Wildlife safety

Moose can be solitary and social animals.
Photo: Norbert Denis

The moose (Alces Americanus) is one of the animals that sparks the most interest. The male’s imposing stature and impressive antlers earned it the nickname “king of the forest.” It is the largest land mammal that lives in Forillon.

It was less present on the Forillon territory before the 1920s and at low density until the 1970s, but moose have increased in number since the park was created. Based on the data from the 2023 aerial survey, the park’s moose population is estimated at around 520 total, or 22 moose/10 km2.

With a little luck, some knowledge of their habits, some patience and a lot of caution, it is possible to see moose in the park. It is recommended that people maintain a minimum distance of 50 m from a moose.

Although relatively calm and mostly solitary, moose can be territorial and social during the mating season, mainly from mid-September to early October. Hikers in the park are advised to exercise more caution during this period.

Moose, like most ungulates, are generally peaceful.

Unlike black bears, their signals can be harder for humans to decode. Here are a few clues to help you “predict” their behaviour and know how to react.

A moose may show agitation or aggression during the mating season or in a vulnerable situation (in reaction to an attack, if cornered, disoriented, wounded or ill).

Humans can instinctively detect an aggressive moose. Head tilted forward, ears folded back, the moose will face what it sees as a threat, emitting guttural sounds or bellows, the hairs on its spine standing up, pawing with one of its front legs, ready to charge.

Moose are at home in the forest. Always show respect for the moose and its environment. Never approach a moose, never try to make it react, never call it by imitating its bellow and, above all, never attack it.

What to do if a moose charges at you:

• Stay calm.
• Do not run.
• Get behind a large tree or group of trees, without losing sight of the moose. The tree will protect you.
• Show the moose that you are not afraid by speaking loud. As soon as it recognizes that you are not a threat, it will leave.
• Wait until it gets to a safe distance (around 50 m) before turning back.
• Breathe, take a sip of water, regain your composure.
• Call someone who can reassure you.
• Call the Parks Canada emergency dispatch at 1-888-762-1422 to report the situation.

Moose are large herbivores, consuming 20 to 30 kg of vegetation per day.

Over the last two decades, the moose population in Forillon has grown exponentially, reaching densities that could threaten the park’s ecological integrity.

This is why we developed the Hyperabundant Moose Management Plan.

To learn more

White-tailed deer are three to four times smaller than moose.

The white-tailed deer is another type of deer that lives in the park. It is smaller and much more fearful of humans. If you are lucky enough to spot one, enjoy the moment by keeping a minimum distance of 50 m.

For more information, visit our page Moose - Maintaining forest balance

The black bear’s diet consists mainly of plants.
Photo: Mathieu Dupuis

Revered in some cultures, misunderstood in others, the black bear is a forest mammal that fears humans. It is also an opportunistic, powerful and solitary animal.

Endemic to Canada, the black bear is the only member of the ursid family to be found in Forillon. It is also the smallest.

The black bear population within the park is estimated at about 130 bears.

There are certain signs of black bears in the park. Attentive hikers might find an ant nest scraped from the surface, claw marks from the bottom to the top of a poplar, shreds of bark at the bottom of certain conifers such as cedars, or scat on parts of a trail.

The black bear’s diet consists almost exclusively of plants and fruit.

A better understanding of the black bear can help hikers overcome some of their fears when walking in the forest. Learn what to do in case you encounter a black bear.

For more information, visit our webpage Sharing the land with black bear

Counting black bears in Forillon is no easy task for our conservation team. Black bears hide in dens during the long winter months and are active the rest of the year in Forillon’s dense forest, avoiding contact with humans.

The installation of self-triggering surveillance cameras (hunting cameras) placed randomly around the territory has been a reliable solution for assessing the park’s bear population. Thanks to this technique, our team estimated that in 2020, Forillon was home to around 130 black bears.

The black bear population in both Forillon and Canada is healthy.

Black Bear (Canadian Wildlife Federation)

Eastern coyotes sometimes pass through forest trails.
Photo: Pierre Etcheverry

The eastern coyote is active year-round in Forillon; it does not migrate or hibernate.

Smaller than a wolf but bigger than a red fox, the eastern coyote is roughly the size of a German shepherd. Its fur varies from grey to red.

It feeds mainly on small mammals and berries. If the opportunity arises, it may attack a moose calf or fawn.

It is too early to assess the number of coyotes in the park and their biological profile. But we can assume that most are mixed with wolf genes.

In the early 20th century, coyotes interbred with wolves in Ontario and Quebec, and as they continued moving east, this genetic heritage survived. As a result, these hybridized coyotes tend to be larger and more social than their western ancestors. DNA sample analyses of coyotes in Eastern Canada have confirmed this hybridization between coyotes and wolves.

In Quebec, there have not been any wolves on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River since the early 20th century.

Coyotes can be heard barking or howling in the park from dusk onwards. These barks and other high-pitched, prolonged noises are striking. Although they seem to come from a large group, they are often just the cries of two or three coyotes, reverberated and amplified by the surrounding hills.

