and low spots.
Sedges (genus Carex) are grass-like plants that form tidy clumps and thrive in many garden conditions, especially where soil stays a bit damp. They add texture, cover bare ground, and can support small wildlife by providing shelter and nesting material.
Willowherbs (genus Epilobium) are easygoing wildflowers that pop up in sunny, open spots and offer simple, nectar-rich blooms that many small pollinators can use.
Willows are fast-growing trees and shrubs in the genus Salix that offer some of the earliest pollen and nectar of the year, making them a strong choice for pollinator-friendly yards, parks, and school grounds.
Yarrow is a tough, easygoing wildflower that brings long-lasting blooms and steady pollinator visits to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Many visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while also playing important roles in local food webs.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
Adults can help move pollen as they nectar at flowers, and their caterpillars are an important part of local food webs.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while feeding.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
