Few persons know how much water there is in northern Canada. Even fewer people realize what enormous distances all animals have to swim in quest of food or to escape from danger.
Moose and Caribou will not hesitate to cross lakes several miles wide, and for no apparent reason but to change from one feeding ground to another. I have often seen them swim over four miles in the bitterest cold weather in the early spring or late in the fall when the snow was on the ground and the temperature at freezing point.
Black Bears will swim for miles; young cubs barely four months old keeping up with their mothers.
Lynx, although hating water like all the cat tribe, will cross the widest river when migrating.
Small animals, such as porcupines and squirrels, are often found swimming a mile or so from shore.