Canadian Wildlife Bucket List – 16 Incredible Species

There’s more to Canada than mountains and prairies. As the second largest country in the world, there’s a whole heap of wilderness for wildlife to roam here. Canadian wildlife may not be endemic (word of the day: it means found only in that place) to Canada, unlike much of the weird and wonderful wildlife in Australia, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive.

When I started on my Canadian adventure in September 2018, I had a list of animals I wanted to search for. Over a year later, I have yet to complete it, which goes to show how much time, patience and luck is involved in wildlife spotting.

1. Beaver

Spotted in: Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba

I just had to start this list with the national animal of Canada. Though you would think they’re pretty common here, it took me a whole 11 months to spot my first beaver. I actually heard it chewing away on a branch before I saw it, then when I found the dam, I discovered plenty more swimming around, including a few youngsters. And damn (pun intended), beavers are a lot bigger than I’d expected!

2. Moose

Spotted in: Elk Island National Park, Alberta

Moose may not be the prettiest deer species, but they are the biggest. With their impressive shovel-like antlers and wide snouts, moose are one of the more easily recognisable of the Canadian wildlife species. I’m still hoping to see more of these mostly solitary animals this winter in Banff, but for now I have to make do with the brief sighting I had from the other side of a fence in Elk Island National Park. I probably would have missed them entirely if not for the photographer parked on the side of the road snapping away. All I could see was their two faces peeking out through the dense bushes, but it was enough.

3. Wolf

It can be hard to tell a wolf and coyote apart, and as I haven’t seen either in their natural environments, I can only hope that I succeed at doing so if that ever happens. The main differences are their size, their snouts and their ears. Wolves are much larger, have short, rounded ears and wide snouts. Coyotes are smaller, have pointy ears and narrow snouts, and have a very fox-like look to their faces.

4. Coyote

Spotted in: Napanee, Ontario (sort of), and Banff, Alberta (for real)

During my winter working at Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in Ontario, I heard the coyotes living in the fields behind our house several times, but I never actually saw them. I had spent months looking after squirrels, pigeons and owls, so when on my second last day on the job, an injured coyote was brought in to us, of course it was one of the most exciting things to have happened. I don’t really consider this as a successful check off on my Canadian wildlife bucket list, as though it was a wild coyote, I didn’t see him in the wild. But I consider myself extremely lucky to get a chance to see one so closely, and to help rehabilitate and get him back out where he belonged.

Then, while living in Banff for the winter, I had two brief encounters with wild coyotes. The first was after a lovely horse-drawn sleigh ride in the snow, as it turns out the local coyotes like to use the stable’s hay bales as a warm place to hang out. The second was at night after my very last shift at work, when a coyote ran across the road in front of the bus. It was the perfect ending to my time in Banff.

• 

• 

5. Polar Bear

I had one chance to see polar bears in the wild in Canada, and I missed it. I travelled all the way to Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba by car and overnight train, but I arrived just couple of weeks too early. The sea ice hadn’t fully melted yet, so no bears had made their way to the mainland yet. At least there are plenty of other things to do in Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world, named because during the autumn months, there are three times the number of polar bears in the area than there are residents in the town.

6. Arctic Fox

Again, I was really hoping to see some Arctic Foxes up north, but no luck. On a Tundra Buggy tour we did pass by an Arctic Fox den, where we could see all the burrow entrances, but unfortunately no fox faces came out to greet us. I did see a beautiful melanistic (black) fox on Signal Hill in Newfoundland, but that’s a whole different species.

7. Elk

Spotted in: Banff National Park, Alberta

I had a pretty good first day in Banff, where I decided to make my home for the winter. Within three hours of arriving, I had a job, I had a place to live the next day, and I had blue skies and mountains all around me. Walking around the town, I knew I was going to love living here. I walked along the Bow River to the golf course, where I happened upon a herd of elk casually chilling out on the lawn. My jaw hit the floor. Was this place real? I wasn’t the only who stopped to watch them. Next to me were two young girls debating whether the animals in front of us were deer or cows… Yes, cows. And then they complained about how boring and lame they were. Some people just don’t deserve nature.

I’ve seen quite a lot of elk since coming to Banff, including a very impressive male materialising out of the shadows one early morning on the walk to work.

