Boughton Island (Prince Edward Island) facts for kids
Boughton Island (BOH-ton) is a quiet, empty island near Cardigan in Georgetown Harbour. It's located in the central north-eastern part of Prince Edward Island. This island is the third largest in the province. It has six kilometres of shoreline and covers about 243 hectares (600 acres). Many local people and visitors enjoy coming here for picnics and hiking.
Island History
Before World War II, Boughton Island was not empty at all! Several families lived there. The island had rich farmland where people grew crops. There were also busy factories that processed lobster. The island even had its own post office and a schoolhouse for the children.
Amazing Wildlife
Boughton Island has been empty of people for over 60 years. This means that animals and plants have been able to grow and thrive. There has been no building or human activity to disturb them.
The island is home to more than 49 types of birds. You might spot an osprey or a great blue heron. Look for common terns, bald eagles, and merlins flying overhead. Gulls, swallows, loons, mergansers, scoters, and piping plovers also live here. Besides birds, red foxes, shrews, and beavers also call Boughton Island home.
The island has many different natural areas. You can find beautiful white sand beaches. There's also a thick spruce forest and a saltwater marsh. Several freshwater ponds add to the island's diverse habitats.
Protecting the Island
For a long time, most of Boughton Island was owned by private individuals. There were even plans approved to build a large housing area on the island. This would have changed the island forever.
To protect this special place, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) stepped in. In 2007, they bought more than half of the island. The NCC then gave ownership of Boughton Island to the Government of Prince Edward Island.
Now, the Province manages the entire island. They do this under the Natural Areas Protection Act. The NCC still helps to protect the island. This way, Boughton Island can remain the largest undisturbed island in Prince Edward Island. It will stay a safe home for its amazing wildlife.
