Canada has 39 National Parks and eight National Park Reserves encompassing prairies, coastlines, forests and frozen peaks, but a small fraction of Canada's immense 10 million square kilometre landmass. The unending supply of places to camp, hike and adventure in Canada means there is a good chance you will be near Canada's impressive wild fauna.

Before you lace upward your hiking boots or unroll your tent, get schooled on Canada'southward wild side. Hither is what yous should practise if you encounter dangerous wild animals on your adventures.

Wolves

Northern Lights Wolf Centre near Golden, BC

Photo courtesy Northern Lights Wolf Heart

The largest of the dog family, Eastern and Arctic wolves call Canada abode. With casualty that can unremarkably outrun them (mice, foxes and hares), they hunt in packs of 3 to seven, taking turns chasing the casualty they stalk.

Like many of Canada's predatory species, wolves tend to avoid humans. Being intelligent and having excellent hearing, wolves are aware of your approach and volition requite you a wide berth. They just pose a threat to injured or otherwise weak humans, which can include children. If you come across a wolf, stand your basis and exercise not run or turn your dorsum. Raise your arms to make yourself expect larger and maintain eye contact. If the hair on their dorsum rises, indicating aggression, start yelling and throwing things in their direction. If you lose your footing or autumn the wolves volition swarm you, so use clubs, rocks or anything you tin to fend off an assault. When travelling with a pet, keep yourself between the wolf and your pet to help finish the encounter.

Bears

Montebello-Quebec-Kenauk-Bear-Watching-2

A curious bear in Montebello Quebec

Black & Dark-brown Bears

Black bears are the well-nigh mutual bears you will see and the smartest of the 3 bear species found in North America. Black bears want your food. Ensure that your food and garbage are across the reach of animals. When leaving, collect and dispose of your garbage in proper locations. This small pace can go a long way to dissuading bears coming into your expanse.

Brown bears, also known as grizzly bears are some of the largest and nigh powerful bears. They desire to exist left solitary and may be upset you are in their area, but it's unlikely they will to eat you lot. Make an endeavour not to startle one if you are in brownish bear territory. Bear spray, when used properly, is helpful in dissuading them from attacking.

Bear attacks are rare merely practice happen. When hiking to your campsite, information technology's a good thought to travel in groups and make noise giving the bear a hazard to leave the expanse and then it doesn't feel crowded. Since bears are very protective of their young if y'all know is a cub in the area, change locations immediately. Never, ever become between a bear and her cubs.

If the bear sees y'all earlier yous can leave do non arroyo them, even if they seem at-home and peaceful. Also, do not run. If y'all do, yous will expect similar prey and information technology will follow you out of instinct. You lot can't outrun them either, bears tin can get a speed of 30 mph. Stand your footing or back away slowly from the bear while trying to await larger, yelling, waving your arms and big exaggerated movements. If a acquit charges, it is likely a barefaced. DO NOT RUN! They volition frequently come within a few feet and then veer off at the last second.

Polar Bears

Polar Bear Kid Friendly Quebec city

Photograph Credit SHUTTERSTOCK Sepaq

If you are in the northernmost region of Canada you may come up across a polar bear. This rare encounter is usually the result of the conduct looking for food, and they consider humans nutrient. The same rules use: Don't run. You tin't outrun them. They alive in h2o, so you won't outswim them either.

If a polar deport is agitated information technology volition make loud huffing noises and snap its jaws. If they charge it will Not be a barefaced. Effort to calmly leave the area or go inside a edifice, but do non turn your back and practise not make centre contact. Making noise may drive them away. If all else fails use whatever deterrent or weapon available.

Snakes

You lot might retrieve there aren't poisonous snakes in Canada, simply you would be wrong. In Canada, at that place are effectually 35 species of snakes, of which 26 are native. Of those, four are venomous and found in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Ontario. The almost dangerous serpent, the Prairie Rattlesnake is found in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Don't get nervous, there are less than a dozen snakebites reported in Canada a year.

Most snakes are neither unsafe or poisonous. 80% of bites occur when people stick their hand or foot into places snakes hang out like holes, under rocks or in bushes. If you see 1 post-obit you, stomp your feet. The vibrations will misfile the snake and it will leave. If you are bitten, do not try to suck the toxicant out – that merely works on Television set. Wash the bite, apply a tourniquet and become to a medical professional.

Cougar (a.k.a. Mountain Lion)

Canada Wild: What to Do When You Encounter Wild fauna on Their Turf – Cougar/Mountain Lion

Cougars, Canada'south largest wild cat, have salubrious populations in Alberta and British Columbia. They chase throughout the day or night all year round but are more active at dusk or dawn. Due to their small size and erratic movements similar to pocket-size prey, children are susceptible to cougar attacks, as are adults crouched, sitting or kneeling.

Fortunately, attacks average only 6 per year in North America. If you lot ever find yourself face-to-face with one of Canada'south most dangerous felines, do not run, as whatsoever sudden movement will spark the assail instinct. Back abroad slowly looking them in the eye and never plough your dorsum on them.

Enhance your vox and speak firmly, raise your arms, throw rocks in their management (not striking them) to convince them yous are a threat, not prey. Also allow them an artery of escape so they don't feel trapped and attack. Playing expressionless is not a suggested strategy. If the cat attacks, fight back and don't finish; people have successfully fought off cougars with rocks and sticks. Stay on your feet, or if you fall get dorsum up as quickly as possible. If you lot accept pepper spray or a big stick, utilise it or anything y'all can as a weapon to protect yourself.

Moose and Elk

Newfoundland is famous for its robust moose population By Ryan Hagerty [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo By Ryan Hagerty [Public domain], via Wikimedia Eatables

Near do not remember of Canada's gentile-looking cultural icon to be aggressive, but moose can be, particularly if startled and during rutting (mating) season or while with their young calves. The sheer size of these large animals (600 – 800 kilograms), makes them a threat. Also, moose can kick with either their front end or dorsum feet, significant you don't know where the assault volition come from.

If you come beyond a moose keep a broad booth and make a hasty exit. Moose are used to being the largest animals and will stand their ground. When going to assault, they may give a "barefaced" charge as a warning sign with their ears laid back and their long back hairs raised. It volition stomp the ground and swing its head in your management. If this happens, back away and wait for something—a auto or tree—to put between you and the moose, especially it's antlers.

Elk are smaller than moose only still grow to half a ton. Plentiful in Canada's wilderness, people are used to their presence and forget elk can be dangerous.

Many of the same rules of moose apply to elk. Always proceed a rubber altitude, never approach a babe calf, fifty-fifty if y'all retrieve it's alone, the female parent is likely close and you lot don't desire to come up between a calf and its mother.  If yous come up across an elk, do not plow your dorsum on the fauna since they well-nigh always accuse from behind. Raise your arms and use your jacket or backpack to make yourself announced larger. If you have a domestic dog with you lot, turn information technology loose on the animate being, and that may distract them plenty that you can escape or climb a tree.

Coyote

Canada Wild: What to Practise When You Encounter Wild fauna on Their Turf – Coyote

Coyotes are found across Canada in both land and urban areas, and they are not scared of humans. Although there is some danger to small children, they pose more of a threat to dogs. If you see them showing interest in your dog they are probable just curious, but remember in packs coyotes can pose a threat to large dogs, so continue your dog on a leash or inside if possible.

If you practice come up across a coyote, don't run. Stand your ground and effort to scare them off by yelling (not screaming), waving your arms and throwing things in their direction, merely not at them.