British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's 10 provinces. It is one of the last regions of the North American continent to be discovered and settled, became one of Canada's leading provinces in terms of population, economic prosperity and overall growth in the second half of the 20th century. The province has 14 parks and protected areas. It includes 141 ecological reserves, 35 provincial marine parks, 7 provincial heritage sites, 6 National Historic Sites of Canada, 4 national parks and 3 national park reserves. A wide variety of animal species, including birds, can be observed in the area. There are bears, deer, elk, moose, caribou, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goats, marmots, beavers, muskrats, coyotes, wolves, wolverines, badgers, cougars, eagles, ospreys, herons, Canada Geese, swans, loons, hawks, owls, ravens, Harlequin Ducks and many other species of ducks. There are also plenty of smaller birds. Murrelets have been recorded from Frederick Island, a small island off the coast of Haida Gwaii. Several healthy fish populations are present, including salmonids. Harbor Seals and River Otters are common along the coast. Species native to the coast include the Orca, Humpback Whale, Grey Whale, Harbor Porpoise, Dall's Porpoise, Pacific White-Sided Dolphin and Minke Whale. There are also some endangered species in British Columbia, such as the Vancouver Island Marmot, the Spotted Owl, the American White Pelican and the badger.