Canadian Animals Trivia

1. Gavia immer is a particularly vocal bird that is famous in Canada thanks to its appearance on the one-dollar coin. By what name is it better known?

From Quiz (Wild) Life in Canada

Answer: Common loon

The common loon first appeared on the Canadian one-dollar coin in 1987 and has since become a ubiquitous part of Canadian life, while the coin itself has become known as a "loonie". (The two-dollar coin was introduced in 1996 with a picture of a polar bear on it but still ended up being called a "toonie".) Common loons have distinctive black and white plumage, with black heads and chequered black-and-white feathers on their upper backs. However, they have an even more distinctive range of vocal calls, ranging from the tremolo or 'laughing' call that they use to indicate alarm or distress to the long yodelling calls made by the male birds for use when patrolling territory. Male loons make up a unique yodel for each new territory they are called on to defend. Loons can also be heard wailing and hooting. Loons are one of three families of birds that are classed as "foot-propelled divers" - the others being the grebes and the cormorants (the razorbill is also a member of the cormorant family).

From Quiz Furbearers of the Canadian Forest

Answer: Red fox

The vertical slit pupils of the red fox allow for maximum light intake at night. Foxes will eat a variety of small animals including rabbits and hares, brids and eggs, insects, and mice. Coyotes and timber or gray wolves lack the slight frame and vertical pupil slits. Wolverines are weasels, not canines.

From Quiz (Wild) Life in Canada

Answer: Newfoundland

Newfoundland is Canada's fourth largest island by area and makes up a large part of the eastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is home to the Newfoundland pine marten, a subspecies of the American marten, which can be differentiated from its more widespread cousin by its larger size. Both species have predominantly dark brown fur with a paler creamy-yellow patch under their chins. It is mainly restricted to mature forests in the western portion of Newfoundland, so, given its limited range, it should probably be no surprise that there have been concerns about the viability of the Newfoundland pine marten's numbers for many years. Various studies from the mid-1980s to the mid-2000s have estimated a population size of less than 1,000 individual animals living in the wild and have led to the species being given legal protection under Canada's 'Species at Risk Act'. Baffin Island, Victoria Island and Ellesmere Island are the three largest islands of Canada (in that order).

From Quiz Furbearers of the Canadian Forest

Answer: Black bear

Though called a black bear, they commonly occur in many colours. (I once saw a mother black bear with 4 cubs, each a different colour!) Black bears will eat berries, nuts, grasses, leaves, insects, small animals, honey, eggs, carrion, and human garbage. They can run about 30 miles per hour (50 km/h) and they swim very well. If you are ever thinking of fleeing from a black bear remember that it can run faster, swim better and climb quicker than you can. (By the way, the marten, wolf, and cougar are primarily carnivores.)

From Quiz Creatures of the Canadian Prairies

Answer: Salmon

In common with other members of the salmon family, the lake whitefish have an adipose fin located on the back behind the dorsal fin. Because it is broad across the shoulders, this fish is sometimes also called 'humpback' whitefish. The species name, clupeaformis, comes from Latin and means herring-shaped. Lake whitefish contain more omega-3 fatty acids than their pink and sockeye salmon cousins. They are excellent cooked in a variety of ways. In general, a good catch measures 40 - 60 cm (16 - 24 in) in length and they inhabit deeper waters. Found across the prairie provinces and Northwest Territories, the lake whitefish is one of Canada's most economically valuable freshwater species. In particular, Ontario's Lake Simcoe is a favourite for recreational fishing of lake whitefish. The species responds well to breeding in captivity and release to the wild. Mackerel are marine fish, while some species of herring are found in freshwater locations, and are sometimes called shad. Lamprey (eels) are also found in freshwater. None of these fish is in the salmon family. In spite of competition with dancing bears, this question was tickled out of the water and into the quiz by Phoenix Rising member VegemiteKid.

From Quiz Furbearers of the Canadian Forest

Answer: Bobcat

The bobcat is a carnivore that lacks the large snowshoe-like footpads and ear tufts of the longer-legged lynx. Bobcats eat a variety of small animals such as rabbits and hares, birds and eggs, mice and chipmunks, shrews and moles, mink and muskrats, as well as fish, snakes and crustaceans. They tend to be solitary animals that will climb trees to escape from predators, rest, or chase prey. If you ever see a bobcat in the wild, count yourself lucky. (The cougar is larger than the lynx, and fishers and wolverines are weasels, not felines.)

