Mink – Mustela vison

Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration, thick, soft lustrous coat varies from dark brown to black; oily guard hairs give fur glossy appearance. Underside, paler. White patch on lower lip. Body, long; legs, compact; feet, partially webbed. Mink Size Male: 49 – 62 cm (19.3 – 24.4 in) Female: 42 – 59.7 cm (16.5 – 23.5 … Read more

Arctic Lemming – Dicrostonyx Torquatus

Distinguishing Features – Length: 110 – 177 mm; Tail: 10 – 20 mm; Weight: 30 – 112 g. Soles of feet densely furred, ears entirely concealed in fur. In summer, upper body grayish- buff to dark-gray with buffy and reddish-brown aspects. In winter, white pelage and enlarged bifid claw on digit three and four of … Read more

Eurasian Beaver – Castor Fiber

Distinguishing Features – The European beaver has very little sexual dimorphism; the average male weighs about 22 kg and is 0.9 m long, while the average female weighs 23 kg and is 1 m long (slightly larger than the male). Beavers have stocky bodies with flattened hairless tails known as scoops. They have swimming membranes … Read more

Brown Bear – “Grizzly”

Distinguishing Features – The brown bear (sometimes called a grizzly in North America) is a large animal, usually dark brown in color, though it can vary from a light creamy shade through to black. The long guard hairs over the shoulders and back are often tipped with white which, from a distance, gives a grizzled … Read more

Ermine – Mustela Erminea

Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration – in summer, brown upperparts; creamy legs, sides and chest. Tail, long, tipped in black. In winter, colouration is pure white except for black-tipped tail. Ermine Size Male: 25.4 – 33 cm (10 – 13 in) Female: 21.5 – 26 cm (8.5 – 10.25 in) Habitat Wide range throughout Northwestern … Read more

Red Squirrel – Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus

Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration, olivy-brown back and sides with blackish flecks; underside, greyish. Large, bushy tail, tawny coloured with blackish and buff highlights; eye, ringed in white, ears, tufted in red or black. Red Squirrel Size 28 – 34 cm (11 – 13.4 in) Habitat Widespread throughout Northwestern Ontario in various wooded environments; prefers … Read more