Flora and Fauna
While the area to the west of Frog Lake is mainly farmland, head northeast toward Fishing Lake and you’ll find yourself in an environment little different from that which the province’s First Nations lived in for thousands of years. The boreal forests are filled with poplars, red willow, birch, jackpine, spruce and tamarack, creating perfect conditions for a wide variety of animals. On the forest floor you’ll find fruits and berries such as saskatoons, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, logan berries and pinch cherries- if you plan to go hiking in the area keep a guide to edible plants handy to avoid any nasty surprises.
Animal species that call the area home include cougars, coyotes, lynxes, martins, otters, wolves, black bears, brown bears, cinnamon bears, timber wolves, grizzly bears, mice, ground hogs, badgers, moles, white tail deer, moose, muskrats, beavers, squirrels, chipmunks and gophers. Most are timid and can hear or smell humans from a good distance, but some can be dangerous: travel in groups, make plenty of noise and remember to clean up after yourself. Alberta Parks has a great guide here.
CLIMATE
The old Albertan joke “if you don’t like the weather just wait five minutes” definitely applies throughout most of the year, as blue skies give way to storm clouds in the summer and sub-arctic temperatures are warmed by Chinooks during the winter.
Most of Alberta has a humid-continental climate, with much of the northern part of the province having a sub-arctic climate. Both of these climate types are characterized by huge swings between freezing winters where temperatures can drop below -30°C and hot summers with highs of 30°C.
Fishing Lake Métis Settlement is blanketed by snow in the winter and beautifully warm in the summer, with long, humid nights perfect for barbeques. Though most visitors choose to have their outdoor adventures in summer, spring offers wildlife lovers the chance to see the fish run and the return of birds from their winter migrations. Arrive at the right time during the fall and you’ll see the leaves change; a little later and the ground will be blanketed in leaves. Both are ideal times to see animals preparing for hibernation.