From Quiz Creatures of the Canadian Prairies

Answer: Plains bison

The plains bison, and its cousin, the wood bison, used to roam across North America in their millions. Estimates of their numbers in the 1800s ranged from 30 to 70 million. Thanks to habitat loss and trophy hunters, their numbers quickly declined to less than a thousand. Reintroduction programmes, like the one at Elk Island and the Grassland National Parks (Saskatchewan) are working diligently to address that decline. The dwindling of their numbers has had a significant ecological effect. When the plains bison roamed the prairies in their numbers, their wallowing would create numbers of temporary ponds that became habitats for frogs and other water-loving creatures. Their grazing encouraged the growth of fresh vegetation, and it is believed that their dung may have been a significant factor in the richness of the prairie soil. The plains bison is the provincial animal of Manitoba. This question was created by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who is convinced that the collective noun for 200 bison is a bisontennial.

From Quiz Furbearers of the Canadian Forest

Answer: Fisher

To avoid quills, fishers will attack a porcupine's head. Though famous for dining on porcupines, they also eat a variety of small animals. When natural food is in short supply, fishers will prey on cats and small dogs where available. They prefer living in dense forests and can walk or run down trees in the same manner that squirrels do. From nose to tail tip, fishers can be up to four feet long, weighing only 5 to 10 pounds. Fishers are members of the weasel family and, consequently, have scent glands. (Martens don't usually eat porcupines, and bears and lynx are not weasels, nor do they often eat porcupines.)

From Quiz Creatures of the Canadian Prairies

Answer: Alberta

The Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is the largest wild sheep in North America. It was adopted as the provincial mammal of Alberta in 1889 and designated Colorado's state mammal in 1961. Today, it is found in the Northwestern United States and the US and Canadian Rockies, although evidence suggests that large herds (an estimated two million sheep) once roamed the Western United States and Canada. Rocky Mountain bighorns are renowned for their agility and balance, deftly traversing precipitous crags. They are capable of twenty-foot jumps and balancing on the narrowest of ledges. British Columbia (whose provincial mammal is the spirit bear) is not considered a Prairie Province. The Rocky Mountains do not extend into Saskatchewan (white-tailed deer) and Manitoba (Plains bison). Phoenix Rising's JCSon delivered this question into the quiz with legendary balance.

From Quiz (Wild) Life in Canada

Answer: American Civil War

Canadian horses (or French Canadian horses) generally have a dark coat - black, brown, bay or (occasionally) chestnut - and average around 14 to 16 hands in height. They tend to have a somewhat stocky build but are noted for having a graceful way of carrying their head and neck. Prior to the 1860s, the descendants of the 40 or so horses sent to Canada by King Louis XIV numbered over 150,000 and they were in widespread use across Canada, the United States and in further afield places such as Jamaica. They were particularly popular for their versatility and ability to cope with racing, carriage-pulling, agricultural work and - sadly for the horses involved - army cavalry duties. A large number of the animals also escaped from their human masters and formed feral herds in the northern United States. After their population numbers were decimated by their use in the cavalry and artillery units of the Union forces in the American Civil War, an official pedigree studbook for the Canadian horse was set up in Quebec in 1885 to monitor the recovery of the breed and control its bloodlines. The Canadian horse became an official symbol of Canada in 2002.

From Quiz Furbearers of the Canadian Forest

Answer: Marten

Martens prefer coniferous and mixed forests and are sensitive to harvesting of mature forests. While known for dining on squirrels, they also eat voles and mice, chipmunks, birds, rabbits and carrion. Being members of the weasel family, they have scent glands. Martens have also been known swim. (Bobcats and foxes are not weasels and minks, which are weasels, don't usually eat squirrels.)

From Quiz Creatures of the Canadian Prairies

Answer: Coyote

The coyote is one of the most adaptable predators in North America whose range has actually expanded with the settlement of the continent rather than diminishing. Most native species have suffered with the loss of habitat, but the coyote has not only thrived but expanded into areas where other larger predators used to dominate and even competes in areas dominated by humans. The coyote is also known as the prairie wolf or brush wolf. It is a mid-sized carnivore in between the larger wolf and smaller fox. The plains coyote is the largest subspecies. In Canada this subspecies can be found in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. In many Native American traditions the coyote is depicted as a trickster. Many believe this is due to the animal's intelligence and adaptability. With the coming of White civilization, the coyote became a nuisance and a pest. Unlike the wolf and other predators who have dwindled, it has increased its presence with the coming of civilization and can be seen living alongside man as civilization pushes ever onward into nature. This makes the clash between the coyote and man inevitable and as is always the case, the animal loses in the end. This question was written by Phoenix Rising's resident wolfman who shares a kindred spirit with the coyote.

