Spruce bogs are a northern type of habitat found in Algonquin Park. They are successional habitats between small bodies of water and forests. However, this habitat is best described as a type of wetland with specific physical and chemical properties. Bogs are very acidic (low pH) wetlands which have inputs of water and nutrients coming directly from precipitation falling from the sky. One of the most striking characteristics of a spruce bog is the ground that you must walk on if you wish to explore it. Walking on a spruce bog is much like walking on a water bed, with each step the adventure seeker may feel the whole area bounce up and down. Small, sheltered ponds and lakes will slowly be overgrown by a floating mat of vegetation, consisting of sedges, mosses, and other plants, eventually becoming thick and strong enough to stand on. The floating layer of peat with its resulting acidic conditions creates harsh conditions for plants and animals that reside in Algonquin's spruce bogs. Many species have adapted to these conditions and survive the harsh conditions. These species include sphagnum moss, a variety of sedges, plus the insect eating Pitcher Plant and sundews. In areas of thicker peat, Black Spruce and Tamarack may be able to gain a foot hold, while shrubs like Leatherleaf, Labrador Tea, and Sweet Gale occupy the understory. Spruce bogs provide food and cover for a variety of species of birds in the summer months such as the Common Yellowthroat, Nashville Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. In winter it is not uncommon to find non-migratory birds such as the Boreal Chickadee, Spruce Grouse, and Gray Jay living in this major Algonquin habitat type. Very few people ever venture out onto the spongy, acidic ground of a spruce bog. If you haven't been to a spruce bog before, be sure to click on the link below and keep your feet dry while visiting one of Algonquin's five major habitat types.

Take a 360° tour of an Algonquin spruce bog

Learn more about Algonquin's habitats, download readings and worksheets from the Educator Resources section of the web site, or you may also learn more through the following publications:

Suggested Reading
Educators: Learn more about Algonquin’s habitats, download readings and worksheets from the Educator Resources section of the Web Site, or you may also learn more through the following publications:

	Trees of Algonquin Provincial Park Of all the living things that inhabit Algonquin Provincial Park, none are more important than the trees. Trees are by far the largest living things in the Park and they almost completely blanket the landscape. With a little practice you can quickly become adept at identifying all of Algonquin's trees, and this will open the door to understanding the fascinating world of Algonquin Provincial Park. more info
	Birds of Algonquin Provincial Park Many visitors to Algonquin Park are unaware that it offers a unique opportunity for seeing and hearing the birds of Ontario. This book will introduce you to the main habitats of the Park and to many of the common species, 77 in all. Through colour photographs and short accounts we hope to encourage you to discover and enjoy them for yourself. more info
	Wildflowers of Algonquin Provincial Park Anyone who visits Algonquin Park during the spring and summer will see wildflowers. The Park has many different habitats within its borders and each area has its own distinct wildflowers. This book has over 55 colour photographs of the most common wildflowers in the Park, and will give you an idea of the incredible richness and beauty of the plant world and how important plants are to the ecology of Algonquin Park. more info
	Spruce Bog Boardwalk Trail Guide Algonquin Spruce Bog Ecology more info

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