The Timber Wolf, Canis lupus, is a subspecies of grey wolf that ranges from the upper Mackenzie River Valley near Alaska, southward down into the middle of Alberta. They are one of the largest wolf species, weighing from 45-61kg, although a record animal was weighed in 1939 at almost 80kg (175lb).

Feeding on animals up to Elk and Bison in size, they have been known to take humans in rare cases. First described by Scottish naturalist Sir John Richardson in 1829, he described it as having a more robust build than the European wolf, with a larger, rounder head and a thicker, more obtuse muzzle. Its ears are also shorter, and its fur bushier.

DESIGNER: William Woodruff

REVERSE: Pictures a Canadian Timber Wolf standing on a mountain landscape with the moon behind and pine trees in the background. Inscribed along the top is “CANADA”, along the bottom “FINE SILVER 1 OZ. ARGENT PUR.”, and in the artwork the coin purity, “9999.”

The Grizzly Bear is any North American form of brown bear, and is simply called the North American Brown Bear by scientists. Huge animals, they can weigh on average up to 360kg (790lb) for males, and half that for females, although there are recorded animals approaching 700kg and standing 3m high on their hind legs.

While they can be blond to almost black, most are brown in colour. Males average lifespan is 22, females 26, although they can live over 40 years in captivity. They are omnivorous, eating animals like moose, elk, caribou, deer, bighorn sheep, and bison; fish such as salmon, trout, and bass; and plants like nuts, tubers and grasses.

The Grizzly is now found in Alaska, south through much of western Canada, and into portions of the northwestern United States (including Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming), extending as far south as Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. It is most commonly found in Canada.

DESIGNER: William Woodruff

REVERSE: Pictures a Grizzly Bear standing by a body of water, with a mountain landscape in the background. Inscribed along the top is “CANADA”, along the bottom “FINE SILVER 1 OZ. ARGENT PUR.”, and in the artwork the coin purity, “9999.”

The Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) isn’t actually an antelope, it’s closest living relatives are the giraffes and okapi.

Pronghorns have distinct white fur on their rumps, sides, breasts, bellies, and across their throats. Adult males are 1.3–1.5 m long from nose to tail, stand 81–104 cm high at the shoulder, and weigh 40–65 kg. The females are the same height as males, but weigh 34–48 kg. Each “horn” of the pronghorn is composed of a slender, laterally flattened blade of bone that grows from the frontal bones of the skull, forming a permanent core.

The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere. It’s second only to the cheetah, but can sustain high speeds longer. It can run 56 km/h for 6 km, 67 km/h for 1.6 km, and 88.5 km/h for 0.8 km. Zoologist John Byers has suggested the pronghorn evolved its running ability to escape from extinct predators such as the American cheetah, since its speed greatly exceeds that of extant North American predators.

DESIGNER: Emily Damstra

REVERSE: Pictures a Pronghorn standing in tall grass with hills in the background. Inscribed along the top is “CANADA”, along the bottom “FINE SILVER 1 OZ. ARGENT PUR.”, and in the artwork the coin purity, “9999.”

The Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) or Mountain Bison, is a distinct northern subspecies of the American bison. Large males weighing over 900 kg (2,000 lb), make it the largest terrestrial animal in North America. Its original range included much of the boreal forest regions of Alaska, Yukon, western Northwest Territories, northeastern British Columbia, northern Alberta, and northwestern Saskatchewan.

Bison can jump close to 6 ft (1.8 m) vertically, and run 35-40 mph (56–64 km/h) when agitated which, along with a wild attitude, makes them difficult to confine and domesticate. Bison are among the most dangerous animals encountered by visitors to the various U.S. and Canadian national parks and will attack humans if provoked.

American Bison live in river valleys, and on prairies and plains. Typical habitat is open or semiopen grasslands, as well as sagebrush, semiarid lands, and scrublands. Some lightly wooded areas are also known historically to have supported bison.

DESIGNER: Emily Damstra

REVERSE: Pictures a Wood Bison walking through snow with pine forests in the background. Inscribed along the top is “CANADA”, along the bottom “FINE SILVER 1 OZ. ARGENT PUR.”, and in the artwork the coin purity, “9999.”