Hayes River Uplands and Big Trout Lake is a region characterized by cool summers and very cold winters, predominantly featuring black spruce and jack pine forests, numerous lakes, and permafrost, with dominant land uses including wildlife trapping and tourism.
Zone
Forest
Common Name
Hayes River Upland and Big Trout Lake
CEC Level III Code
5.1.5
CEC Level II Code
5.1 Softwood Shield
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Hayes River Upland and Big Trout Lake |
| Geographic Range | This region extends from the area around Thompson, Manitoba, southeast to just north of Lake Nipigon in Ontario. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Hayes River Uplands and Big Trout Lake region experiences cool summers (mean 12°C) and very cold winters (mean -18.5°C), with mean annual precipitation ranging from 400 mm to 775 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The terrain is characterized by Canadian Shield uplands and lowlands featuring outcroppings and moraine covers, with permafrost found throughout the region. |
| Vegetation Cover | The vegetation is dominated by closed stands of black spruce and jack pine, with an understory of ericaceous shrubs, willow, and alder, and ground cover of mosses and lichens. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Hayes River Uplands and Big Trout Lake region is home to a variety of wildlife, including wolf, moose, black bear, woodland caribou, and numerous bird species like the spruce grouse and bald eagle. |
Eco snapshot
The vegetation is dominated by closed stands of black spruce and jack pine, with an understory of ericaceous shrubs, willow, and alder, and ground cover of mosses and lichens.
The Hayes River Uplands and Big Trout Lake region is home to a variety of wildlife, including wolf, moose, black bear, woodland caribou, and numerous bird species like the spruce grouse and bald eagle.
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 nectar/pollen; safe places to warm up and shelter | Keep last year’s stems/leaf litter until warmer weather settles; plan for early-blooming natives in a sunny spot |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting sites starting up | Plant or pot up early and mid-season natives; leave some bare/undisturbed ground; avoid all pesticides |
| Summer | Reliable nectar/pollen; water during dry spells | Add “bridge” blooms; provide a shallow water dish with stones; keep mowing minimal around flowering patches |
| Late summer/fall | Late-season nectar to fuel overwintering; seed/cover habitat | Plant late bloomers; let some plants go to seed; avoid fall “over-cleaning” |
| Winter | Shelter and protection for overwintering insects | Leave stems standing; keep leaf litter in place; avoid disturbing likely nesting areas |
Keystone plants
Mix early, mid, and late bloomers so pollinators always find food.
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early flowers that help pollinators as soon as conditions allow.
Summer bridge: dependable mid-season blooms that carry the peak activity period.
Fall finisher: late blooms that help pollinators fuel up 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.
