Poisonous and Venomous snakes, spiders and insects in Canada

Poisonous snakes, venomous spiders and dangerous animals in Canada, the perfect recipe for an adventurous vacation in Canada. Canada is an exciting and extremely clean country, with many different locations which would suit any traveller. But like every country in the world, there are nasty and vicious predators which kill and main people every year, ranging from massive 550lb bears which can maim people, to tiny spiders which can cause excruciating pain from a single small bite. Wherever you travel, you need to be prepared for stinging insects and other creatures that can bite and inject their venom into you.

The infamous Brown Recluse Spider has made Canada its home. This spider is responsible for hundreds of thousands of bites around the world and many fatalities each year, yet it is only a very small spider, and is only between 6-20 millimeters in length. A bite from this spider may go unnoticed, as they are so small, but within minutes, the venom will work its way through your veins and arteries. The bite area will become itchy and swollen, nausea and vomiting may follow, then other rashes, fever, muscle and joint pain, possible abdominal cramps unconsciousness then death. But only in extreme cases, many bites come to nothing and anti-venoms are given once you seek medical attention.

The Brown Recluse Spider can be found in mainly undisturbed areas, such as log piles and unused bedrooms, but they have been found in clothes drawers, shoes, under beds and in bed linen. Children and the elderly are more at risk from these bites, with children of seven years and younger making up the most of fatalities each year from Brown Recluse Spider bites. This is a dangerous spider, do not take any risks, if it is in your home, get it out, squashed or otherwise.

This snake is from the rattle snake family, and mas many different names including the Black Rattler. Their venom is haemotoxic, which once injected into a human, prevents the blood from clotting, which can cause internal bleeding, leading to a slow and painful death. Most Black Rattler snake bites occur when they have been trod on by hikers or people trying to pick them up. If bitten, there is an anti-serum which can easily be administered by medics. Do not ignore the bite, it might not seem much from the initial bite, but the venom will be working its way through your body, seek medical attention quickly.

American Black Bears and Brown Bears do roam loose in Canada, the Black bear easily out numbers the Brown Bear, by a ratio of two to one. Black bears can run at speeds of up to 50 kilometers an hour, so out running a bear is pretty difficult, and they can weigh 550 lb. Bears are very strong and can flip over rocks weighing more than 325 lbs with a single swipe of their paw. Black Bears are very territorial, and will mark their territory by clawing the trees and rubbing their bodies against them, and they can also climb the trees. They will approach human habitats regularly for the food in garbage, but instinct has taught them to keep away from humans. Many bear attacks are only when you are in their territory, and they have young cubs, which is usually two cubs per litter. But if you are out in the wilderness and there are signs of bears, keep clear, they could attack, and one swipe of that paw and your body could be pulverised. Black bears do not actually hibernate, they just get very tired and will retire to their caves about October / November, but they are still active and will attack if provoked.

The Moose, or Elk, is usually a timid creature and lives alongside man in harmony, until they are agitated, then they will charge, and these animals have attacked mankind more times than bears have. The injuries from these animals when they are charging, are not very serious, a few broken ribs and limbs on occasions, many human fatalities actually occur when the Moose are run over. The male Moose can weigh 1500 lbs, ( 720 kg ) and can stand tall at 7 foot ( 2.1m ) tall, when a travelling car hits a Moose, the body of the Moose can easily smash into the window screen, and can crush the driver, which does happen, which is why there are Moose warning signs on roads, near where there are Moose about. When the females have given birth, they become very protective, and will charge at anything that comes to close.

The Arctic Wolf is an absolutely beautiful creature, and only lives in the farthest reaches of Canada, on the Islands of the Canadian Arctic. Few people will ever see an Arctic Wolf in the wild, because of their location. But the Gray Wolf is a different story. These are more numerous and can be seen in the wild in different parts of Canada. Attacks on man do happen, but usually only when the wolves are in a pack, but they will maim and eat a man, leaving the remains for the other wild scavengers. When a wolf howls, they are mostly calling other wolves, ready to go hunting, so if you are in the wilderness and hear wolves howling, there will be a pack on the hunt soon, always take precautions. Coyotes are victims of Wolves, with lone wolves or packing attacking the den of a coyote family and digging out the pups and eating them, as well as the adult coyote.