Expeditions

C-Vert + : bike ride to the Montreal Ecomuseum!

20 novembre 2011

November 20th, was the second bicycle outing for all CV+ participants.

 

Can you name this wild animal that we saw? It’s a little far away… so don’t underestimate its size… and now picture a herd of over 620 000 individuals in northern Québec.

 

 

Despite the fact that it was a Sunday, that the rain was falling and the wing was blowing hard, three brave souls pedaled some 25km westward on the island of Montréal to reach the Écomuseum in St-Anne-De-Bellevue.

 

It was an epic journey; the wind blew hard, especially as we came to the great St-Laurence River. It was neat to be able to smell the river before we actually came to it. Khuram and Alexandra were with me, and I have to say, it wasn’t the easiest biking conditions, and it was tough. But we did it!

 

The rain cooled us down and tickled our faces as we cruised through the many towns located along the river. We stopped for lunch and to warm up at a café in Beaconsfield before we continued on to St-Ann’s.

 

 

We came to McGill’s agricultural Campus, said hi to the ecological beehives they have, and crossed the highways to get into the forests where the Écomuseum is located.

 

The Montréal Écomuseum is a wildlife park, where they give injured native Québec animals a home, and share them with the public. WOW it was really impressive to be exposed to so many rare wild animals in such a short period of time, and to witness the glory of diversity of our native fauna. We saw (amongst others…) a Golden Eagle, Flying Squirrels, a Fisher, an Arctic Fox, a Rat Snake, Catfish, Rough Skinned Newt, Wolves, Coyotes, White Tailed Deer, and a Porcupine… can you guess who these two animals are?

 

This mysterious bird actually flies down from the far north during the winter into the Montréal area. That’s pretty good camouflage she’s wearing…

 

Doesn’t this creature look like a dinosaur? Just so you know, the neck we see here is at least 25 cm long. It is presently in a hunting position…

 

I’d like to thank my legs, my bicycle and the bravery of Khuram and Alexandra who pedaled an impressive distance through the rain and wind!

 

Steve Leckman

Animateur C-Vert+

 

Click here for more photos of amazing animals at the Écomuseum- try to guess who is who!

 

(The first picture is a woodland Caribou, then a Snowy Owl and a Snapping Turtle).


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