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Tourbière de Venise-Ouest Nature Reserve

Tourbière de Venise-Ouest Nature Reserve, QC (Photo by NCC)

Tourbière de Venise-Ouest Nature Reserve, QC (Photo by NCC)

A protected area of ecologically significant peatland on the north shore of Lake Champlain

The Tourbière de Venise-Ouest Nature Reserve is on the north shore of Lake Champlain, 70 kilometres southeast of Montreal. The Nature Conservancy of Canada-protected area covers 380 hectares, including 80 per cent of the peatland in the reserve.

The peatland here is home to several rare species and serves a number of important ecological roles, including helping to maintain the water quality of Missisquoi Bay (in the northern part of Lake Champlain) by filtering it as it passes through. The peatland also lessens the impact of the lake’s seasonal flooding, acting as a sponge that initially absorbs the overflow and then gradually releases it.

As several plants and animals can only be found in peatlands due to the unique conditions these habitats provide, the peatland’s presence means greater biodiversity for an entire region. Around 100 bird species, such as least bittern, and several species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles, such as painted turtle, can be found here. The peatland is also home to approximately 15 species at risk, one of which, bog fern, can only be found in two other places in Quebec.

Conserving the peatland is vital for this species’ survival in the province. Year-round exploring here means more opportunity to connect with nature. In winter, visitors can strap on cross-country skis and meander along the snowy landscape. Spring flooding provides a new perspective on the role and importance of the property’s wetlands.

In summer, the three-kilometre trail, rated easy, offers great views of the wetlands, so don’t forget your binoculars. And the forests on the northern part of the trail are a burst of stunning colours come fall.

Tourbière de Venise-Ouest Nature Reserve, QC (Map by Jacques Perreault)

Tourbière de Venise-Ouest Nature Reserve, QC (Map by Jacques Perreault)

Legend

Sentier du ruisseau McFee
Sentier de la nature
★ Parking
✿ Interpretive Centre

Species to spot

• blue-spotted salamander
• blue-winged teal
• bog fern
• eastern kingbird
• eastern phoebe
• eastern screech owl
• gray treefrog
• hooded merganser
• rose-breasted grosbeak
• wood duck
• wood frog

This story originally appeared in the winter 2023 issue of the Nature Conservancy of Canada Magazine. To learn more about how you can receive the magazine, click here.

Explore additional content from our winter issue here >

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Funding provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada