Carnivores in Canada PDF

Bea rs Bears A small group of large mammals (8 species) On all continents except Antarctica & Australia Long lived – many years to reach sexual maturity Black & grizzly enter torpor in winter, the polar bear fasts on land during summer Solitary except for mother and young Black & gr...

Bea rs Bears A small group of large mammals (8 species) On all continents except Antarctica & Australia Long lived – many years to reach sexual maturity Black & grizzly enter torpor in winter, the polar bear fasts on land during summer Solitary except for mother and young Black & grizzly are crepuscular, polar bears are diurnal (dusk and dawn activity) Vision & hearing not well-developed but smell is Primarily herbivores except polar bears  black bear Long shaggy coat that varies from black to brown to honey coloured Short stout body with short strong legs Large, wide feet with curved black claws Straight snout – angle from eyes to the tip of the nose is relatively flat Ears are quite far apart black bear Primarily inhabit forests Omnivorous 95% of diet is plants unless garbage is available Excellent tree climbers Habitat fragmentation is beneficial – pop’n increases in AB Lethal control in urban areas & problem bears grizzly bear Brownish to yellowish coat with white-tipped guard hairs that give a grizzled appearance Rarely can be black or nearly white Large flat paws have very long claws Concave nose Shoulder hump grizzly bear 70-80% of diet is plants Excellent smell to find carrion prefer open or semi-open country SARA prairie population – extirpated AEP Threatened Less than 700 in province! Hunting ban since 2006 grizzly bear Extirpated from their primary grassland habitat – now in suboptimal habitat of mountains & forests Recently confirmed hybridizations with polar bears = pizzly or growler Ursus Dog s Present in the Prairie Provinces  Canids Widespread – all continents except Antarctica Acute smell & hearing is critical, sight is less developed Larger bodied canids form packs with strict social hierarchies and mating systems Large packs can take down prey that is much larger than themselves Mark territories with scent (urine) & scats Many species have been persecuted harshly Pet dogs came from selective breeding of wolves coyote AKA Prairie Wolf Grey, buffy, or reddish-grey Grizzled hair Pointy nose Tawny snout and ears Bushy tail Runs with tail between legs when frightened Fast = 40-50 kph coyote Endemic to N. Am. Sightings rarely mentioned in explorer journals 200 yrs ago Wolves control coyote pop’ns Humans have repeatedly tried to eradicate coyotes but failed Generalist habitat & diet - mice/voles, ground squirrels, hares, fruits & carrion  grey wolf Grizzled grey, black (in forests) or creamy white (tundra) Look like robust German Shepherd with large paws Bushy tail sticks out straight when running Tail height indicates status in pack Packs are like superorganisms (cooperate)  grey wolf Packs can prey upon adult moose Social hierarchy dominated by alpha male & female that typically are the breeders Communicate with howls Introduced into Yellowstone National Park from Canada in 1995 – ecological changes since Endangered status highly variable in USA  grey wolf Very controversial bounty & control programs: 1. Historically predators were considered vermin – no recognition of ecological roles 2. Predation of livestock 3. Reduction of ungulates for hunters 4. Caribou conservation  red fox Small, slender with very bushy tail with white tip Typically red-orange with white chest, belly and chin Cross phase in north and Mtns Silver phase in prairies cross fox silver fox red fox Habitat generalists Cute and eats many rodents so often a friend of the grain farmer and cattle rancher, but not to mixed farms with small livestock like chickens Not controlled by grey wolves, but instead by coyotes Vixens often enlarge badger or marmot holes for dens ~25% larger than arctic fox  swift fox Cat sized Back is mainly pale, rufus or buffy grey Sides are yellowish buff Long white or black tipped guard hairs give grizzled appearance Black spots on muzzle Black tip to tail Orange neck, ears and legs swift fox Extirpated from prairies by 1938 Reintroduced from USA in 1980-1990’s Breeding populations in AB and SK along USA border COSEWIC Endangered (2000)