Animal Tourism Canada

Best Places to See Wild Animals in Canada

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Plenty of fun animals live close to cities, suburbs and vacation spots.

	British Columbia
	Vancouver From May to October boats go out of Port McNeil to look for Killer Whales. You may also see minke whales, humpback whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Dall’s porpoises, harbour seals, Steller sea lions, and nesting eagles. Stubbs Island Whale Watching BC's first whale watching company.$90 (2009) Telegraph Cove, BC Mackay Whale Watching Ltd 1514 Broughton Blvd Port McNeill, (250) 928-3185
	Tofino People come to Tofino, a tiny former fishing town, to see killer, gray and humpback whales, bears, huge storms and the Clayoquot Sound, a United Nations World Biosphere Reserve. Ocean Outfitters has both bear and whale viewing. 421 Main St, 250-725-2866 Jamie's Whaling Station has been running since 1982 and offers whale, sea lion and bear tours. You can go on a big cruiser or little zodiac. The Sea Lion tours visit Wouwer Island in Barkley Sound, where 2,500 California and Stellar Sea Lions visit in Aug. & Sept. 606 Campbell St 250-725-3919
	North Island Wildlife Recovery Association The North Island Wildlife Recovery Association runs a special center to raise and release bear cubs along with assorted other wildlife it helps. The center offers educational tours and summer camps. 1240 Leffler, Parksville, BC (250) 248-8534
	Bear and Whale Tours, Telegraph Cove, BC Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island is the launch point for many whale and grizzly bear tours. The bear tours head out on boat to Knight Inlet, Bute Inlet or other parts of the mainland. Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island is the launch point for many whale and grizzly bear tours. The bear tours head out on boat to Knight Inlet, Bute Inlet or other parts of the mainland.
	Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre The Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre has a pack of wolves that were raised in captivity and are not releasable. The wolves live in a 1.25 acre enclosure. The public can visit, see the wolves and l... The Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre has a pack of wolves that were raised in captivity and are not releasable. The wolves live in a 1.25 acre enclosure. The public can visit, see the wolves and learn about their place in the wild. 1745 Short Road, Golden, BC (250) 344.6798 or toll free 1.877.377.WOLF
	BC Wildlife Park Kamloops The BC Wildlife Park Kamloops takes in injured, orphaned and sick local wildlife. Those that can be released are at the appropriate time and place. Those who can't make it in the wild stay and teach the public. They have wolves, black and grizzly bear, lynx, cougar, birds of prey, badger, bison, reindeer and elk. 9077 Dallas Dr, Kamloops, BC (250) 573-3242
	Mt. Revelstoke Mount Revelstoke National Park--about 250 miles west of Calgary--has dwindling caribou in the winter. A 2002 census found 174 mountain caribou, down from 362 caribou in 1994. British Columbia has other herds, including at Wells Gray Provincial Park, but they're also declining. Some are holding steady: Purcells, Barkerville, Narrow Lake and Hart Range herds. A rare lizard lives on south-facing slopes of the mountain. 301B 3rd Street West, Revelstoke, BC, Canada (250) 837-7500
	Colville, ID The woodland caribou is the most endangered mammal in the lower 48. One tiny herd that straddles British Columbia, Washington State and Idaho survives. The animals winter in the cedar forests ofColville National Forest. The Selkirk Conservation Alliance has been fighting to limit snowmobile disturbance in the critical habitat like it is in Canada. Caribou used to roam all the northern states, from New England to Wisconsin, but they have been hurt by global warming, development, over-hunting, logging and now snowmobiling--which makes caribou spend extra energy when they are already stressed. Although hard to see, rangers recommend the Salmo-Priest Wilderness. There are plans to transplant caribou from British Columbia. (509) 684-7000
	Campbell River About 3,000 Roosevelt Elk live on Vancouver Island. The densest area is just north of the town of Campbell River, Vancouver Island Wilds reports. They are so dense up north, at 6 per km, they can be seen grazing roadside.
