Muskrat – Ondatra Zibethicus

Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration, silvery-brown to dark brown oily, waterproof fur with chestnut to hazel sides; underparts, grayish; tail flattened vertically, without fur; hind feet, partially webbed. Size Male: .48 – .6 m (1.6 – 2 ft) Female: .51 – .57 m (1.7 – 1.9 ft) Habitat Common throughout Northwestern Ontario, primarily in lakes, … Read more

Willow Ptarmigan – Lagopus Lagopus

Distinguishing Features – Length: male 43 cm; weight: .56 kg; female: 40 cm; weight: .45 kg. Adult Male – summer: Bill black. Iris brown. Toes and claws dark brown, the edges of the latter yellowish-grey. Head and neck bright chestnut, the feathers on the back part of the latter and crown of the head barred … Read more

Siberian Tiger – Panthera Tigris Altaica

Distinguishing Features – The Siberian tiger bears the typical markings of all tigers and is the largest of all the wild cats. A male can weigh more than 300 kg. and measures 2.7 – 3.6 m. long from its head to the tip of its tail, the female is a little smaller. Habitat They are … Read more

Gray Wolf “Timber Wolf” – Canis Lupus

Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration, varied, from the most common gray tones to blacks and whites, to medium tones of cream, gray, brown and orange. Hair, bristly. Size 1.5 – 2 m (4.9 – 6.7 ft) Habitat Widespread throughout Northwestern Ontario in a variety of habitats where a good supply of food is available. Diet … Read more

Siberian Chipmunk – Tamias Sibiricus

Distinguishing Features – The Siberian chipmunk’s body length is 12 – 17cm, two-thirds of its total length. Like other chipmunks, it has brightly colored fur, dark stripes, and large cheek pouches. Its ears are small and slightly rounded at the tips. The fur on the back is brown-gray to ocher yellow, depending on the origin … Read more

Great Bustard – Otis Tarda

Distinguishing Features – The Great Bustard is one of the largest birds capable of flight. Weight: males up to 17 kg, females up to 8 kg; length: male may be 1.2 m long with a 2.4 m wingspan. Habitat The Great Bustard is a vulnerable species. It is distributed throughout many countries in Europe, Russia … Read more

Eurasian Red Squirrel

Distinguishing Features – Sciurus vulgaris is considered to be one of the most physically variable mammals of the palearctic region, at least in physical appearance. The coat color of these squirrels varies from light-red to black on their heads and backs, and all, except those that have black coats, have white fur on their stomachs. … Read more

Norway Lemming – Lemmus Lemmus

Distinguishing Features – Length: 13 – 15 cm; Tail: 2 cm; stout bodies, thick fluffy fur, small ears, very short tails, and long claws. Habitat Tundra, grassy land of northern Scandinavia and western Russia. Diet Diet consists mainly of grass, little shrubs and above all, moss; also avaiable insects in summer. Notes The noticable marked … Read more

Northern River Otter

Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration, dark brown, oily fur; throat silvery colour. Long muscular body; flattened head; short legs; webbed feet; long powerful tail. Size Male: .93 – 1.35 m (3.1 – 4.5 ft) Female: .87 – 1.14 m (2.9 – 3.8 ft) Habitat Throughout Northwestern Ontario, primarily in wooded shoreline areas of lakes, ponds, … Read more

Fisher – Martes Pennanti

Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration, thick, lustrous fur, varying from dark brown to black; random whitish to cream coloured patches on chest. In winter, colouration tends to be darker. Legs, short; claws, semi-retractable. Fisher Size Male: .84 – 1.05 m (2.8 – 3.5 ft) Female: .75 – .93 m (2.5 – 3.1 ft) Habitat Throughout … Read more