My wife and I are off on a 6 day backcountry trip 4 hours north of Toronto, and I'm wondering what kind of animals and plants are native to this area. We pretty much spent the last decade out in the Rockies in Alberta, backcountry camping twice a month, all year round, so we're familiar with the grizzlies, black bears, cougars, grouse, porcupines, elk, moose, skunks, mountain goats, sheep, and a few rattler snakes east of Calgary.
I saw my first racoon yesterday, plus a bright red bird, and I realized that I'm not familiar at all with the wildlife out here.
wolves/coyotes N. of TO , too.
I'll be honest, I haven't encountered many wolves, but coyotes seem to be everywhere. Do people take special precautions around wolves out here in Ontario?
Plants and such you will see
Some Orchids - very nice
You may find Ginseng
Wild Garlic
Chamomile
Many different Nightshades
Many different Thistles
a basic list here
http://www.npca.ca/wp-content/uploads/9.0-Checklist-of-Vascular-Plants-of-Niagara.pdf
Snakes for sure, mostly harmless ones but there have been some of the larger variety...mainly from people letting their pets go.
You will find beavers and possums too
Last year in algonquin park they did have a problem with one wolf pack that wasn't scared of people. It was near rock lake. I actually heard them when i went out on the wolf howl they have. It was pretty cool. But...they didn't back down when some people saw them on a trail which isn't so cool. Nobody hurt...but there was a warning when you checked into the park
Bright red bird was probably a Cardinal. There are some good guide books out there. I like Peterson Field Guides. I currently have and use the Birds of North America, and an Edible Plants of North America (I don't think it is Peterson Guide though, but their's is very good too).
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/peterson/plants.cfm