5 Dangerous Animals in Canada: A Guide to Its Deadliest Creatures

Did you know that most Canadian territories have never been touched by human beings? 

It may sound surprising but as much as 80% of the Canadian land is surrounded by wild forests, inhibited by deadly predators and unpredictable creatures. Yes, the truth is that most of the animals who inhabit this wilderness aren’t really friendly when they encounter humans. 

Keep in mind that when we mention “dangerous”, we don’t particularly mean animals that have the capacity to bite or sting you. Instead, they can pose threats in ways you can’t even imagine.

Want to know what’s the essence of “danger” when it comes to Canadian wildlife? Let’s explore 5 of the scariest animals in Canada and discuss their unique characteristics. 

Dangerous Animals in Canada

1. Moose

Even though the moose is considered the largest animal in the deer family, chances are that you don’t particularly associate this creature with danger at first glance. After all, deer are often perceived as gentle animals with a smooth nature that we need to protect at all costs.

Well, it turns out that that’s not really the case when it comes to Canadian wildlife. The thing is that Canadian moose averagely kills about 15 people throughout the year. In fact, according to a 2011 report from CBS News, moose kill more people each year than bears. Therefore, this animal is indeed among the most dangerous Canadian creatures for humans. 

Their dangerous nature might explain the fact that Canadian gambling enthusiasts often choose this animal as their mascot while playing online games. The duality of their calm appearance and unexpected danger is perhaps the reason why the Moose is often featured on slot machines. Sometimes they’re even featured on popular promotions like 25 free spins for registration, promising users luck while taking part in unpredictable games.

2. Bears

Believe it or not, Canada is home to 60% of the world’s bear population. While there are numerous bear species in Canada, three major categories are black bears, polar bears, and grizzly bears.

The reason why either of these bear types is considered particularly dangerous can be found in the statistics of bear attacks in Canada. In fact, as the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) reports, black and grizzly bears attacked 109 humans from 1960 to 2014. Among them, 20 individuals couldn’t survive.

However, not all Canadian territories are equally dangerous for bear attacks. Instead, the majority of these incidents happened around British Columbia. 

3. Black Widow Spiders

Generally, most spider species that are part of wildlife are perceived as dangerous by humans. And this natural danger can’t be more relevant than in the case of black widows. It’s a specific spider species common in the Canadian territories, particularly around the border of the US. 

Surprisingly, Black Widow isn’t aggressive. Instead, they prefer to remain in calm places like sheds or fallen trees, away from other animals. However, if someone decides to attack them, they’ll become aggressive and bite in order to protect themselves. Still, you need to know that it’s a rare occurrence and usually, Black Widow isn’t as dangerous as it may seem at first glance. 

4. Cougar

The cougar is one of the most common species in the cat family in Canada. This animal can be most frequently found in 3 regions of the country: Yukon, British Columbia, and Alberta. Again, you might be surprised to find out that these predators rarely kill humans and prefer to hunt less intelligent creatures that are simpler to catch.

The reason why we listed cougars among the most dangerous animals in Canada is that they have a unique strategy for killing. For this, they use their sharp senses and silently stalk their prey before performing the act of killing. This usually happens during the spring and summer. But in winter, if there’s extreme starvation in the wildlife, they won’t hesitate to use their unique skills to hunt humans. 

5. Coyote

And the least dangerous animal on our list that you can frequently find in Canada is the coyote. This animal is pretty similar to gray wolves but smaller in size and therefore less powerful. On average, coyotes kill about 10 people per year, which is not considered a large number compared to other predators. While they rarely hunt humans, they do indeed enjoy killing small pets like dogs or cats. 

Nevertheless, if you ever find yourself around coyotes, don’t think that they won’t try to kill you. Coyotes are carnivores, which means they are fast and have sharp teeth in order to hunt their prey.

Final Thoughts

Now you already have a short list of dangerous animals you should stay aware of if you’re in Canadian wildlife. The thing that unites most of these animals is that they aren’t as dangerous for humans as they look. However, as we pointed out, their calm nature shouldn’t deceive you — they have brutal capabilities and when they need them, most of these animals can hunt humans without thinking twice.