Landlocked stocks found in all land regions 
 

Landlocked found in lakes in Que, NB, Nfld.

Early May (spring): adults and smolt begin seaward migration. Landlocked charr often migrate to lakes at this time. 

July/August: migration from the sea to the freshwater. Arctic charr do not remain at sea over the winter. 

Fall: migrate to preferred spawning grounds (spawning occurs around first ice formation).

Predators: fish-eating birds, adult charr, seals, otters and bears. 

Fishing

Fall (Oct/Nov): migrate to freshwater spawning grounds.

Predators: otter, mink and fish-eating birds.

Diet: 
Young parr feed on small larvae of aquatic insects. 
Older parr feed on mayfly larvae, stonefly larvae, aquatic annelids and molluscs. Little or no food is consumed during spawning migration. 

At sea, feed on herring, lance, alewife, smelt, capelin, small mackerel, small haddock and crustaceans (euphausids, amphipods decapods) 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Spring/Early Summer: Begins to migrate to their natal stream which continues until early autumn. 

Fall (Oct/Nov): migrate to spawning areas.

Predators: fish-eating birds and sharks. 

Fishing

Fraser River Lowlands 

Mistastin Lake Shoreline 

Western Plateau

Introduced to many parts of United States, New Zealand, South America, Sweden

Diet: Freshwater sponges, crustacean eggs, small mammals, aquatic and terrestrial insects, smaller fish

Autumn: before spawning, adults migrate to shallow rocky areas. 

Early spring: migration to surface waters immediately after ice break-up. 

Late Spring/ 
Summer: migration to deeper waters.

Fishing

Labrador coast: Nain Bay to Strait of Belle Isle. 
Two subspecies exist.

Diet: In salt water, feed on copepods, isopods, euphasids and other small invertebrates. 
In freshwater, feed on small fishes, fish eggs and invertebrates (i.e. worms, aquatic insects and larvae).

Diet: 
Aquatic insects, small crustaceans, fish eggs, fry and larvae of other ninespines. 
 

Diet: 
Bottom feeding benthic invertebrates, (mayfly larvae and small molluscs), and eggs of other fishes, including lake trout.

Diet: 
Anadromous populations feed on amphipods, euphauid shrimp, capelin, sand lance, young sculpins. 

Arctic charr do not feed during the winter.

July/August: migration from the sea to the freshwater. Arctic charr do not remain at sea over the winter. 

Fall: migrate to preferred spawning grounds (spawning occurs around first ice formation).

Fishing

Sea populations feed on smelt, eels, small sea ravens, amphipods and isopods.

Fall (Oct/Nov): migrate to freshwater spawning grounds.

Fishing

At sea, feed on herring, lance, alewife smelt, capelin, small mackerel, small haddock and crustaceans euphausids, amphipods, decapods. 

Fall (Oct/Nov): migrate to spawning areas.

Fishing

Diet: copepods, mysids, amphipods, snails, small clams, small crab, and sea worms.

Coastal 

Offshore

Population shifts southwards (as far as Florida) and offshore in winter. 

Mate in winter. One calf born early December following year. Females can reproduce every 18 months from age three

Hunting

Offshore

Never abundant

Feeds on fish, squid, seabirds, marine mammals.

One calf born every second year.

Offshore

Feed on capelin, krill, sand lance, and squid.

Move to southern hemisphere in fall for the winter.

Mate in April - May. One calf born July - August in the following year. Reproduce every three years.

Predation by killer whales 

Hunting

Offshore

Breed mid-April. Calves born mid-July of the following year.

Predation by killer whales 
 

Also feeds on shrimp and squid.

Winter: coastal waters south to Cape Cod

Offshore

Feeds on cod, herring, capelin, squid, octopus and bottom crustacea.

Winter: migrates offshore near ice. 
 

Offshore

Feeds on herring, pollock, mackerel, hake, squid and crustacea. 
 
 

June/August: mating season 

March/July: calving season

Predation by killer whales

Offshore

Form large whelping herds early March and again in mid-April to mid-May for moulting. 

Breed in March. Young are born following February-March. Disperse into two herds mid-late March. Disperse again after moult. Follow pack ice north after moult.

Predation by killer whales

Offshore

Breed in March. Pups born on offshore ice following March. 
Whelp in large herds on pack ice mid-March to early April. 

