Chignecto National Wildlife Area
Notice
Welcome to Chignecto National Wildlife Area.
Chignecto National Wildlife Area trails and parking lot are open to the public. Please note that while Environment and Climate Change Canada establishes trails and infrastructure to support visitor access and use of selected National Wildlife Areas, staff are not always on-site for management of public safety.
Please respect the environment and leave no trace.
Chignecto National Wildlife Area (NWA) is located in Nova Scotia. The NWA contains diverse habitats and supports a wide array of wildlife species. Two hundred twenty eight bird species have been recorded within the NWA in recent years.
Chignecto NWA is home to a variety of species. Various marsh birds such as sora and Virginia rail are common. Some of the highest nesting densities of pied-billed grebe in North America have been recorded within the NWA. over 100 bird species regularly breed within the NWA.. One can find a sugar maple tree with a circumference of over 4 meters. This tree is estimated to be over 250 years old.
The Amherst Point section consists of 412 hectares of land, which has both NWA and MBS status. Ducks Unlimited Canada has improved a large portion of the site’s wetlands, through the construction of dykes and water control structures.
Chignecto NWA provides habitat for a wide variety of mammals including:
- masked shrew
- Northern flying squirrel
- star-nosed mole
- red fox
- snowshoe hare
- woodchuck
Find more information on Chignecto NWA in the summary table below.
Management
Under the Canada Wildlife Act, NWAs are protected and managed in accordance with the Wildlife Area Regulations. The primary purpose of NWAs is to protect and conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat. For this purpose and according to the legislation, all activities in a NWA that could interfere with the conservation of wildlife can be prohibited. Consequently, most NWAs are not accessible to the public and all other activities are prohibited in all NWAs. However, some activities may be authorized through Schedule I.1 of the Wildlife Area Regulations or the issuance of permits as long as they are consistent with the management plan goals for the NWA. For more information, consult the NWA Management and Activities section.
Planning your visit
There is a small network of trails, which provides access to the Chignecto NWA. You can enjoy hiking, wildlife observation, as well as some lovely photo opportunities in the NWA.
Note: Hunting is not permitted within the NWA
Public facilities: Parking lot and walking trails
Access to the NWA is permitted in accordance with the conservation objectives of the NWA management plan. Any authorized activities are listed in Schedule I.1 of the Wildlife Area Regulations; signage is also posted at access points.
Authorized activities listed in Schedule I.1 of the Wildlife Area Regulations for Chignecto NWA, include:
- Wildlife viewing
- Hiking
- Participating in a group meal or group event involving 15 or more people
- Operating a vehicle, other than a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle, on designated roads and in designated parking areas
- Swimming
- Non-commercial picking of edible plants and edible mushrooms
- Boat launching and boat landing
- Motorized boating with a motor of less than 10 horsepower
- Non-motorized boating
- Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and skating
- Sport fishing, in accordance with any applicable federal permit and any authorization required by the laws of Nova Scotia for sport fishing in that province, during the periods authorized by those laws
- Trapping in accordance with any applicable federal permit and any authorization required by the laws of Nova Scotia for trapping in that province
- Activities referred to in items 1 to 10 and 12 from sunset to sunrise, in addition to during the period referred to in subsection 3.1(3)
Directions
From the town of Amherst, Nova Scotia, take Southampton Road southeast until the road turns southwest. This is part of the Bay of Fundy Eco-Tour route. You can access a small parking lot on the north side of Southampton Road.
You can find more information on access and permitting for Chignecto NWA, by contacting the Environment and Climate Change Canada regional office.
Map of the area
Long description
This map shows the southwest region of Amherst, Nova Scotia. The boundaries of Chignecto national wildlife area (NWA) and Amherst Point Migratory Bird Sanctuary are indicated. Found on the south-eastern portion of the map, they overlap each other and they cover a land area and water bodies. The boundaries of John Lusby Marsh NWA are also indicated, just off the east coast of the Cumberland Basin. Permanent water, intertidal water, roads and highways are all indicated on the map. An inset shows the NWA’s location in Canada.
This map is for illustrative purposes only. It should not be used to define legal boundaries.
Summary table
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
Protected Area designation |
NWA |
Province/territory |
Nova Scotia |
Latitude/longitude |
45°48' North / 64°16' West |
Size |
432 hectares |
Reason for creation of protected area |
To provide habitat for a wide variety of bird species, including species at risk. |
Date created (Gazetted) |
1982 - Legal description |
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Management Category |
|
Additional designations |
|
Keystone or flagship species |
|
Main habitat type |
|
Listed species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) |
|
Invasive species |
|
Additional links |
Birds:
Mammals:
|
Main threats and challenges |
Increased public use and encroachment of housing around the periphery |
Management Agency |
Environment and Climate Change Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service) |
Public access and usage |
Authorized activities listed in Schedule I.1 of the Wildlife Area Regulations for Chignecto NWA, include:
|
Note: If there is a discrepancy between the information presented on this web page, any notice posted at the NWA site and the law, the law prevails, as it is the legal instrument authorizing the activity.
Contact us
Environment and Climate Change Canada - Atlantic Region
Canadian Wildlife Service
Protected area program
17 Waterfowl Lane
Sackville NB E4L 4N1
Toll-free: 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only)
Email: ec.enviroinfo.ec@canada.ca
Related links
- Chignecto NWA management plan
- Chignecto NWA Pamphlet
- Managing conflicts with migratory birds
- 10 great places to connect with nature
- Chignecto National Wildlife Area on Google Maps (Please note that the Google map is a complementary source of information and does not represent the official map or site name)
Page details
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