Canadian Wildlife in the Rocky Mountains

Canadian wildlife is world renowned and each year millions of people from all over the globe come to the Canadian Rocky Mountains for not only the scenery but also for the wildlife.  Knowing where to go will help increase your chances of seeing Canadian wildlife by hanging out where the wildlife is.  

Rocky mountain bighorn sheep are also on many tourist's wish lists of Canadian wildlife to view. They are incredibly agile and awe inspiring to watch as they effortlessly make their way up sheer rock faces in minutes – not so motivating for the hiker who will take at least several hours to go the same distance. Male rocky mountain bighorn sheep fight each other for dominance and mating rights by butting their heads at each other at a speed of up to 32 km (20 miles) per hour. Not to mention that the horns on male rocky mountain bighorn sheep can weigh up to 14 kg (30 lbs). Ouch! As a result, males usually have shorter life spans then females. One of the best places to see bighorn sheep in the Canadian Rocky Mountains is on the Grizzly Peak trail in Kananaskis or on the highway 40 and Peter Lougheed Park intersection, also in Kananaskis. They are also commonly found along the road on the 1A highway in Banff National Park. They gave me the best wedding present I could have asked for when I got married in Banff.

Moose are an odd looking animal. They are most recognized by their dark coat, large humpback and the odd goat tee looking thing dangling from their chins, which is called a bell. The males have huge antlers at ~120-150 cm (3-5 ft) until they fall off every fall. As such you don’t want to make a moose angry with antlers that size, not to mention the fact that they can weigh in at 600 kg (1200 lbs). Despite their size, their predators are bears and wolves, although moose will put up quite a fight. An interesting fact about moose is that they are great swimmers, despite their awkward appearance. On a hot summer’s day, they can often be found lying in shallow water to stop the bugs from biting them since their tails are not long enough to swish the bugs away. Moose are difficult to spot, but it’s a treat when you get a glimpse at one. Your best chance of seeing a moose is near a lake or a marsh. I've seen the most moose in Waterton National Park, but have also seen some on highway 40 in Kananaskis.

Most people come to Banff National Park for its Canadian wildlife, and when they say wildlife they don’t mean the Banff snail. However, the Banff snail is the most endangered species in Banff National Park. One of the smaller species found in the park and found nowhere else in the world, except at a handful of hot springs in Banff. They are found right at the hot spring’s surface and are very sensitive to even the slightest temperature change. It is believed that they feed off of algae found near the hot springs. The Banff snail is endangered primarily because of human usage of host springs and by changes in the hot springs water temperature. The Banff Snail population varies greatly, depending on the water temperature, but is estimated to range anywhere from 1500 to 15,000 individuals. Banff snails are very small - smaller than the size of your pinkie finger nail. The entire population of Banff Snails at its high point of 15,000 would fit into a one litre milk carton. Conservation efforts are being made for further protection of the Banff Snail including a captive breeding program. Ask any Parks Canada staff for the best viewing locations as many are closed to the public.

The Canadian Rocky Mountains are home to many more species of wildlife including the Canadian beaver, wolves, lynxes, wolverines, cougars, mountain goats and more. Grizzly and black bears are of special interest to many people so for more info visit my Grizzly and Black Bear hub. Come to the Canadian Rocky Mountains to see the wildlife for yourself or share your own Canadian wildlife experience below.