Disperse after mating and migrate to Greenland.

Hunting

Feeds on herring, crab, flatfish, cod and sculpin.

Breed in summer. Pups are born following April-June.

Predation by killer whales, sharks 
 

Offshore

Feeds on schooling fish (herring, cod) and also flounder, skate, squid, shrimp and crabs.

Breed in January-February after whelping. Mate on land. Whelp in January-February on fast ice.

Predation by killer whales, sharks

Feeds on Arctic cod, zooplankton, shrimps, crustacea.

Breed March-May. Pubs born following March-April. Whelp on fast ice.

Predation by killer whales, polar bear ,arctic fox.

Feeds on sculpins, flat fish, clams, benthic shrimp, cod, sand lance, and smelts.

May follow the advance and retreat of sea ice. 

Mate mid-April - mid-May. Pups born on ice late April - early May.

Predation by polar bear

Offshore

Rare predation by polar bear and killer whale. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Come ashore in August and travel north along coast. Females hibernate from November to March. Females breed every second year from April-May. 1-4 cubs born between November - January.

Central Ranges 

Fraser River 

Saglek/ Hopedale 

Mistastin Lake 

Coastal

Population fluctuates

Winter: frozen lakes with abundant sedges, areas with adequate supplies of arboreal lichen and barrier -free corridors. 

Summer: windy, foggy or snow patched areas to provide relief from biting flies. 

Feed on sedges, shrub leaves, and arboreal lichen.

June: migration to summer range. 

August: fall migration to winter range.

Predators: wolf 

Hunting

Distribution and abundance limited by winter habitat. 

Feed on twigs and buds of willow, aspen, birch, and balsam fir in winter. Aquatic vegetation, leafy branches of deciduous trees, forbs and graminoids in summer. 

Successional vegetation is essential. 
One calf born May/June.

Bulls cover more territory in fall rut season.

Hunting 
 

Western Plateau 

Central Ranges 

Saglek/Hopedale

Densities may affect moose populations. 
Use forests and barrens, depending on geographic location, berry crop, and other sources of food. 

Feeds on berries, graminoids, carrion, small mammals, fish, birds, insects, frogs, fruit, and occasionally moose and caribou. Opportunistic feeders. 

Dens occur in elevated but sandy banks in willow shrub thickets, under the roof system of large trees, and under large logs on the ground. 

Females mate every 2-3 years from June to August with 2-3 cubs born in maternal winter den in late January or early February. 

Cubs and mother emerge from den after hibernation period.

Feeds on ringed seal, harbour and bearded seals, young walrus, lemmings, carrion, fish, mussels, crabs, seabirds, waterfowl, graminoids, mushrooms, and crowberries 

Come ashore in August and travel north along coast. Females hibernate from November to March. 

Females breed every second year from April-May. 1-4 cubs born in maternal winter den between November-January.

Central Ranges 

Fraser River 

Saglek/ Hopedale

Abundance determined by availability of prey and denning sites. 

Population fluctuates 

Have increased since 1950s.in Labrador/Quebec.

Feeds on ungulates, beaver, small mammals, ptarmigan and berries. 

Suitable den sites: coarse talus slopes, eskers, often near water bodies.

Hunts in packs of 3-30 individuals over large areas.

Hunting

Population fluctuates with that of snowshoe hare, the most important prey species.

Feeds on snowshoe hare, mice, Arctic hare, ground birds, frogs and invertebrates.

Predators : Wolf 

Trapping

Central Ranges 

Fraser River

Feeds on mice, voles, small mammals, birds, carrion and berries. 

Dens are underground or in a hollow log; one or more refuge dens nearby. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Breeds in February

Predators: Wolf 

Trapping

Central Ranges

Numbers generally low. 

Fluctuates with prey availability, especially with lemming population peaks, every 3-5 years.

Feeds on ptarmigan, nesting birds, Arctic hare, vole, ringed seal pups, eggs, berries, invertebrates and carrion. 

Dens in well drained areas; rock outcrops and talus slopes of cliffs along the coast; small hillocks and river banks inland. 

3-6 pups born between May and June for coastal inhabitants and 6-9 for those inland.

Trapping

Fraser River

Dens are underground in summer, surfaces protected by snow in winter. 

Feeds on grasses, sedges, seeds, bark, berries, buds and insects. 

