Mackenzie and Selwyn Mountains is an isolated wilderness extending across the Yukon and Northwest Territories border, characterized by alpine tundra and subalpine open woodland, a continuous permafrost, and supporting various forms of wildlife and mineral potential.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Mackenzie and Selwyn Mountains
CEC Level III Code
3.2.2
CEC Level II Code
3.2 Taiga Cordillera
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Mackenzie and Selwyn Mountains |
| Geographic Range | The Mackenzie and Selwyn Mountains region extends across the border between Yukon and the Northwest Territories, from north of Dawson southeast to Wrigley. |
| Climate Snapshot | Climatic conditions vary with elevation, featuring a mean annual temperature of approximately -4.5°C, with summers averaging 9.5°C and winters averaging -19.5°C, and highly variable mean annual precipitation ranging from 400 mm to 750 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The Mackenzie and Selwyn Mountains region features elevations reaching up to 2,950 masl, characterized by alpine tundra and rocky outcrops at upper elevations, and subalpine open woodland at lower elevations, with evidence of localized alpine and valley glaciation. |
| Vegetation Cover | The region is characterized by alpine tundra at upper elevations and subalpine open woodland vegetation at lower elevations, consisting of lichens, shrubs, willows, sedges, cottongrass, stunted white spruce, and occasional alpine fir. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Mackenzie and Selwyn Mountains region is home to characteristic wildlife including caribou, grizzly and black bear, Dall's sheep, moose, beaver, fox, wolf, hare, raven, rock and willow ptarmigan, golden eagle, gyrfalcon, and waterfowl. |
Eco snapshot
The region is characterized by alpine tundra at upper elevations and subalpine open woodland vegetation at lower elevations, consisting of lichens, shrubs, willows, sedges, cottongrass, stunted white spruce, and occasional alpine fir.
The Mackenzie and Selwyn Mountains region is home to characteristic wildlife including caribou, grizzly and black bear, Dall’s sheep, moose, beaver, fox, wolf, hare, raven, rock and willow ptarmigan, golden eagle, gyrfalcon, and waterfowl.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter/early spring | Early nectar/pollen when insects first become active; safe shelter | Protect early blooms; avoid spring pesticide applications; leave some leaf litter and stems until weather is consistently mild |
| Spring | A steady ramp-up of blooms; nesting sites | Plant/encourage early bloomers; keep some bare, well-drained soil patches; add a few clumping native flowers near each other |
| Summer | Continuous bloom; water during dry periods; diverse flower shapes | Aim for “no gaps” flowering; add a shallow water dish with stones; plant in clusters for easier foraging |
| Late summer/fall | Late-season nectar; places to overwinter | Add late bloomers; stop deadheading some plants so they can set seed; leave stems standing for shelter |
| Winter or Dry Season | Undisturbed shelter; intact nesting materials | Leave stems, logs, and leaf litter in place; plan next season’s bloom sequence; avoid “cleaning up” everything |
Keystone plants
Mix early, mid, and late bloomers so pollinators always find food.
Seed mix concept
Early bloomers that can handle cool starts and provide the first nectar/pollen.
Reliable mid-season flowers that carry the peak activity period.
Late bloomers (often asters/goldenrods) to prevent an end-of-season food crash.
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Alders are fast-growing trees in the genus Alnus that are especially useful in damp spots and along edges where you want quick cover and early-season pollen for insects.
Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.
Birches are graceful trees in the genus Betula, known for their often light-colored bark and early-season pollen and catkins that support springtime insects.
Blueberries and huckleberries (genus Vaccinium) are berry-producing shrubs with spring flowers that can support pollinators and later feed people and wildlife—great for gardens, schoolyards, and even large containers.
Clovers are small, easygoing plants in the genus Trifolium that can add nectar and pollen to gardens, lawns, and pots while helping cover bare soil.
Fireweed is a tough, fast-growing wildflower in the genus Chamerion that brings bright pink blooms and lots of pollinator activity to sunny, open spaces.
Fleabanes (genus Erigeron) are easygoing wildflowers with daisy-like blooms that can brighten gardens, schoolyards, and balcony pots while offering steady nectar and pollen for many small pollinators.
Goldenrods are tough, sunny wildflowers in the genus Solidago that light up late-season gardens with golden blooms and provide reliable nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading.
Kinnikinnick is a tough, low-growing evergreen groundcover in the genus Arctostaphylos (often called bearberry) that forms a tidy mat and offers small spring flowers followed by red berries.
Manzanitas are tough, beautiful western shrubs with urn-shaped flowers that can feed early-season pollinators and evergreen leaves that keep gardens looking good year-round.
Poplars, aspens, and cottonwoods (genus Populus) are fast-growing trees best known for their fluttering leaves and soft “cottony” seeds. They can support early-season pollinators with spring catkins, but they’re also big, thirsty, and often short-lived in small yards—so they’re best chosen with space and roots in mind.
Rushes are tough, grass-like wetland plants (genus Juncus) that thrive in damp soil and help create calm, sheltered habitat at the edges of ponds, rain gardens, and low spots.
Sedges (genus Carex) are grass-like plants that form tidy clumps and thrive in many garden conditions, especially where soil stays a bit damp. They add texture, cover bare ground, and can support small wildlife by providing shelter and nesting material.
Willowherbs (genus Epilobium) are easygoing wildflowers that pop up in sunny, open spots and offer simple, nectar-rich blooms that many small pollinators can use.
Willows are fast-growing trees and shrubs in the genus Salix that offer some of the earliest pollen and nectar of the year, making them a strong choice for pollinator-friendly yards, parks, and school grounds.
Yarrow is a tough, easygoing wildflower that brings long-lasting blooms and steady pollinator visits to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Many visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while also playing important roles in local food webs.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
Adults can help move pollen as they nectar at flowers, and their caterpillars are an important part of local food webs.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while feeding.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