8. Black Bear

Spotted in: Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba

My only encounter with a bear so far didn’t last very long. After hiking around Moon Lake and hearing something large in the bushes at one point but not seeing anything, I was starting to get very disappointed that I hadn’t spotted a bear yet in Canada. Jump to two hours later when I was driving back to the entrance of the park. The car in front of me suddenly slowed down, pulling to the side of the road. It took me a second to realise what they had stopped for. It was a black bear, casually snuffling through the undergrowth. My reaction was “oh my god oh my god oh my god”, repeated about a hundred times. Thank god I was alone in the car, otherwise it would have been really embarassing.

While simultaneously getting a terrible video on my phone and trying to change the lens on my camera from wide angle to zoom (typical), I failed miserably to get any good footage of the bear. After about half a minute, he disappeared into the trees and while I did a loop around to see if I could spot him again, no such luck. I never seem to be prepared for these moments, even though I’m always hoping for them!

9. Grizzly Bear

The grizzly bear is probably the quintessential Canadian wildlife species. The easiest way to tell a grizzly from a black bear (which aren’t always black) is the large hump of muscle grizzly bears have on the back of their necks, giving them a very impressive and intimidating look. Though they can be dangerous, grizzlies eat mostly berries, leaves and nuts. The populations in North America are declining, but you can still legally trophy hunt them, which is an absolute travesty in my book. Autumn is one of the easiest times to see them along with black bears, as they are busy foraging all those juicy bears to get ready for their winter sleep. This also means you need to be extra careful at this time, as human-bear interactions are more likely to happen.

Still no luck on my search for a grizzly, and as I will likely be leaving Canada before the bears wake in spring, it may not happen for me.

10. American Bison

Spotted in: Elk Island National Park

The bison was not on this list when I first arrived, but as soon as I heard about Elk Island National Park and its wild herds, I knew I had to come see them. Luckily for me, I just happened to be passing through the park anyway on my way to Edmonton. The American Bison was the lifeblood of the indigenous tribes in the prairies, with the nomadic people following the herds across the land. In the nineteenth century, there were 30 million bison roaming the land. But the European settlers hunted them without pause, cutting that number all the way down to just a few hundred within a hundred years. The species would likely have gone extinct if not for some serious conservation efforts in Canada and the US.

Elk Island was not intended as a home for the plains bison. It was only supposed to be a quick stopping point for a herd intended for release in the west. But a few dozen bison happened to escape into the park, and a couple of generations later there are over 400 of them here. It took me a while, but I did eventually find them. These animals are amazing to watch, especially the overeager bulls during mating season.

11. Bobcat

Spotted in: Napanee, Ontario (sort of)

This fairly small cat is found throughout most of North America, and is easily recognisable for its fluffy face and very short tail. Though I haven;t seen one in the wild, I had the amazing opportunity to work with one at a rehabilitation centre here in Canada. Bob the unoriginally-named bobcat came to us after being hit by a vehicle. We spent most of the afternoon trying not to get our hopes up in case the reported bobcat turned out to a feral housecat or something, but then he arrived and yes, he was a bobcat! Bob spent a week at the wildlife centre recuperating from his surprisingly light injuries before being released back into the wild. He was the first bobcat to ever arrive at the centre, so of course everyone was very excited. If I never get a chance to see a bobcat in the wild, I think Bob is a pretty good substitute.

12. Beluga Whale

Spotted in: Churchill, Manitoba

I’ve been whale watching a few times before. I’ve even been swimming with humpbacks in Tonga. But seeing the belugas of Churchill was a very different experience. Not only did we find them within a few minutes of leaving the harbour (which is unusual for wildlife viewing tours), but we discovered that beluga whales are definitely one of the friendliest species of Canadian wildlife out there.

These white whales found only in arctic waters love the bubbles made by the boat engines, and use the zodiacs as personal scratching posts, so you definitely get a really up-close and personal view of these curious creatures. Taking a tour on the Hudson Bay estuary to see the belugas is a must-do if you visit the remote northern town of Churchill during the summer.

13. Cougar

A cat with many names, the cougar is also known as a puma, panther or mountain lion depending on where you are. They are silent, stealthy animals, so the likelihood of seeing one, even in the deepest wilderness, is extremely slim. My current boss, an avid mountain biker, happened across one just last week on a bike trail here in Banff National Park. He said it was the biggest thing he’d ever seen, and while the others listening to the story were concerned for his safety, here was me asking for the GPS coordinates so I could look for it myself! (Not recommended, by the way).

14. Caribou

Spotted in: Churchill, Manitoba

Did you know that reindeer are actually domesticated caribou? I didn’t, and as a zoologist, I’m a little ashamed about it! I was lucky enough to spot two caribou in northern Manitoba, one male and one female. It was incredible to see how well they blended into their surroundings. Caribou are perfectly suited to a cold, snowy environment, with thick coats, long legs and a short, stocky body that helps to conserve heat.