Campers in Petit-Gaspé sometimes confuse the vocalizations of harbour seals, also known as “wolf seals”, with coyote calls. In both cases, there is no need to worry: these are not signs of aggression, but rather the expression of gregarious, sociable animals.

If a coyote is more than 50 m away and going about its business, take the opportunity to admire the animal while exercising caution.

Coyotes are curious, intelligent and highly adaptable animals. Due to urban sprawl, some coyotes have adapted to live alongside humans. But coyotes are still wild animals, and it is important to be cautious around them. Do not approach a coyote. Above all, do not feed it.

If a coyote approaches you, remember to:

• Keep your dog on a leash.
• Stay together in a group.
• Resist the urge to run. Back away slowly.
• Make yourself as big as possible: wave your arms or a stick above your head.
• Make a lot of noise (shouting, hitting your hiking poles or tree branches, using a whistle or bell).
• Above all, do not throw food at it. (A coyote will see this as a reward and repeat the behaviour with another person.)

Our conservation team is currently evaluating options for determining coyote population density in the park.

Foxes accustomed to humans sometimes seem to pose for photographers.
Photo : Pierre Etcheverry (photo recadrée).

The red fox is another member of Forillon’s canid family. Smaller than the coyote, this cunning hunter explores the park’s forests and open areas in search of grouse, hares and other rodents. It is common to see them frolicking near roads or campsites.

While not a threat to humans, it can attack smaller pets. This is why keeping your pet on a leash when outdoors is important.

Suspicious by nature, the red fox quickly becomes accustomed to being around humans. They can take advantage of campers’ carelessness to steal their leftover food. That is why it is important to keep your campsite clean while you are away.

Because this beautiful animal is similar to dogs in size and behaviour, some people may want to feed it. But this seemingly small gesture is very harmful for both the fox and other park users. It is very important to not feed a fox, especially near roads. This exposes the animal to the risk of injury and death and compromises drivers’ safety. Violators can face heavy fines.

Coyote (Canadian Wildlife Federation)

Red Fox (Canadian Wildlife Federation) 

The Canada lynx is a charismatic feline... if you’re lucky enough to spot one!
Photo: Jean Francoeur

The only felid in the park, the Canada lynx is rather secretive.

If lucky enough to see one, an observant hiker can easily identify the feline by its thick, lightly spotted grey or brownish fur, large cushioned paws, pointed ears trimmed with black hairs and a short tail with a black tip.

The Canada lynx needs a large territory, preferably a dense, mature forest. This is why it is rare to see one. In the early 2000s, its population density was estimated at around 13 lynx per 100 km2 in the park.

Populations of the Canada lynx fluctuate with those of the snowshoe hare, its preferred prey. When the abundance of hares affects the growth of certain forest stands by grazing on young shoots and twigs, the lynx regulates these numerous rodents by hunting them. This predator therefore plays an important role in forest health.

Like most felines, the Canada lynx squeals, wails, spits and even purrs.

It is not typical for an exposed lynx to tolerate the presence of a human or to approach one. In such cases, hikers should exercise caution and report the situation to a park employee or the Parks Canada dispatch (1-888-762-1422).

Canada Lynx (Canadian Wildlife Federation) 

The coastal rocks are perfect resting spots for this mother harbour seal and her pup.
Photo: Serge Ouellet

Grey and harbour seals are distinguished by their size and head shape: the grey seal is larger than the harbour seal, and its head shape is closer to that of a horse. The harbour seal’s head is a little closer to that of a dog but without the ears.

They have a healthy population in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. There are over a thousand of each species in the waters around the Forillon peninsula. They feed mainly on fish and crustaceans.

When they gather in a haulout at the foot of a cliff in the park, seals can be very noisy. Their grunts, guttural yelps, howls—their “language”—are similar to those of wolves, hence their “sea wolves” nickname.

Campers in Petit-Gaspé can rest assured that the calls of these marine mammals are not signs of aggression, but those of gregarious, sociable animals.

Unless you go scuba diving or sea kayaking, interactions between humans and seals are quite rare in Forillon.

We recommend keeping a minimum distance of 100 m from a seal, whether in the water or on land.

From this distance, the animal will observe you, and if you get any closer, it will probably dive.

Important: In Canada, it is illegal to disturb a marine mammal. It is prohibited to:

• feed, swim with or interact with marine mammals,
• move a marine mammal (including attracting or forcing it to move),
• separate a marine mammal from its group or place yourself between it and its young,
• trap a marine mammal or group between a ship and shore, or between ships,
• tag or mark a marine mammal.

Seals can carry zoonoses, i.e., viruses or bacteria that can infect humans. Although the risk of contagion is low, it is strongly recommended to avoid approaching seal haulouts, the gathering places at the foot of certain cliffs. Visitors are invited to use the park’s accessible beaches.

Learn more about our beaches

Every five years, we count the number of seals in Forillon’s waters and coastline.

Watching marine wildlife (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

Best practices to adopt near seals (Baleine en direct)