When it comes to wildlife, Canada has more than a few icons, from bears and beavers to bald eagles and whales.
With the world’s largest coastline – bordered by the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Oceans – its waters are home to more than 30 species of whale, making it one of the best places in the world to spot them.
The country’s famed national parks – such as Banff and Jasper – also offer accessible ways to see wildlife (with a little luck). They’re home to animals including black bears, grizzlies, wolves, elk and moose, and many are within an easy distance from major cities.
Specialist wilderness lodges in remote landscapes also host once-in-a-lifetime trips across Arctic tundra, offshore islands or pristine rainforest, all in search of polar bears, beluga whales and spirit bears, plus other endangered animals in Canada. From misty rainforests to rugged shores, here are some of the best places to see animals in the wild.
1. For spirit bears, grizzlies and black bear: The Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia
Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest is the only place in the world where you can find the rare ‘spirit bear’ (Shutterstock)
Catch a glimpse of white fur amongst the ancient cedars and you’ll join an elite club. The vast Great Bear Rainforest encompasses a quarter of the world’s remaining coastal temperate rainforest and is the only place in the world where you’ll find the white-furred Kermode or ‘spirit’ bear.
With just 50 to 150 of this black bear subspecies believed to exist, it’s one of the rarest animals in the world. The Indigenous-owned Spirit Bear Lodge – open from August to October – takes guests to specific spots within the Kitasoo Xai’xais Traditional Territory for the best chance to spot one. Cross your fingers: the lodge estimates that around 50% of guests get a sighting.
