| Wildlife in the Canadian Rockies |
| Visit
our new site for Banff and the Canadian Rockies |
| Banff has an
enormously wide range of habitats due to the variety of
elevation, climate, and plant communities within the
parks borders. In this relatively small area there is an
incredible diversity of wildlife, with over 50 species of
mammals. Here is a short description of some the parks
larger animals. |
| |
 |
|
BEARS
Perhaps the most famous of all Banff wildlife is
the grizzly bear. This area has the perfect habitat for
the great bear. Made up of sub-alpine forest, alpine
tundra, meadows, rock, ice, avalanche slides all of which
directly or indirectly contribute to the grizzlies
existence. Unfortunately, it is the presence of humans
that is the bears biggest problem which is something the
park is well aware of and actively working on solutions
for. |
| While there are
more grizzlies in the park, you're more likely to come
across a black bear since they frequent the low lying
valleys that the parks roads pass through, rather than
the higher backcountry elevations that the grizzlies
favour. It can be
difficult to tell the difference between the grizzly and
back bear because both bears have coats with a wide array
of colors. These range from jet black to light cinnamon
brown or almost white. The distinguishing feature between
the two is the muscular hump on the shoulders of the
grizzly formed by the muscles of its massive forelegs.
This area of the bear has the "grizzled fur"
that gave them their name. Grizzlies are, as a rule,
larger than the black bear weighing in at as much as 500
kg. The blacks maximum weight is more in the vicinity of
290 kg. The average weights of these bears is generally
closer to half of these extremes. The grizzly also has a
more dished face and proportionally longer claw (if you
happen to be close enough to see). "Teddy", is
not the image conjured up on the site of an adult
grizzly. Bear
Etiquette. Enjoy, and above
all, respect these great animals of the Rockies. This is
their home and they need their privacy and your
understanding to co-exist with us in such a popular area.
|
| The elusive
mountain goat is a symbol of the Rockies. There
are many of them in Banff but they are difficult
to see because of their preference for high rocky
ridges in the high country. If you want to have a
better chance of seeing these spectacular animals
with their long white coats and beards then take
a hike to the the Plain of Six Glaciers or the
slopes of Mt. Fairview beside Lake Louise.
Binoculars are a good idea unless your really
lucky. |
| |
WILD
CATS
Wild cats, like many other
animals are nocturnal and very shy. It is
rare to see either of the two types of
wild cat that are found in Banff. There
is a modest but healthy cougar and lynx
population in the park. They, unlike the
two types of bear in the park are
dissimilar enough to tell them apart
easily. The cougar is the larger of the
two, and has distinctive black markings
on the back of the ears, the tip of the
tail and on the face. |
|
 |
|
| The most
distinguishing features of the cougar are its
size and tail which is thick and very long. The
lynx has a short tail, prominent ear tufts and
large feet and is noticeably smaller than the
cougar. The large feet of the lynx become covered
in coarse hair in the winter and act as snowshoes
allowing for easier winter travel. |
| |
 |
|
DEER
The Mule and White-tail are the
two types of deer seen in the park.
You're most likely to see them grazing
along the Bow Valley Parkway early in the
year. |
|
|
| Spring is also the
time to spy a mother and her spotted fawn. The two
species are very similar but the mule deer's large
upright ears make it easy to differentiate between the
two. The mule and white tail live in harmony with each
other, as is characteristic of this species personality.
You might get a glimpse of a moose traveling along the
Icefields Parkway but their population is relatively low
in the park, the habitat being more favorable to the
deer. |
| |
| Elk are the most
common (not to mention the most famous) of the deer
family in Banff. Wapiti, meaning white rump is their
Indian name. The bull elks spectacular antlers have made
them a photographers delight for years. In the autumn
rut, the bulls become very aggressive towards people, so
extreme caution should be taken. The spring is also a
delicate time, with the mothers protecting their newborn
calves making them as dangerous as a mother bear with
young. |
| |
| Caribou also have a
presence in the northern end of the park in the Siffleur
Watershed area but the herd is small and highly
protected. |
| |
WILD DOGS
Wolfs coyotes and foxes are the three
representatives of the canine world in Banff. The most
common is the wolf, which from a distance can be mistaken
for our domestic sidekick, the German shepherd. At closer
inspection you'll note they are rougher looking, with
longer legs and larger feet. Their coats range in color
from light whitish-grey to grey-brown all the way to
black. |
|
 |
| While reminiscent
of the wolf, the coyote is smaller, with a long slender
muzzle and large pointed ears. You can often see them at
Vermilion Lakes, and the Bow Valley Parkway hunting for
small mammals and road kill. The fox is easily distinguishable from
the coyote and wolf with a sharply pointed face, special
markings and a very large bushy tail. Their eating habits
are very much like that of the coyote, becoming most
active toward sunset, during the night, and in early
morning.
|
| |
