Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/809166
FURRY BEASTS Canada is blessed with several species of bear. The fi ercest are the grizzlies, who reside mostly in the western and north- western part of the country in forested and mountainous areas. Grizzlies 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 in sanctuaries at Grouse Mountain, Vancouver, and Kicking Horse Resort near Golden, B.C. 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, brown and occasionally even white, such as with 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. Polar bears are white like the snow of their northern habitat. Beware, they are not shy. In Churchill, Manitoba, the "Polar Bear Capital of the World," you can take a tour from mid-October to early November aboard a large-wheeled tundra vehicle that lets you safely get close to these powerful, attractive animals. Nothing is more evocative of Canadian wilderness than the spine-tingling howl of a wolf. The largest members of the dog family, wolves hunt in packs of six to ten throughout remote areas. You can learn Canada is renowned for her majestic geology. But our nation is also defi ned by an incredible variety of creatures who inhabit the snow-capped mountains, the vast prairies, the lake-speckled Canadian Shield and lengthy coastlines. Here are some of these iconic animals, and where—if you're alert—you can spot them. WILD CREATURES OF CANADA BY HANS TAMMEMAGI GRIZZLY BEAR, YT • SHUTTERSTOCK/MARTIN MICHAEL RUDLOF 40