	Hornby Island According to Elasmodiver, Hornby Island is one of the best places in the world to see Sixgill sharks. Not that there's a huge population here; it's just that everywhere else they live is much deeper and inaccessible. Hornby Island Diving 10795 Central Road
	Labrador
	Lake Melville and Groswater Bay is one of the best whale-watching sites in Labrador
	Manitoba
	Churchill Polar Bears Churchill, Manitoba, is the polar bear watching capitol of Canada. Many companies and organizations offer tours to see the bears in ruggedized buggies. The Polar Bear Institute lists many tour operators and the Churchill Northern Studies Centre offers learning vacations.(204) 675-2307 map »
	Wapusk National Park Polar Bears Wapusk National Park's polar bears can be seen pretty much only with the help of a guide. The park doesn't recommend anyone visit on their own. The park lists several helicopter tour guides. The remote Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge offers coastal ground tours to see mother and cubs in the summer and fall. 888-773-8888
	Nanuvit
	A herd of about 250,000 caribou live in the Canadian province of Nanavut. You cantour near Lake Beverly to see the herd in the summer, along with wolves. About 18,500 are hunted each year from theBeverly and Qaminurjuaq herds, mainly for sustenance.
	New Brunswick
	Little, Big Bear Safari Wildlife guide Richard Goguen shows you black bears by drawing them with bait to Little, Big Bear Safari. People who have gone have been delighted with the treehouse view. Mid-May to Mid-Oct. · Seven ... Wildlife guide Richard Goguen shows you black bears by drawing them with bait to Little, Big Bear Safari. People who have gone have been delighted with the treehouse view. Mid-May to Mid-Oct. · Seven days a week, Rain or shine $45 / adult 4120 Route 480, Acadieville, NB, (506) 775-2354
	Cambobello Island Not only does Capt. Mac Greene of Island Cruises take people out to see whales, he also rescues them as part of theCampobello Whale Rescue Team. That means when you go out on this dog-friendly, family-run boat, you get to hear stories of saving whales and bald eagles, which hang around the harbor near the East Quoddy Lighthouse. You may see minke, humpback, finback or northern right whales.
	West Brier Island Cruises from West Brier Island out into the Bay of Fundy may get you to see whales, dolphins, seabirds and a colony of seals. In the fall, shorebirds and raptors often stop at the island.
	Newfoundland
	The fishing village of Twillingate is one of the best whale-watching sites in Labrador and Newfoundland The MV Iceberg Alley sees;humpback, minke and finback whales, dolphins, seals, terns, black quillenot, kittewakes, seagulls, puffins, murres, and shearwaters. Cape Saint Francis, near Pouch Cove, NL, ; Cape Spear and Signal Hill near Saint John's, NL, Canada is one of the best whale-watching sites in Labrador and Newfoundland
	You can see puffins from the shore of Elliston on Bird Island. There are tours available from a biologist from the companyNatural Wonders. He boasts: "This is one of the best places in North America to view puffins!!!" You can also check out the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site. Don't expect to see one, but biologist Jonathan Joy notes that Newfoundland is the giant squid capitol of the world. Bonus: whales, icebergs
	Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve, along the northern coast of Newfoundland, has polar bears, caribou, black bear and other arctic animals. To get to the park and to see the bears you'll need to book a boat, plane or helicopter. Travel through either Nain in Labrador, or Kangiqsualujjuaq in Nunavik (northern Québec).
	Northwest Passages
	Baffin Island Wildly remote Baffin Island, which is in the Arctic Ocean not far from Greenland, has a few polar bear tours from Iqaluit, Nunavut. Some tours camp others tour by boat, hoping to see polar bears, walrus and whales.
	Northern Territories
	Wood Buffalo Northern Territories' Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada's largest park, has the world's biggest self-regulating wild herd of buffalo: more than half of Canada's population of 10,000. That's down from 168,000 for this slightly skinny subspecies of bison, which is classified as threatened. This park is also the summer home of Whooping Cranes, but they are off limits to visitors. You can reach the park off Highway 5 (gravel road) near Hay River, NT, from the MacKenzie Highway. Visitor, Fort Smith (867) 872-7960 24 hr hotline:(867) 872-7962 Fort Chipewyan Office / Visitor Reception Centre (780) 697-3662 animaltourism: Canada
	NOVA SCOTIA
	Sable Island A herd of 300 wild horses, probably the largest herd of unmanaged horses in the world, lives here. Like many wild horse populations, their origins are vague and there are the inevitable rumors of shipwrecks. But according to the Green Horse Society of Sable Island, they most likely arrived in the 1700s and were occassionally supplemented afterwards with other horses. Like all wild horse populations, people wanted to step in and manage, remove or cull them. But the Canadian government instead protected them. You have to get permission to visit the island. Bonus species: harbor and grey seals
	Boats leaving off the southern coast of Nova Scotia get so close to whales you may be able to touch them. Lunenberg Whale Watching goes out several times a day and has a handy guide to what you might see when. (The best time is summer)
	Ontario
	Haliburton Forest Wolf Centre Haliburton Forest Wolf Centre has a huge (15 acre) enced in area for a small pack of gray wolves. Because the area is so large, it may be hard to see them, but they say your chances are pretty good. 1095 Redken Dr, RR#1, Haliburton, ON (705) 754-2198
	Exeter, Ontario White Squirrels Exeter, Ontario has lucky white squirrels, which can be seen at McNaughton Park.