From Quiz Furbearers of the Canadian Forest

Answer: River otter

River otters are well-adapted to their semi-aquatic environment, having a sleek body with a thick layer of fat beneath the skin. They live close to water and may even live in abandoned beaver lodges. They may be shy or very sociable, and they may live alone or in small family or bachelor groups. Otters are a real treat to watch in the wild! (While all these are members of the weasel family, only the otter is playful and water-loving.)

From Quiz Creatures of the Canadian Prairies

Answer: Burrowing owl

Burrowing owls are found across regions of both North and South America, including southern areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan during the summer breeding season. As their name suggests, they make their nests in underground burrows, generally reusing ones created by other animals rather than bothering to dig their own. They also tend to spend more time on the ground than other owl species - although they are perfectly capable of flight and hunting in a more traditional owl-like manner. Their plumage is largely brown with white flecks, and they can be particularly identified by the long legs that they need for all that running. The incorrect options are all owls that live in regions of south-east Asia and/or Australia. Also, for the record, the fearful owl is supposedly named after its scary shrieking cry, not because it is afraid of flying. Phoenix Rising's Fifiona81 dug up owl the facts for this question.

From Quiz Furbearers of the Canadian Forest

Answer: Lynx

While lynx are known most for their affinity for a diet of snowshoe hare, they will also eat grouse, waterfowl and eggs, squirrels and chipmunks, as well as mice. The lynx spread their toes when moving on snow to provide a snowshoe affect. Although the lynx and bobcat are approximately of similar weight (15 to 35 pounds), the lynx stands higher. Lynx have been known to follow humans, but not attack.

From Quiz Creatures of the Canadian Prairies

Answer: Mating season

The rut (from the Latin 'rugire', meaning "to roar") is the mating season of certain ruminant mammals like the elk. Come fall, bull elk will prepare for the rut by rubbing and raking the velvet from their antlers to expose hardened bony racks. Elk populations in the Prairie Provinces have made a resurgence from near extinction in the early 1900s. The prairie-parkland or Manitoban subspecies of elk (Cervus canadensis manitobensis) was once abundant across the Great Plains of North America. Hunting, habitat loss, and disease decimated the herds and lead to extirpation across much of the region. Conservation efforts have led to recovery in the prairies of Saskatchewan and Manitoba and in parts of the United States. A population of Manitoban elk was successfully introduced in the Great Smoky Mountains to replace eastern elk that had dwindled to extinction nearly a century earlier. This question was racked up by Phoenix Rising's JCSon.

From Quiz Furbearers of the Canadian Forest

Answer: Muskrat

The muskrat looks like a large aquatic rat, though its tail is slightly flattened, which the muskrat uses to steer when swimming. Though lacking webbed-feet like beavers and otters, the muskrat has hair between its toes which aid in swimming. Like other rodents their teeth grow continually and are worn down by chewing. Muskrats are easily observed in marshlands, usually at dusk. (Beaver lodges are made of sticks, branches and mud, and mink and fishers are both weasels, not rodents.)

From Quiz Furbearers of the Canadian Forest

Answer: Raccoon

Raccoons live naturally in hollow trees and logs, caves, or burrows of other animals, but may reside in barns, culverts, and old buildings. With 5 toes on both front and back feet, its footprints resemble tiny human prints. They are adept at opening small doors, and even undoing knots and unscrewing jars. They are good climbers and can swim when necessary. Raccoons will eat young birds and eggs, small mammals, carrion, garbage, fish and frogs, shellfish and insects, fruit and nuts, as well as berries and corn. Though they can be a pest to humans, raccoons are wonderful to watch as they search for food in areas like campgrounds. While bears can be pests to humans by virtue of their brute force, they do not exhibit a high level of manual dexterity. Wolverines and martens prefer to avoid humans.

From Quiz Furbearers of the Canadian Forest

Answer: Wolverine

Wolverines are powerful animals with large teeth and jaws. Their affinity for carrion has earned them the nick-name "hyenas of the north." They weigh about 20 to 40 pounds and have a warm coat. They will often follow the tracks of carnivores in hopes of finding food left by lynxes, foxes, or wolves. Wolverine prefer remote boreal forests towards the arctic. This is one forest dweller I would NOT like to meet. (While the mink, skunk, and marten are all members of the weasel family, none as strong and forceful as the wolverine.)

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Last Updated Jan 10 2026 5:50 AM

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