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Yukon Wildlife Information

Yukon's human population of around 30,000 souls would fit within a few city blocks of a large city. But the numbers of creatures in the Territory is much more impressive. The Yukon is tucked away in Canada's most western corner and approximately 10,000 black bears and roughly 7000 grizzlies roam across this largely wild land - 482,000 square km or 186,660 sq. miles in size.
Add a few polar bears in the far North, about 50,000 moose nipping away in the forests and wet lands and maybe 150,000 caribou migrating over huge distances...... and all of them chased by roughly 5000 wolves.
There are 22,000 mountain sheep, a few hundred musk oxen, some wood bison and countless other furry animals from foxes to hares and from squirrels to coyote.
And not to forget - 35 trillion mosquitoes and an equal number of black flies providing not only sumptuous meals to birds but also keeping us tenters entertained around camp fires.

These following pages are about the larger ones of the Yukon's animals:
   
     
When tenting in a wilderness area:


* Do not prepare, cook or eat in or near your tent. Do this at least 50 meters from the tent. And be certain that the wind does not blow the smell of your cooking toward or into your tent!
* Do not keep food in your tent and, where bears are concerned, toothpaste, soap, aftershave etc is considered food! And cookies are considered food too!!
* Do not climb into your tent with clothing you used to cook with.
* Do clean fish straight into a fast flowing part of the river and do it downstream from your tent.
No river nearby? Where did you get that fish from?
* Do not take any food with you that harbours a strong smell - like canned fish, bacon, fresh meat, oysters, blue cheese, pizza, poutine.....or anything similar - like your "steaming" socks!
** If you do not want bears ( or squirrels ) in your tent keep any kind of food out of your tent and if you are the type of person who will climb into the tent after having wiped clean your knife, still sticky-with-peanut-butter, on your pants: then do not blame the bear for - let us say - having a bit of a look.

** Generally, a river traveller will see black bears, but grizzlies will be near rivers in Spring in search of carcasses of animals and fresh new growth as well as defenceless moose calves. Grizzlies also will concentrate near salmon spawning rivers in Fall.

Hikers, since moving most often above the tree line, might encounter both black bears and grizzlies.
*** Both type of bears are very good swimmers and setting up tent on an island does not mean the happy river traveller can become careless.

Both type of bears hear, smell and see very well and both can run faster than humans AND can run just as well down hill as up hill.
All bears like to climb trees with maybe the exception of older grizzlies who can be on the heavy side. A grizzly you have tried to escape from easily could uproot a too small tree!!

*** About Grizzlies - also known as Brown Bears:
Grizzlies are larger than black bears and can be found anywhere in the territory. They can come in all colours ranging from black to brown and even a shade of blond. The average weight of a fully grown grizzly is around 200 kg (440 Ib) and over short distances they can reach a speed of 60 km/hour (37 m.p.h.) Grizzlies carry a pronounced hump on their shoulder.

*** About Black Bears:
Black bears can be black but also come in shades of brown and to a light blond and even a slight blue. The average weight of a fully grown black bear is around 120 kg (260 Ib) and over short distances can reach a speed of about 45 km/h (28 m.p.h.) Black Bears are more curious than Grizzlies and they can be more of a problem in urban areas and on camp grounds, but drifting food smells ( be it your sausage grilling, your garbage or your dog food) can attract both of them.

*** About Moose:
A fully grown moose can weigh up to 800kg and encountering one in the wilderness is a real treat. But, if you find yourself between a female moose and her calves - Beware! An angry moose will protect her offspring at all costs and even grizzlies can be rather respectful. Moose have bad eyesight but can smell and hear very well and are extremely well adapted to live and travel in almost all terrain. River travellers have very good chances to spot moose along river banks - sometimes with grizzlies not far away!

*** About Cougars - also known as Mountain Lion, Puma, Panther:
Cougars have been spotted in the southern region of the Yukon. They are the second largest of the cat family in the America's. These large cat's have been known to attack people - especially children, who, because of their size, can make easy prey. They are silent stalkers/hunters and very difficult to spot. If a hiker is faced with a cougar it's best to behave as if dealing with a dog - do not run away - retreat facing the cougar but not staring into its eyes - and make yourself as big as possible - and fight like hell if necessary.

**** About Bear proof containers:
Bear proof containers are the best choice to have along when hiking into the Yukon's wilderness. These food containers are unbreakable by even the most desperate of bears. Bears are well able to smell what ever foods are inside the container but, not being able to get at it, will learn to disassociate food smell from people. Encountering a bear one should leave the container behind while slowly retreating from the area. After the bear has given up on it and has moved on, the container can be retrieved.
These containers are currently only available at the Dawson City River Hostel in Dawson City. E-mail: yukonhostels@yahoo.ca

A few words about bear spray:
Cans of various sizes are sold in most camping stores. The use of bear spray should be considered only as a last resort and only when the bear has advanced too close for comfort. Make certain that you are shooting the spray not into the wind - otherwise it will be you choking and gasping and it might be the bear passing out observing that hilarious sight!!!

 

For more info on bear safety:
http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/fishwild/bearsafety.html

For more on wildlife viewing tips:
http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/viewing/index.html



These website below are offering lots more information about the flora and fauna of the Yukon and the North:

 

www.beringia.com -  About the natural history of the Yukon and the North.

 

http://www.cnf.ca/naturewatch/plantwatch/index.html  -  Everything about plants and flowers of the North.

www.hww.ca  - Everything about Canadian wildlife - from birds to mammals and insects to reptiles.
 

www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca  - Everything about the Yukon's environment, it's wildlife and lots more.

www.arcticdiscovery.ca/flandfa/index.php   AND  www.arcticdiscovery.ca/wildlife_facts/index.php

 

Everything about the North - it's wildlife, nature and the people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bears & Grizzlies:
Grizzlies look like this!!

Click to enlarge

Regular Bears look like this!!

Click to enlarge

   
   
   

 

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