Two to four litters per year. Two to eight young per year.

Availability of food

Inhabits spaces between ground and snow cover. Feeds on grasses, forbs, seeds, and bark.

Winter: congregate in family groups. 

Breed from April-October. 

Two or more litters of three to eight young per year

Predation: marten, mink, fox and birds of prey.

Feeds on stems and leaves of herbs and berries. 

Two or more litters per year of two to five young.

Feeds on seeds, tubers and grains. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Two or more litters per year (average of 7 young)

Central Ranges

Feeds on sedges, graminoids, cottongrass, bearberries and willow.

Two or three litters per year (average of 5 young).

Central Ranges 

Coastal 

Saglek/Hopedale 

Fraser River

Population peaks every eight to ten years.

Edges of open areas most important feeding habitat. 

Feeds on graminoids, buds, twigs, and leaves of woody plants. 

Two to four litters per year. One to eight young per litter.

Hunting 
 

Central Ranges 

Saglek/Hopedale 

Coastal

Population fluctuates

Willow twigs, forbes and graminoids most important food species. 

Den: gravel depression or moss nest on tundra; under a rock or shrub.

Breeds from April to September. 

One to three litters of 2-3 young born in June or early July.

Predators: wolf, fox and raptors. 

Increased predation when small rodent (e.g. voles, lemmings and shrews) populations decline.

Central Ranges 

Fraser River

Density not well documented.

Dens in hollow logs, deadfalls and caves. 

Feeds on herbaceous plants in summer and coniferous and deciduous tree bark in winter. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Single offspring born between May-July.

Hunting

Population fluctuates.

Dens in hollow trees or in rock piles and talus slopes. 

Feeds on red- backed vole, red squirrel, chipmunk, mice, shrews, hare, birds, fish, insects, frogs, eggs , nuts and fruit.

Mating occurs in July and August. Three to four young born in March/April.

Trapping 
 

Central Ranges 

Fraser River

Population fluctuates 

Den under the roots of trees on streambanks or use old muskrat burrows or houses. 

Feed on muskrat, small rodents, hares, fish and invertebrates. 

Breed in February or March. 3-10 young born in April/May.

Trapping 
 

Saglek/ Hopedale

Home range may be 24-32 km of river, lakeshore or coastline.

Cavities among tree roots, dense shrubs and tall grass are used for resting and denning sites. 

Dens in abandoned beaver bank dens, burrows and natural shelters. 

Feeds on fish 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In severe winters, otters may move from high elevations to valleys. 

Breeds in winter or early spring. 2-3 young are born in March or April.

Predators: wolf 

Trapping 
 

Central Ranges 

Fraser River

Population fluctuates.

Feeds on aquatic vegetation, bark, leaves, and buds of deciduous species including willow, poplar, birch and alder. 

Lodges are constructed in middle of pond or in an embankment.

Breed February to March. 3-4 young born once a year.

Trapping 
 

Escape route from land to water must be available. 

Feeds on exposed vegetation in summer and submerged vegetation in winter.

Disperse in autumn to overwinter. Disperse in spring to form breeding territories.

Trapping

Requires vegetation, rocks or some other type of cover from predators. 
Feeds on small rodents, small birds, fish, invertebrates and frogs.

4-10 young born once a year.

Trapping

Feed on voles, mice, amphibians and insects.

Two litters per year (3-10 young).

Trapping

Conifer seeds are main source of food. 

Tree cavities are main nesting sites.

One litter per year (1-8 young).

Eggs (2)

Predators

Saglek/Hopedale

Oil Spills 

Predators

Coastal 

Saglek/Hopedale

Winters in southern Canada and the United States.

Predators

Coastal 

Saglek/Hopedale

Nest on ground near grass or shrubs. 

Eggs (10-12)

Winters migrates to western and southern Canada.

Predators

Coastal 

Saglek/Hopedale

Fresh and salt water. 

Nest on ground in wooded areas, bush/grassy fields, islands or along brooks 

Eggs (10-12)

Migrates to southern Canada in winter.

Predators 

Hybridization with mallard ducks

Saglek/Hopedale

Nest: usually on the ground but sometimes in trees. 

Eggs (5-15) 

Feeds on aquatic vegetation, seeds, grains and aquatic invertebrates 
 

Winters in Maritimes and Newfoundland.

