Wild things
On September 29, 2006—just in time for Stamp Collecting Month—Canada Post issued a set of four stamps that feature at-risk species that are native to Canada.
The blue racer is found in Canada only on Pelee Island, Ontario. Long, beautiful and quick, the blue racer is one of North America’s fastest snakes.
The Newfoundland marten is related to wolverines, otters, skunks, ferrets, minks and weasels. It’s roughly the size of a small house cat and has long silky fur.
The swift fox is one of the world’s smallest foxes. It’s also about the size of a house cat, but its long coarse hair makes it look bigger. It can run as fast as 40 kilometres per hour.
The blotched tiger salamander has yellow, white or olive green spots along with blotches that border and merge with its brown or black colouring. It lives in southern Saskatchewan and Alberta, and in parts of British Columbia.
One of the most common causes of endangerment is loss of habitat. Most species—humans included—need food, water and shelter to survive. When animals’ habitats begin to disappear, they do too.
Find out more about endangered species by visiting www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca |
