Flora & Fauna
Table of Contents
Flora
Most flora of 'Souls is typical of Canada. There is an intense variety of wildflowers and other fauna—ranging from the poisonous baneberry to the helpful healing herb yarrow.
Trees
The majority of the trees are spruce, fir, birch, pine and maple trees; an extensive guide for the various tree species native to Nova Scotia is located here—there is an even mix of both coniferous and deciduous trees throughout Nova Scotia, though some areas are dominated by a certain type of tree. Red Spruce, Black Spruce, White Spruce, Red Pine, White Pine, Eastern Hemlock, Yellow Birch, American Beech, Red Oak, Red Maple, White Ash, and White Elm are found throughout 'Souls.
Jack Pines and ironwood are more common to the north of Halifax rather than the south; these type of trees tend to prefer a mountainous habitat. Tamarack larches and black ash are typically found near the water and in other lowland areas of 'Souls. Hazel alders are typically found south of Halifax.
Underbrush
Barberry, Red Baneberry, Virgin's Bower, Threeleaf Goldthread, Sweetfern, Witch Hazel, Sweet Gale, Northern Bayberries, Roman Wormwood, and the Sensitive Fern are just some of the various plant life found throughout 'Souls.
Allegheny Vine is an extremely common sight in some of the human ruins—the plant has adapted almost perfectly to the vacated world, taking over entire houses in just a few short years. Opium Poppies grow wild to the south of Halifax.
Invasive Species
Although the majority of species found here are native to Nova Scotia, there are a smaller number of imported plants, brought in the time of the humans or allowed to grow wild following their demise—generally, these species are hardy, coming from an area with a climate similar to Nova Scotia's. English oak, native to Europe and some parts of Asia, is not a native Nova Scotian plant, but it has positively taken over the Ethereal Eclipse territory. Fanwort can be seen growing rampantly in some of the lakes and slower-moving rivers of 'Souls, despite being Australian in origin.
Fauna
Carnivores
Common carnivorous, competitive species include foxes, grizzly bears, black bears, lynx, bobcat, and cougars. Grizzly bears are formidable opponents for even a large group of wolves, as well as their smaller cousin the black bear. Lynx and Bobcats are smaller cats and generally do not interfere with any wolf life. Cougars, the larger, more dangerous big cats of Canada, are likely to attack a wolf and definitely pose a threat to canines. Foxes include the Arctic and Red Fox.
Invasive & Domestic
Certain other predators which were not native to Canada may have escaped zoos, but only the occasional non-North American big cat or dangerous predator is seen. Feral domesticated animals such as horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and goats are commonplace in 'Souls, though many domesticated animals died as a result of losing their human masters—having been domesticated for so many generations, many creatures were unable to survive in the wild. Some domesticated animals, which had lived on farms or zoos for much of their lives, escaped human confines after the apocalypse, and became wild again. In some cases, the populations of these species integrated with their closest wild cousin—e.g., the domesticated goat likely merged with any existing mountain goat populations.
Herbivores
Of the herbivore species, common ungulate prey animals include moose, mountain goats, elk, and the Whitetail deer. Smaller creatures include rabbits, raccoons, skunks, wolverines, groundhogs, and porcupines are also common sights.
Rodents and Mustelids
Various rodent and weasel species are ubiquitous and ever-present as always. Rats and mice live just about everywhere, from the abandoned and empty street of Halifax to the rolling peaks of Halcyon Mountain. Chipmunks, red and gray squirrels as well as lemmings and gophers are ever-present throughout 'Souls. Martens, American Mink, Fishers, and Stoats are some other animals very common to 'Souls.
Other Small Mammals
Silver-Haired Bats, Red Bats, Keen Bats, Hoary Bats, Little Brown Bats, and the Eastern Pipistrelle make up the species of bat in 'Souls. There are seven varieties of shrew native to Nova Scotia, and one species of mole, the Star-Nosed Mole.
Reptiles
'Souls is also home to many species of snake, most notably the Timber Rattlesnake, which is highly poisonous. Other snakes include the brown snake, rat snake, and many species of garter snakes. The smaller species Red Belly Snake and Smooth Green Snake. Common Snapping Turtles, Painted Turtles, and and Wood Turtles are found all along the lakes and streams of 'Souls. Various species of frogs and toads as well as salamander and newts also inhabit some of the same territory.
Avians
There are many species of birds which make their home in 'Souls. Crows, Ravens, and Spruce Grouse are just a few of them. There is an intense variety of songbirds native to Nova Scotia; among them are the American Robin, Blue Jay, as well as various other swallows, finches, and sparrows.
Red-Tailed Hawks, goshawks , Peregrine Falcons, and Northern Harriers are just some of the species found around woodlands. Ospreys and Bald Eagles, both fishing-type birds, are common around lakes and rivers.
There are five species of owl native to Nova Scotia—the Great Horned Owl, the Northern Saw-Whet Owl, the Short Eared Owl, the Long Eared Owl, and the Barred Owl are prevalent throughout Nova Scotia.
There are numerous types of shorebirds, including the Piping Plover and various species of shore-dwelling gull. There are a few species of duck, among them Mallards and Canada Geese. Great Blue Herons decorate the shores of many inland lates, and the distinctive cry of the American Bittern fills the air around marshy and wetland areas.
Aquatic Fauna
Coastline and water-dwelling animals include the Harbor Seal Gray Seal inhabit saltwater, and otters, Beavers and muskrats inhabit much of the inland freshwater. Harp Seals are common along the coastlines, but generally only in the springtime during their mating migration.
Fish
Our fish species include a type of salmon, four different species trout, and a few species of bass. Just one species of eel—the American Eel—makes its home in the waters around Nova Scotia. An overabundance of these eels is located in the Bay of Fundy and along the coastline.