BACKGROUND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 716

First Nations people named the animal caribou (hoof scraper) for the way in which they
feed in winter, scraping away snow with their hooves. Caribou are smaller than elk and have
a dark-brown coat with creamy patches on the neck and rump.
Wild Dogs and Cats
After being hunted to near extinction, wolf numbers have rebounded across the continent,
including in British Columbia, where the vast wilderness is home to a widespread and
stable population that numbers around 8,000 and is distributed across the province every-
where except the lower mainland and coastal islands. Wolves weigh up to 65 kilograms
(145 pounds), stand a meter (3.3 feet) high at the shoulder, and resemble large huskies or
German shepherds. Their color ranges from snow white to brown or black; those in Brit-
ish Columbia are most often shades of gray or brown. Unlike other predators, they are not
solitary but are intriguing animals that adhere to a complex social order, living in packs of
5-10 animals and roaming over hundreds of kilometers in search of prey.
The coyote is often confused for a wolf, when in fact it is much smaller, weighing up to
only 15 kilograms (33 pounds). It has a pointed nose and long bushy tail. Its coloring is a
mottled mix of brown and gray, with lighter-colored legs and belly. The coyote is a skillful
and crafty hunter preying mainly on rodents. They are common and widespread at lower el-
evations throughout British Columbia (often patrolling the edges of highways and crossing
open meadows in low-lying valleys).
Cougars (also called mountain lions, Mexican lions, pumas, and catamounts) are relat-
ively plentiful in British Columbia, especially on Vancouver Island, where it is estimated
the population numbers around 500. Adult males can grow to over two meters (6.5 feet) in
length and weigh up to 90 kilograms (200 pounds). The fur generally ranges in color from
light brown to a reddish-tinged gray, but occasionally black cougars are reported. Their ath-
letic prowess puts Olympians to shame. They can spring forward more than eight meters
(26 feet) from a standstill, leap four meters (13 feet) into the air, and safely jump from a
height of 20 meters (66 feet). These solitary animals are versatile hunters whose acute vis-
ion takes in a peripheral span in excess of 200 degrees.
The elusive lynx is identifiable by its pointy black ear tufts and an oversized tabby cat
appearance. The animal has broad, padded paws that distribute its weight, allowing it to
“float” on the surface of snow. It weighs up to 10 kilograms (22 pounds) but appears much
larger because of its coat of long, thick fur. The lynx, uncommon but widespread throughout
the interior, is a solitary creature that prefers the cover of subalpine forests, feeding mostly
at night on snowshoe hares and other small mammals.