Canada is often said to be the greatest place in the world to live. Maybe you don't quite agree with that, but you will surely agree that it's a place of sumptuous and majestic natural beauty. Aside from the stunning landscapes on offer, Canada is home to some fascinating wild animals. But how much do you know about these marvelous North American beasts? Check out these wild facts:
1. The Canadian Lynx
- Lynxes hunt in the snowy forests of North America, Asia and Europe.
- As they take a step forward, Lynxes spread out their toes so that they walk as if wearing snow shoes.
- If you get to see one in the wild, you are very lucky, since they tend to be active at night.
- Their piercing eyesight allows them to pick out any mouse within a radius of 250 feet.
2. The Wolverine
- Wolverines are not bears, they are actually a species of weasel.
- They can spend a day trekking up to 15 miles in order to find food.
- They eat other animals when they can: mice and rabbits for example. But like us, wolverines are omnivores.
3. The Beaver
- Beavers look so cute, it's hard to believe some of these adorable herbivores weigh up to 60 pounds.
- We humans are considered unique for our capacity to modify and alter our environment, but beavers come a close second.
- Beavers' teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, therefore all their constant gnawing and biting serves to keep them in check.
4. The Canadian Goose
- The wing span of the Canadian goose is very large, ranging between 4 and 6 feet.
- The Canadian goose is very strong and adaptable, requiring only grass, berries and water to flourish in virtually any environment. When they migrate they do so in a majestic 'V' formation.
- While sauntering off like this, they can travel as far as 1,500 miles per day.
5. The Big Horn Sheep
- Their distinctive horns make up around 10% of their weight.
- The males fight for dominance by squaring off in a duel, where they back up and launch themselves at one another at speeds up to 20 mph.
- The big horned sheep reside all the way from the mountains of Canada, to the mountains of Mexico.
6. The Beluga Whale
- These beautiful whales can live for up to 50 years.
- They weigh upwards of 3,000 lbs.
- They use a range of different clicking sounds to communicate with each other.
7. The Moose
- Even if you take their wonderful antlers out of the equation, these moose can stand up to 6 ft tall.
- They weigh an average of 1,800 lbs.
- To defend themselves, moose leap about with their threateningly large and sharp hooves.
8. The Grizzly Bear
- The grizzly bear is related to the brown bear.
- Generally these are solitary creatures, but if there is enough salmon to go around they will congregate in a small group.
- Even though they are the fiercest animal around they usually settle for a lunch of berries and nuts.
- Amazingly, these bears can run at galloping speeds of 30 mph.
9. The Polar Bear
- Polar bears may appear white, but their skin is actually black.
- Their paws are every so slightly webbed, which in part explains their great swimming skills.
- Unlike most bears, these handsome-looking animals are determined killers, being the most carnivorous of American bears.They generally prefer to hunt seals.
