Wildlife
The Bow Valley is a major movement corridor for grizzly bears, black bears, cougars, wolves, elk, coyotes, and other large mammals.
As wildlife and people compete for a finite amount of space, numerous interactions occur. Although most are harmless, some can pose a serious threat to both people and wildlife, resulting in human injury, property damage, and/or dead or relocated animals.
Find out how you can make sure to experience the bow valley and leave a positive impact.
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You can avoid a negative wildlife interraction by follow these steps.
Make noise: Let wildlife know you're coming by singing, yelling, or talking loudly.
Travel in groups: Large groups of four or more people have proven less likely to be involved in a serious wildlife encounter.
Respect all trail closures and warnings: Trail closures and warnings are put in place for public safety or when wildlife are most sensitive to people. To view current trail closures and warnings in the Bow Valley, Kananaskis Country and Banff National Park, click here.
Keep a safe distance: Take photos or observe animals from a safe distance — 100 meters for bears, and 30 meters or more for other large wildlife species.
Be aware of your surroundings: Watch for fresh evidence of wildlife activity, such as tracks, scat, diggings or overturned rocks and logs. If you see a bear or see or smell a dead animal, leave the area.
Keep dogs on leash: It is illegal not to have your dog on leash in Canmore, the surrounding habitat patches, and in both provincial and national parks. Negative interactions between dogs and wildlife often end with the wild animal’s dangerours relocation or euthanasia.
Carry bear spray: Ensure that you are carrying it somewhere accessible such as in a holster or attached directly to a pack strap, and know how to use it.
Stay out of designated wildlife corridors: If your trail cuts across a wildlife corridor, move through the area quickly.
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Leave No Trace is an important concept to make sure that we leave no negative impact on nature.
Travel on durable surfaces: In the Bow Valley it is recommended to stay on the designated trails.
Dispose of waste properly: Use the bear proof bins throughout the bow valley that keep the wildlife safe from our waste. Rubish, food and human waste all has to be carried out.
Leave what you find: Do not move or take anything with you. What we find in nature plays a role in the ecosystem and the story of the landscape.
Don't mark trails: In the Bow Valley, proffesionals at Parks Canada are in charge of the maintenance of all trails. The involvement of recreationalists is unwanted and those going out into the wilderness are responsible of their own route planning and navigation. leaving marks like rock cairns can leave a negative impact on the environment.
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One of the most frowned upon and illegal behaviours in the Bow Valley is the distrubance of wildlife. To avoid getting fined up to $25,000 it is good to be aware of these commonly broken rules:
Feeding any kind of wildlife is illegal.
Give wildlife space. Approaching wildlife is considered disturbance. (100 meter for bears and 30 meters for other large mammals.)
If you see wildlife beside the road, slow down, stay in your vehicle and move on. Pulling over and getting out of your car is considered disturbance.
Flying drones of any kind without a license is illegal.
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In the rare case of an aggressive confrontation, bear spray is your best defense. Make sure before you head out to bring quality bear spray that has not expired. Carry your bear spray in a quickly and easily accessible place like on your hip.
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While classified as carnivores, grizzly bears are actually omnivores that eat what’s available to them. Coastal grizzly bears feed primarily on salmon making them twice as big as the average grizzly bear in the bow valley since they primarily live off plants. Grizzly bears are listed as a species of special concern which means that they are sensitive to human activities or natural events but not endangered or threatened. Please read our bear safety page for the safety of you and the bears.
Weight: 150-300 kg (males) and 80-150 kg (females)
Diet: mostly plants, 15% of diet is meat
Lifespan: 20-30 years
Population:
Banff National Park: 65
Jasper National Park: 109
Yoho National Park: 11-15
Kootenay National Park: 9-16
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Found in the valley bottom and around openings in the forest cover, black bears are wary scavengers primarily threatened by human activity. While the black bear is not considered a species at risk, a strong history in troublesome human-bear interactions has made bear awareness a priority in the bow valley and its surrounding parks. Please read our bear safety page for the safety of you and the bears.
Weight: 80-150 kg (males) and 45-100 kg (females)
Diet: mostly plants, 15% of diet is meat
Lifespan: of 18-23 years
Population:
Banff National Park: 20-40
Jasper National Park: 90
Yoho National Park: 20-50
Kootenay National Park: 30-50
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Found throughout the valley, elk are the most common large animal you will find in the area. Tan-coloured with white rump patches, these animals are an almost guaranteed find when visiting the valley. Elk are also the most dangerous animal in the park leading to the highest number of accidents. In the spring, mother elk protect their newborn calves fiercely, warding off any and all creatures that come between them and their young by slashing with their hooves. Similarly, in the fall during the autumn rut, the bull elk become extremely aggressive towards people, using their large racks of antlers to display their dominance. Each year, a number of visitors and locals are injured by park elk -- do not approach any elk closer than fifty metres, and watch closely for any aggressive signs displayed by the animal (raised ears, glaring looks, stamping feet, etc.).
