Where wild creatures outnumber humans, and nature comes remarkably close
In Canada's far north, this is the easiest way to meet the wild locals.
Canada's Yukon territory is a vast wilderness, more heavily populated by native wildlife than people. Spotting that wildlife isn't always easy, however, unless you travel to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, 30 minutes from the territorial capital of Whitehorse. Opened to the public in 2004 as a not-for-profit facility aimed at caring for Yukon's most vulnerable animals, it includes a rehabilitation centre for injured or orphaned wildlife.
The 283-hectare site was well chosen, in an area that combines open plains for wood bison and elk, steep escarpments for mountain goats, marshy swamplands for moose, and rocky lairs where red and Arctic foxes can create dens. Other species include woodland caribou, Canada lynx, thinhorn sheep, snowshoe hare and bald eagles. One enclosure that's a mix of forest and grassy meadows contains mule deer like this handsome male, which can grow more than a metre tall at shoulder height and weigh more than 100 kilograms.
Additional text
