Plants & Animals Of The Canadian Wilderness

If you want to explore the Canadian wilderness, you are sure to see all kinds of plants and animals. Depending on where in Canada you visit, you could encounter all kinds of environments, including mountains, forests or rivers. Learn about the plants and animals in Canada's wilderness, so you can put a name to what you are seeing.

The red baneberry is a poisonous plant that produces bright red berries and green leaves with pointed edges. Red baneberry plants grow about 2 feet tall and thrive in moist, well-drained soils and partial sun to full shade. These plants are native to many parts of Canada, including Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

The yarrow, or common yarrow, is native to Canada and grows in the wilderness all over the country. This perennial wildflower thrives in full sun and dry to slightly moist soils. It grows more than 2 feet tall and produces small, feathery white or pink flowers. The flowers typically bloom in midsummer to late summer.

The Canadian lynx is found all over Canada, as well as the northern United States and Alaska. This cold-weather cat is normally between 30 and 40 centimeters tall and can weigh between 10 and 20 kilograms. Canadian lynx have ears that stand up and are shaped like triangles. They have thick, light brown or gray fur that helps keep them warm and large paws for moving through the snow. Canadian lynx are smaller than other wild cats, so they usually are not threats to people. They prefer to hunt hares and other small animals, including domestic cats.

Polar bears are native to northern Canada and are well-known for their white fur and large bodies. Male polar bears can weigh up to 750 kilograms, but average about 400. They can stand as tall as 3 meters. Polar bear's coats are very oily, which helps them shake water off. Churchill, a small town in Canada, is often a destination for people wanting to see polar bears. The bears have been known to enter the town looking for food. Typically, polar bears hunt seals for food, but they also eat reindeer, birds, walrus and small whales.