Page 30 - 2024-25 Travel Guide to Canada

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LIVING LARGE
Canada is blessed with several species of
bears, including iconic polar bears. White,
like the snow of their northern habitat, they
are considered the largest of all terrestrial
carnivores. In Churchill, Manitoba, the
“Polar Bear Capital of the World,” you can
take a tour from mid-October to mid-
November aboard a special tundra vehicle
that lets you safely get close to them.
Grizzlies, who reside mostly in the
western and northwestern part of the
country in forested and mountainous areas,
can be seen from spring to fall (they
hibernate in winter) on cruises along the
Great Bear Rainforest or on several guide-led
outings. They can also be viewed at B.C.
sanctuaries like Grouse Mountain in
Vancouver, Khutzeymateen Provincial Park
outside Prince Rupert, and Kicking Horse
Resort near Golden.
Black bears, smaller than grizzlies
although still formidable, are found
throughout Canada and it’s not unusual to
spot them while driving in remote areas or
canoeing. Their fur can be black, reddish-
brown and occasionally even white, as
evidenced in the ghostly kermode or spirit
bear found along the central and northern
B.C. coast. Although black bears, like grizzlies,
are shy and generally avoid humans, if you
encounter one, keep a safe distance away.
These big bears are an extraordinary sight,
yet the spine-tingling sound of a wolf in the
wild is equally impressive. The largest
members of the dog family, wolves hunt in
packs of six to ten throughout remote areas.
Private tours of the Wolf Centre in Haliburton
Highlands takes visitors on an evening
forest hike for “Wolf Howls” where you
can imitate a howl, and hope to receive
answering cries.
HOOFING IT
Nothing sets the pulse beating like the sight
of a bull moose with enormous antlers
stretching 1.8 m (6 ft.) across. Moose are
present in most forested wilderness areas
and, being adept swimmers, are often seen
in wetlands. Gros Morne National Park,
Newfoundland is an excellent viewing area
all year. Bull moose can be aggressive, particu-
larly during the autumn rut. Drive carefully
in moose country, especially at night; moose
encounters can cause serious damage.
Large herds of bison/buffalo once thun-
dered across the plains of North America
providing livelihood for Indigenous Peoples,
but they were hunted close to extinction
during the 19th and 20th centuries. Since then
they have made a partial recovery and herds
can be seen in Wood Buffalo National Park
in northeastern Alberta and southern
Northwest Territories, as well as Prince
Wildlife Viewing:
Call of the Wild
BY HANS TAMMEMAGI
CARIBOU MIGRATION, LEAF RIVER LODGE, QC • JEAN-SIMON BÉGIN
Canada’s vast, varied terrain provides a
habitat for countless creatures, and the
same can be said of its waterways. After all,
the land is dotted with lakes, laced by rivers
and lapped by three oceans. Even the skies
here are crowded because this country is
home to four major north-south migratory
flyways and boasts nearly 600 Important
Bird Areas. As a result, it supports more
kinds of wildlife than you can shake a
camera at. Here are some of the most
memorable, with tips on where to find them.