Discover Québec's animals at the Ecomuseum Zoo
This article was updated on June 27, 2022.
On the West Island of Montreal, in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, is the Ecomuseum Zoo, an amazing little zoological site which is home exclusively to animals from Québec.
In all, there are more than a hundred species, which would be impossible to come across in nature even in a lifetime. Now is your chance to finally see a wolf, a bear or an eagle up close.
Natural environments
A footpath leads you all around the site. From the beginning of the visit, white-tailed deer can be seen in a meadow.
Most animals do not live in a restricted area, they have space in which to roam, and their habitat is kept as natural as possible.
Large aviaries
A few steps away, in a large aviary, tiger ducks and other species share a pond with snow geese.
In other aviaries, on either side of a suspended footbridge, on the Nature Promenade, there are several raptors including a golden eagle named Jimmy and a bald eagle named Wonka.
Wolves, otters and more
The path runs along the wolf enclosure, inhabited by Akela, the male, and Palla, the female. Then, pass through habitat where six arctic foxes live, including Polaris, recognizable by its two different coloured eyes.
In the same corner, we see a large black bear, a female named Genie.
One of the great attractions is the always playful otters. They swim with such agility. Pika, a female, welcomed two temporary residents from the Calgary Zoo, Finnegan and Fergus.
Inside the zoo
The walls of the reception pavilion on the main floor are lined with aquariums and terrariums. Inside there are fish, amphibians and reptiles to discover and observe.
Among the residents is a painted turtle named Auguste, now recovered from a fractured shell. The turtle comes from the Hôpital Vétérinaire de L'Île-Perrot where it was treated.
Auguste and others
In fact, Auguste is not the only animal living at the Ecomuseum Zoo because it was injured, orphaned or could no longer be released in the wild. Each of them has its own story.
Having been stolen from his nest, Jimmy, the golden eagle, could not have adapted to survive in the wild. The same for Pandora, an American lynx born under human care on a reserve in the Yukon. Fuego, a red-headed urubu comes from a rehabilitation center in New York State.
More than a zoo, the Ecomuseum Zoo serves as a refuge for these animals. Notably, the Ecomuseum Zoo prioritizes animal welfare above all.
Good to know
- Animals: more than 100 species
- Play Area
- Site map available with the Ondago app
- Zoological guides: presentations
- Entrance fees (taxes included): $21.50 (16-64 years old), $17.25 (65 years and over), $12.75 child (3-15 years old)
Alain Demers
While exploring to discover nature and outdoor sports, Montréal resident Alain Demers has found that we have access to truly unique places that are still not well-known. Columnist for several media including Le Journal de Montréal and Vifa, he has written a dozen books. His most recent work, published by Éditions du Journal, is entitled Redécouvrir le Québec: 101 destinations.