Saglek/Hopedale

Nests on ground 

Eggs (7-10)

Winters in southern Canada and United States

Predators

Saglek/Hopedale

Nest on old nest sites, usually with foundation of plant material. 

Eggs (4-6) 

Feeds on mussels and other shellfish.

Winter along the Atlantic coast including Labrador

Predators 

Oil Spills

Coastal 

Saglek/Hopedale

Nests in a clump of bushes on ground near fast streams. 

Eggs (6-7)

Migrates to coastal New England, Maritime Provinces and Nfld. 

Predators 

Oil Spills

Coastal 
 

Saglek/Hopedale

Nests in depressions on ground, often in grasses or dwarf willow, on an island or near salt water. 

Eggs (6-8)

Winters along the British Columbia, Great Lakes, and along the Atlantic coasts.

Predators 

Oil Spills

Saglek/Hopedale 
 

Nests on ground in depressions.

Winters on Pacific coast to southern California; Atlantic coast from Nfld to South Carolina

Predators 

Oil Spills

Saglek/Hopedale

Nests on ground near water. 

(Eggs 5-7)

Winters from southern Nfld. to Florida, from Alaska to California.

Predators 

Oil Spills

Saglek/Hopedale

Nests on ground near water. 

Eggs (5-7) 
 
 
 

Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts

Predators 

Oil Spills

Coastal 

Saglek/Hopedale

Nests in cavities of trees, large woodpecker holes. 

Eggs (6-15)

In winter, migrates to open water. from southern Canada south to Florida and from Southeastern Alaska to California 

Predators 

Oil Spills

Saglek/Hopedale

Nests in tree cavities, bank holes, rock piles and bushes. 

Eggs (8-12)

Winters in southern Unites States.

Predators

Coastal 

Saglek/Hopedale

Nests under bushes, rock piles, under logs, tree roots. 
Eggs (7-12)

Winters in southern United States and along the Atlantic coast.

Predators 

Oil Spills

Coastal 

Saglek/Hopedale

Nest in large tree tops. 

Eggs (2-4) 

Feeds on freshwater fish.

Winters in the southern hemisphere

Acidification of lakes (decrease in prey)

Central Ranges 

Fraser River 

Mistastin Lake

Nests on cliffs. 

Eggs (2-4) 

Feeds on small mammals.

Winters from southern Canada to Carolinas, Texas and Louisiana.

Central Ranges 

Mistastin Lake 

Fraser River

Eggs (2) 

Feeds on ptarmigan and Arctic hare in Eco-context Regions.

Winters in much of range, some Labrador birds migrate to United States.

Nests in trees on high steep slopes. or on a cliff ledge 

Eggs (4-6)

Winters from southern British Columbia and southern United States south to West Indies, Venezuela and Peru. 

Availability of prey

Central Ranges 

Mistastin Lake 

Coastal 

Eggs (3-5) 

Feeds on shorebirds, waterfowl, black guillemot, murres

Winters in southern hemisphere

Availability of prey

Central Ranges 

Saglek/Hopedale 

Fraser River

Feeds on lemmings, hares, ptarmigan. 

Nests usually on cliffs. 

Eggs (3-4)

Winters from arctic to southern Canada (into southern Canada in years of low small mammal populations). 

Central Ranges 

Mistastin Lake 

Fraser River

Winters from Newfoundland to South America

Saglek/Hopedale

Nests in a depression on the ground. 

Eggs (4-7) 

Feeds on needles and buds of coniferous trees and many types of berries.

Hunting

Central Ranges 

Mistastin Lake 

Fraser River

Eggs (7-10) 

Feeds on fruit, buds, twigs and leaves.

Hunting 
 

Central Ranges 

Mistastin Lake 

Saglek/Hopedale

Eggs (6-9) 

Feeds on fruit, buds, twigs and leaves.

Hunting 
 

Eggs (3-4) 

Nests in depressions in sand, gravel, moss or seaweed. 

Winters from southern United States to the West Indies and South America.

Coastal

Eggs (4 usually) 

Nests in a hollow in ground.

Winters from South Carolina to South America; sw. British Columbia to Texas

Eggs (4)

Winters in South America.

Eggs (4)

Winters in South America. 

Fraser River

Winters from southern United States to South America

Nests usually on islands with other species. 
Eggs 3 (usually) 
 

Feeds on fish, invertebrates,, mice, and other bird eggs.

