Subspecies of brown bear, recognised by shoulder hump and dished face. Males up to 360 kg. Around 50,000 in Alaska, ~1,800 in lower 48 states.

Charges at 50 km/h; single paw swipe can crush a skull. Around 2–3 fatal attacks per year in North America. Mother with cubs is most dangerous.

Forests, alpine meadows, river valleys of Alaska, western Canada, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho.

Solitary outside breeding. Hibernates Nov–Apr. Excellent swimmer; can outrun a horse on flat ground.

Largest land carnivore — males up to 800 kg. About 22,000 worldwide; in North America found in northern Canada and Alaska.

The only bear that actively hunts humans as prey. Hungry bears, increasingly common with shrinking sea ice, are extremely dangerous. Churchill, Manitoba — "polar bear capital" — has special patrols.

Arctic ice and coast — Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Manitoba (Hudson Bay), northern Alaska.

Solitary. Travels enormous distances on sea ice hunting seals. Excellent swimmer — can swim 100+ km.

Largest small cat in the world — up to 100 kg, body 2.5 m including tail. Can leap 5 m vertically and 12 m horizontally. Most widespread big cat in the Americas.

Attacks on humans are rare but documented — about 1 fatal attack every 2 years in North America. Targets joggers, cyclists, and children. Strikes from behind.

Mountains, forests, deserts from Canadian Rockies to Patagonia. Wide range of habitats.

Solitary, crepuscular, silent. Doesn't roar — emits eerie screams during mating. Stalks prey for hours.

Up to 1.5 m with dark crossbands. The dominant rattlesnake of eastern US deciduous forests. Famous from the Gadsden flag — "Don't Tread on Me".

Potent hemotoxic venom; some populations also have neurotoxic 'canebrake toxin'. About 1 fatal bite per year in the US.

Deciduous forests, rocky hillsides, swamps from New England south to Texas.

Surprisingly docile — usually rattles long before biting. Hibernates communally in rock crevices.

Tiny tick (3 mm) that transmits Lyme disease. Known by black legs and reddish body. Different from European castor bean tick but similar role.

About 476,000 Lyme disease cases per year in US (CDC estimate). Also transmits anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus. Untreated Lyme causes lifelong joint and neurological issues.

Wooded areas, tall grass, deer trails — northeast, upper Midwest, mid-Atlantic US, southern Canada.

Quests on grass tips for passing hosts. Active April–November. Larvae feed on mice (where they pick up Lyme), nymphs and adults on deer and humans.

Smallest of the three North American bears — males 90–250 kg. Despite the name, can be brown, cinnamon, or even white (Kermode). About 800,000 across the continent.

Predatory attacks on humans are rare but documented — about 1 fatal attack per year. Unlike grizzlies, often safe to fight back if attacked.

Forests across Canada, US, and Mexico — from Alaska to Florida to central Mexico.

Excellent climber and swimmer. Bold around campsites and trash; rarely aggressive but conditioned bears are dangerous.

Largest deer species — bulls up to 700 kg with antlers spanning 2 m. About 1 million in North America, mostly Canada and Alaska.

Causes more injuries than bears and wolves combined. Vehicle collisions deadly — moose crushes the cabin. Bulls aggressive in autumn rut; cows protective of calves.

Boreal forests, marshes, lakes of Alaska, Canada, Maine, Minnesota, Wyoming.

Solitary except mating. Excellent swimmer — can swim 16 km. Charges with little warning if approached.

Largest land mustelid — 9–25 kg. Stocky, bear-like build. Famously ferocious — attacks prey 5x its size, including bears and wolves.

Attacks on humans extremely rare but possible. More relevant: protects its kills aggressively from anyone, including hikers.

Taiga and tundra of Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, parts of Montana and Idaho. Less than 300 in lower 48 states.

Solitary, nomadic. Travels 30+ km daily. Caches kills under snow for later. Very strong jaws — crushes bones.

Most abundant deer in North America — about 30 million. Bucks up to 130 kg with branching antlers. White underside of tail flagged when alarmed.

About 200 deaths per year in US — almost all from vehicle collisions. 1.5 million collisions yearly. Bucks attack during November rut; bears and Lyme-tick host.

Forests, fields, suburbs across all of US (except southwest deserts), southern Canada, Mexico.

Crepuscular — peak collisions at dawn and dusk in autumn. Excellent swimmer; jumps 2.5 m high.

Northwestern wolf — largest wolf subspecies. Males up to 70 kg. Around 7,000 in lower 48 US states; ~50,000 across Canada and Alaska.

Healthy wild wolves rarely attack humans — only 2 fatal attacks in North America in the last 25 years. Habituated or rabid wolves are the main risk.

Forests and tundra of Alaska, Canada, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes region.

Lives in packs of 6–10. Hunts moose, elk, deer. Travels 30+ km per day. Howls audible 10 km away.