The Hudson Plains ecological region is centered in northern Ontario and extends into northeastern
Manitoba and western Quebec. Wetlands cover 90 percent of this ecological region,
making it the largest wetland-dominated area of North America. In fact, this region contains the
longest stretch of shallow, emergent wetland shoreline on Earth. The population of 10,000 is
largely aboriginal. Hunting, fishing and trapping with some tourism are the major activities.
Biological setting
Vegetation types consist of tundra and transitional boreal forests. The poorly drained areas support
dense sedge/moss/lichen covers, and the less frequent and better-drained sites support
woodlands of black spruce and tamarack. The raised beaches present a striking pattern of successive
black spruce-covered ridges alternating with depressions, bogs and fens.
Characteristic mammals include woodland caribou, white-tailed deer, moose and black bear. The
ecological region is an important habitat for breeding waterfowl, particularly Canada geese.
Ducks common to this region include eiders, mergansers, scoters and black. The adjacent marine
environment includes harbor and ringed seals, as well as bowhead whales in the summer.