Winters in southern Ontario.

Oil Spills

Eggs (2-3)

Winters on the coast of British Columbia, the southern Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New England.

Oil Spills

Winters mainly on the Atlantic Coast. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Oil Spills

Eggs (2-3) 

Nests on cliffs, on islands.

Winters in southern part of breeding range.

Oil Spills

Nests singly or in colonies on coastal islands, cliffs. 

Eggs (3 usually)

Winters on the east coast from Strait of Belle Isle and southward.

Oil Spills

Nests on open areas of sandy and gravely beaches, flat areas on islands. 

Eggs (2-4)

Winters in oceans of southern hemisphere

Oil Spills

Nests in talus of rocky cliffs near sea. 

Egg (1)

Winters within breeding range south to New Jersey, Azores, Canary Islands, France and Baltic Sea.

Oil Spills

Nests on sea cliffs. 

Egg (1)

Nests on offshore islands, migrates from Arctic. 

Winters within much of breeding range, south to Delaware.

Predation 

Oil Spills

Nest in colonies on sea cliffs and among boulders. 

Egg (1) 
 
 
 
 
 

Migrates offshore during the winter. 
 

Oil Spills

Saglek/Hopedale

Winters in offshore waters and inshore where open water exists.

Oil Spills

Usually 1 egg in a crevice or excavated burrow. 

Feed on fish.

Winters from Newfoundland southward to Massachuetts.

Oil Spills

Eggs (3-7) 

Feeds on passerines, grouse, waterfowl, and small mammals.

Saglek/ 
Hopedale 
 

Central Ranges 

Fraser River 

Mistastin Lake

Nests on dry hollow in open ground. 

Eggs (3-5) 

Feeds on weed seeds, insects.

Winters from southern Canada southward.

Saglek/ 
Hopedale

Eggs (2-6)

Eggs (3-5) 

Feeds on berries, carrion, small mammals.

Coastal

4-7 eggs 
Nests in rock crevices, under stones and rock piles. 

Feeds on seeds. 
 

Winters in Southern Canada and the United States.

Saglek/Hopedale

Nests in tree cavities and stumps. 

Eggs (5-7) 
Feeds on seeds and insects.

Saglek/Hopedale

Eggs (5-11) 

Nests in coniferous trees.

Winters from British Columbia south to Florida, Gulf Coast and Central America

Fraser River

Eggs (3)

Winters from southern Canada to Florida and Guatemala. 

Central Ranges 

Saglek/ 
Hopedale 

Mistastin Lake

Eggs (4-7)

Winters in United States south to Guatemala. 

Eggs (4-7)

Winters south into the United States. 

Saglek/ 
Hopedale

Nests in coniferous trees. 

Eggs (4-5)

Winters from British Columbia, United States, Nova Scotia to Panama and Greater Antilles.

Saglek/ 
Hopedale

Nests in spruce, rarely on ground. 

Eggs (4-5)

Winters in South America

Nests in roots of upturned tree, bank or tree cavity. 

Eggs (4-5) 
 
 
 

Winters in South America.

Saglek/ 
Hopedale

Eggs (4-6) 

Feeds on weed seeds during winter migration.

Winters from southern Canada to southern United States.

Saglek/Hopedale

Eggs (4 to 6) 

Nests on the ground in a hollow scratched out by the birds.

Winters from southern Canada to Guatemala.

Fraser River 

Eggs (4-5) 

Winters from southern Canada to southern United States.

Saglek/ 
Hopedale

Nests on ground. 

Eggs (4-5)

Winters from southern United States to Central America.

Eggs (4-5)

Wiinters in southern United States south to central Mexico

Saglek/ 
Hopedale

Nest on or near ground, under vegetation. 

Eggs (4-5)

Winters in southern Canada, United States. and northern Mexico.

Mistastin Lake

Eggs (4-6)

Winters n southern Canada and the United States. 

Saglek/ 
Hopedale

Nests in coniferous trees. 

Eggs (4-7) 
 
 
 

Saglek/ 
Hopedale

Feeds on seeds. 

Central Ranges 

Fraser River 

Saglek/ 
Hopedale 

Mistastin Lake

Eggs (5-6) 

Feeds on seeds.

Winters in central and southern United States