	Isle Royale Red Squirrels Isle Royale National Park is home to its own species of red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus regalis.The Isle Royale Red Squirrel, separated from the mainland squirrrels by 14 miles of water, evolved into a smaller, less red subspecies.They are the most common and most chatty animal on Isle Royale. Isle Royale is only accessible by boat. Ferries come from Houghton and Copper Harbor, Michigan and Grand Portage, Minnesota. (906) 482-0984
	Isle Royale wolves & MOOSE Isle Royale National Park has gray wolves that are believed to have walked over an ice bridge some time after 1940. The wolves are hard to see. The wolves depend on the island's moose and both populations have been hit hard by ticks. The predator-prey relationship has been studied for 50 years. Isle Royale National Park has several hundred moose that are relatively common to see. Their only predator is the wolf, but both populations have been hit hard by ticks. The predator-prey relationship has been studied for 50 years. The population hit its lowest level in 50 years in 2007 Isle Royale is only accessible by boat. Ferries come from Houghton and Copper Harbor, Michigan and Grand Portage, Minnesota. (906) 482-0984 map »
	Prince Edward Island
	Murray Harbor The residents of Murray Harbor on Prince Edward Island have been enjoying a seal colony for about 60 years, with formal tours going since the 1980s. Though the tours are neither formal nor big (they let us bring our senior dog (though made sure that Jolly wasn't going to bother the seals first.) Marine Adventures, Route 4 and the river, tours up to three times a day. (902) 962-2494, 800-496-2494
	Murray Harbor Prince Edward Island loves its blue jays, which are practically the size of pigeons and quite bold and friendly. The owner ofForest and Stream Cottages even gets them to eat out of his hand (and teaches guests how, too)446 Fox River Road Murray Harbour, PE C0A 1V0, Canada (800) 227-9943
	Quebec
	Mantane Réserve Faunique de Matane has 6,000 moose, the most dense population inQuebec, they claim. This park on theGaspésie peninsula is known for wildlife. You can rent a cabin here or use a viewing tower. (418) 562-3700
	Quebec City The closest whale watch to Quebec City is out of Saint-Siméon, but Croisières runs buses out of the city for one-day excursions. They offer sheltered cruise boats and zodiacs up to five times a day. Croisières Charlevoix / Whales Watch 130 rue du Festival, Saint-Siméon, QC (418) 694-0909
	Essipit Instead of riding in a big tour boat, you go in a zodiac to the deepest part of the river where you can be quiet and get close. The tour company provided isothermic jumpsuits so you can see whales (les baleines) and marine mammals (mammifères marins). Croisières Essipit 46 rue de la réserve (Essipit) Les Escoumins, QC G0T1K0, Canada (888) 868-6666
	Tadoussac, Quebec St. Lawrence Whales Whales visit the St. Lawrence Seaway from June to September. Their favorite spot seems to be the mouth of the Saugenay Fjord. Many tours take off from the Tadoussac Wharf--either in big tourist boats on small zodiac that only fit a dozen animal tourists. The giant Canadian cruise line Croisieres has a huge range of boats on the St. Lawrence, including the intimate zodiac tours. Leaves from both Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine on the other side fo the Sagunenay Fjord. $68 in 2009 Essipit has $50 zodiac tours from Tadoussac.
	Yukon
	Yukon Wildlife Preserve started as a family operation in the 1960s and in 2000 became a non-profit 700-acre, educational wildlife reserve with caribou, elk, Alaska Yukon Moose, ground squirrel, lynx, mule deer, musk ox, wood bison and thinhorn sheep. Open only weekends in the winter and every day in the summer. Tour by bus ($22) or foot ($15). They're also a wildlife rehabilitation center. Plenty of guides lead tours by canoe, foot or 4x4 nearby.

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