suckers which can draw on the large root system of the adult tree 
     
     to throw very fast growing clumps of suckers. This enables the 
     
     tree to retain its competitive edge established when the tree 
     
     formed part of the tree canopy. 
     
    

    
     The brilliant reds of maple clad hills usually stem from this 
     
     tree. In the spring, its flowers spread a delicate shimmer of red 
     
     across both wet woodlands and our wooded hills. This species is 
     
     one of the earliest flowering trees and is an important source of 
     
     early pollen and nectar for bumblebees, honey bees and other 
     
     overwintering insects. The early flowers also give rise to the 
     
     production of one of the first new seeds in woodlands in spring. 
     
     In a good year, a single red maple tree with a stem diameter of 13 
     
     cm (5 inches) can produce in excess of 100,000 seeds in mid-May to 
     
     early June. This influx of new, high energy food comes at a time 
     
     when there is little new seed being produced. The long seed stalks 
     
     supporting the winged fruits (keys) fall in clusters from the trees 
     
     after the seed collapses off and many of them become part of the 
     
     framework of birds nests such as Red-eyed Vireo, Hermit and 
     
     Swainson’s Thrushes, and Ovenbirds. 
     
    

    
     Red maple can be distinguished 
     
     from the sugar maple and Norway 
     
     maple by its saw toothed leaf edge. 
     
     It can be distinguished from the 
     
     shrub mountain maple by the lack of 
     
     strong vein indentation and from the 
     
     striped maple by the presence of 
     
     more than three points on its 
     
     leaves. In winter, its round, 
     
     clustered, bright red leaf buds can 
     
     be seen from the ground with 
     
     binoculars whereas the sugar maples 
     
     buds are closely pressed against the 
     
    
   
   
    
         
     
    
   
   
    
     Red Maple Sugar Maple Stem 
     
     NEWS FROM ABOUT: Compiled by J. Dan McAskill 
     
     In November, 1992 New Brunswick '0' 
     
     Department of Natural Resources and .. ' 
     
     Energy staff followed a set of large ' 
     
     cougar-like tracks and found a scat 0 
     
     associated with the tracks. The 
     
    
   
   
    
     Canadian Museum of Nature identified 
     
     cougar forepaw hairs in the scat 
     
    
   
   
    
     thus providing the first concrete 0. 
     
     evidence of the cougar's presence '0 
     
     after years of visual reports. '0 " 6.:- 
     
     (adapted from an article by Rudy  \°*~"' 
     
     Stocek in N.B. Naturalist Vol 20 
     
    

    
     Dec. 1993) 
     
    
   
   
    
     Wildlife Habitat Canada's 10th Anniversary Report (1994) 
     
     showed that they have invested $ 1,480,328 in projects in Prince 
     
    
   
   
    
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