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The moose is the largest member of the deer family! Commonly about the size of a horse. Moose were formerly widely distributed in the park, but have disappeared from the Bow Valley in recent years. The best areas in Banff national park to see moose are along the Icefields Parkway near Upper Waterfowl Lake and north of Saskatchewan Crossing.
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The coyote is a medium-sized grayish dog with a slender muzzle, large pointed ears, and a bushy tail. Coyotes are often seen patrolling the road right-of-ways in search of road kills and small rodents. The Bankhead area, Vermilion Lakes, and the Bow Valley Parkway are all excellent places to see coyotes in the park!
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Bighorn Sheep are the second most common large animal in the park after elk. They have a sandy-brown coat and a white rump patch. Rams have massive spirally curved brown horns, while ewes have short, spiky brown horns. Bighorns are primarily grazers, and migrate seasonally between low grassy slopes and alpine meadows. Escape terrain with rocky ledges is usually nearby. Sheep are commonly seen at Lake Minnewanka, on Mount Norquay Road, and at the top of the Sulphur Mountain Gondola ride.
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Although mountain goats are seldom seen because of their preference for rugged habitat, they are actually quite numerous in the park! They can be distinguished from bighorn sheep by their all-white coats, beards and short, black dagger-like horns which are carried by both sexes.
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Mule deer have large ears and a rope-like black-tipped tail. Mule deer like to be in small groups in drier open areas. In summer they eat shrubs and broad-leaved plants. In winter they forage for evergreen twigs, saplings, and shrubs. Look for them at dawn and dusk.
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Smaller than mule deer, white-tail deer have reddish coats and triangular-shaped long brown tails that they hold upright when alarmed, exposing the white underside. Look for them at dawn and dusk
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A member of the cat family that resides in Banff National Park is the lynx. It too is nocturnal and rarely seen.
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The largest of the two, and the largest Canadian cat, is the mountain lion or cougar. Although rarely seen, signs indicate that there is a small but healthy population in the park.
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The wolf is similar in appearance to a large German Shepherd, but is lankier with longer legs and larger feet. Its muzzle is larger and less pointed (less fox-like) than that of a coyote. Most wolves in Banff National Park are dark in colour, although colours do range from whitish-gray to black. Wolves returned to the park in the mid 80’s after a long absence. There are several packs that reside in the park and their numbers and pack dynamics fluctuate over time. In particular, one well known pack utilizes the lower Bow Valley in the park and is often observed by Park staff and visitors.
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The red fox is a small dog-like carnivore and is mostly nocturnal. Red foxes are not always red in color; their coats undergo different phases that can be black, silver, cinnamon or brown. They will typically have a white underside, black-backed ears and black on the front of their legs. Foxes have long, bushy tails which can range up to almost half of their length. Foxes are one of the most common carnivores seen in day use areas. They are naturally wary, but can display surprisingly bold behaviour if they receive food rewards or get too close to people. Like for all wildlife, it is essential to give them space and never feed or leave food unattended.
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The Columbian Ground Squirrel is the most commonly seen animal in the park during the summer. Although they hibernate for up to seven months, they are a valuable prey species for grizzly bears, coyotes, wolves and golden eagles. A winter hibernator, this ground squirrel may be seen throughout the park from the montane valleys to the alpine.
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The smaller pine martens are more common than the other weasels, and are abundant throughout the forested areas of the park.
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The pika or " rock rabbit" is the smallest member of the rabbit family. They live on rock slides and talus slopes from 6,000 to 8,500 feet. Although well-camouflaged, pikas can often be located by their piercing call that sounds like a high-pitched "eep". They are often seen on the rock slides at Moraine Lake and at the far end of Lake Louise.
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Hoary Marmots are colonial animals that live in the alpine zone from 6,800 to 8,000 feet. They are one of the largest rodents in the park, reaching weights of up to 30 pounds. Marmots can be seen on a number of day hikes in the park, including the Plain of Six Glaciers at Lake Louise and the Cascade Amphitheatre trail near Banff.
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The beaver population in the park's Bow Valley near the town of Banff has plummeted in recent years, but it may just be part of a natural cycle. Active beaver families still operate in the park at Johnson Lake and in a number of other locations. However, if you're anxious to watch a beaver family in action you're more likely to have success in neighbouring Jasper National Park.
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Among the many weasels found in the park is the largest member of the family, the wolverine, which is occasionally seen in the alpine tundra.