Page 41 - Travel Guide to Canada 2019

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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
NORTHERN GANNETS, CAPE ST. MARY’S ECOLOGICAL RESERVE, NL • SHUTTERSTOCK/GGW
hibernate in winter) on cruises along the
Great Bear Rainforest or on several
guide-led outings. They can also be viewed These big bears are an extraordinary areas and, being adept swimmers, are often
at B.C. sanctuaries like Grouse Mountain in sight, yet the spine-tingling sound of a wolf seen in wetlands. Gros Morne National
Vancouver, Khutzeymateen Provincial Park in the wild is equally impressive. The Park, Newfoundland is an excellent
outside Prince Rupert, and Kicking Horse largest members of the dog family, wolves viewing area all year. Bull moose can be
Resort near Golden. hunt in packs of six to ten throughout aggressive, particularly during the autumn
Black bears, smaller than grizzlies remote areas. The number of humans who rut. Drive carefully in moose country,
although still formidable, are found come to hear them in Ontario`s Algonquin especially at night; moose encounters can
throughout Canada and it’s not unusual to Provincial Park is far greater. Park rangers cause serious damage.
spot them while driving in remote areas or organize “Wolf Howls” where you can Large herds of bison/buff alo once
canoeing. Their fur can be black, reddish imitate a howl, and hope to receive thundered across the plains of North
brown and occasionally even white, as answering cries. America providing livelihood for
evidenced in the ghostly kermode or spirit Indigenous Peoples, but they were hunted
bear found along the central and northern HOOFING IT close to extinction during the 19 and 20 th
th
B.C. coast. Although black bears, like Nothing sets the pulse beating like the centuries. Since then they have made a
grizzlies, are shy and generally avoid sight of a bull moose with enormous partial recovery and herds can be seen in
humans, if you encounter one, keep a safe antlers stretching 1.8 m (6 ft.) across. Moose Wood Buff alo National Park in northeastern

distance away. are present in most forested wilderness Alberta and southern Northwest Territories,

GRIZZLY BEARS, MINSTREL ISLAND, BC • DESTINATION CANADA/BROOK SPEED/FAREWELL HARBOUR LODGE