Can you spot the male caribou in the first photo below?

• 

• 

15. Raccoon

Spotted in: Hamilton, Ontario

I spent an entire winter working around raccoons as part of my job with Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre, but similar to the bobcat and coyote above, I didn’t consider it seeing them in the wild. So of course I got very excited when I came across one next to a waterfall on a rainy spring day during my parents’ visit to Toronto. Coming from Ireland, where wildlife is surprisingly scarce, I loved being able to show my family even just a little of the Canadian wildlife.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite nab a photo of him, so below are some of the curious raccoons I looked after at the wildlife centre.

• 

• 

16. Mountain Goat

Fun fact: the mountain goat isn’t actually a goat. They may look like goats, but they’re actually more closely related to antelopes and cattle. Found only in north-western North America, the mountain goat is a sure-footed alpine climber with a distinctive white woolly coat. Living so high up in the Rocky Mountains gives this species a predator-free home, though there are other dangers. Mountain goat kids must be ready to navigate those crazy slopes within a day or two of being born, or they’ll get left behind.

I’d love to watch mountain goats skipping across the slopes and I still have my fingers crossed I might get the chance.

Other Canadian wildlife to look out for:

Squirrels, ground squirrels, marmots, foxes, deer, bald eagles and Canada geese are just a few of the other Canadian wildlife species worth watching for.

• 

• 

• 

• 

How to interact with Canadian wildlife responsibly.

Never, EVER feed wildlife.

Enticing wildlife with food not only puts yourself in danger, but can lead to wildlife learning to depend on humans to survive or becoming more aggressive – neither of which are a good thing. Human food can also be dangerous to animals, making them ill or malnourished. Feeding Canadian wildlife in national or provincial parks can also lead to hefty fines if you’re caught, so don’t risk it just for a photo op.

Mind your food and dispose of scraps properly.

Feeding wildlife can occur accidentally too, if left unattended or not thrown away correctly. When camping, hiking, or just out in nature, store any snacks or food in proper containers, and don’t leave food lying around unwatched. Even if you think there are no animals around, there probably are. And never leave food next to a rubbish bin. If the bins are full or you can’t find one, take it with you. Don’t be lazy!

Keep your distance.

Wildlife is unpredictable. Unless you’re very familiar with animal behaviour, it can be hard to tell how wildlife is reacting to a situation. Just because an animal looks calm, doesn’t mean it is. Certain times of the year have added dangers, such as berry season for bears, and mating season for elk. Animals can be even more aggressive or volatile during these times, so extra caution is necessary. There have been too many instances of tourists getting too close to wildlife and getting injured, which usually leads to negative consequences for the animal as well.

A really good trick I learned here in Canada was to use your thumb to check your distance. Hold out your hand and if you can cover the entire animal with your thumb, then you should be safe. If you can’t, back away slowly. Obviously the safe distance depends on the animal: deer need less, bears need more, etc.

Don’t touch.

If you’re lucky enough that an animal approaches you of their own free will, please don’t try to pat them. They’re not pets, they don’t enjoy it and it can spook them into doing something aggressive. Your touch can also be dangerous to some animals, particularly marine wildlife who have very sensitive skin. Whales, dolphins and sea turtles can be harmed by the chemicals often found on our skin from lotions, suncream and insect repellent.

Always be aware of your surroundings.

Many wildlife encounters become dangerous simply because the human wasn’t paying attention. When out in nature, always listen out for wildlife, don’t wear headphones, make noise and travel in groups if possible. Bears, for example, are generally only aggressive when surprised, so giving them a chance to hear you coming and move away is always a good idea. Carrying bear spray (and knowing how to use it) is always recommended too.

Stay calm.

Always important. If you’re surprised by wildlife, remain calm and don’t run. While the original intention of the animal is probably not to hunt, suddenly running or moving away may cause their chase instincts to kick in. Stay facing them and back away slowly. Bear behaviour in particular can be unpredictable, so your response will depend on how they are acting. I recommend reading this Parks Canada Bear Safety page, as it has some really good information on the subject.

What Canadian wildlife have you always wanted to see? Do you make any particular effort to see wildlife when you travel? Tell me in the comments below!

Want to know more about ethical wildlife tourism? Remember you can download my FREE guide simply by entering your email below!

Like this post? Pin it for later!

• 

• 

•