Banff Wildlife

Home »

Banff.com/mobile »

Banff.com - Since 1995

Home »

Enjoy the Banff Wildlife of Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies

	Banff and the surrounding area is full of abundant wildlife. Below is a checklist of animals you might get lucky enough to see on your own. To improve your chances of seeing wildlife, and learn more about animals in the National Park you may want to join a guided tour.
Visit Discover Banff Tours for Details »

Pika

about the size of a small gopher
likes to stay in rock slides at higher elevations
found at 5,800-7,700 feet, normally bleak and inhospitable surroundings
likes the sun
shy, alert, difficult to approach
will dry cut grass on rocks in the sun to make 'hay' for their Winter home under the rocks
active at night to avoid predators

Hoary Marmot

found at about 7,200 feet, at or above the treeline
likes rock slides
are cautious, difficult to approach
hibernates from September to April/May

Columbian Ground Squirrel

part of the rodent family
can be found in grassland, treeless flats, rocky slopes, forest glades and above the treeline
found at 3,600-8,000
are large in numbers
holes are easy to spot
can be quite bold
hibernate early September to April/May

Canada Beaver

largest of the North American rodents
adults can weigh from 35-45 pounds, older ones can reach 60-70 pounds
likes forests, foothills, eastern rockies slope
excellent engineering skills in construction of dams and lodges
are a great service to water and flood control
they preserve habitats for many species including muskrat, mink otter and numerous water fowl
Summer food includes eating bark, stream side plants and aquatic vegetation
Winter food includes eating willows, branches and upper trunks of deciduous trees piled beside their lodge for easy under water access when they are iced over
work both day and night, mostly at night to help avoid predators

Porcupine

have an average weight of 22-25 pounds
live in mixedwood forests at and above the treeline
found at 2,500-9,000 feet
are abundant and can be bold
eat tree bark, green plants, rose hips
lives in caves, rock outcrops, tree root hollows
they don't hibernate and move about freely in cold weather
can appear lethargic and lazy, will stay long periods in small areas, moves around slowly
protected by an outer layer of quills

Mountain Coyote

weighs from 22-26 pounds
travels above the treeline, but is observed mostly at lower elevations
can be quite common in numbers
appear leisurely
are shrewd, clever
uses burrows for retreat and seclusion in prairies hillsides and woods
will chase large game in packs or similarly birds, rodents, grasshoppers, reptiles and berries

Black Bear

can weigh from 250-300 pounds, can reach up to 500 pounds
can climb trees and swim great lengths
have territories
Summer food includes roots, berries, vegetables, nuts, flesh, snakes, fish, insects
are large and muscular
hibernates in the Winter months

Grizzly Bear

males can weigh 500-600 pounds, females 400-500 pounds, some may reach as much as 750-900 pounds
are stocky, rugged, strong
have a distinct hump at the shoulders, a massive head
are various shades of brown, goldish color
likes very mountainous country as well as above the treeline in the Summer
are wilder than Black bears, more suspicious
travel during both day and night
enjoy similar food as Black bears
hibernates from December to February or March

Rocky Mountain Weasel

weighs 150-160 grams
lives in the woods, pastures, grasslands, ravines
have lots of energy
ounce for ounce one of the greatest fighters in the wild
likes to feed on mice, but also birds, chipmunks, ground squirrels, gophers and rats
can easily climb trees
is the smallest member of the weasel tribe

Mackenzie Otter

weighs between 18-22 pounds
similar habitat as the mink and beaver: creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes
very uncommon
very versatile on both land and water, is aequally at home catching fish or birds and rodents
travel equally as well in Summer and Winter
are playful, likes to slide on their bellies on the banks of streams
lives in stream or lake banks

Rocky Mountain Cougar

has unmistakable cat-like features, large proportions
largest of the North American cougars
females are about one foot shorter than the males
average weight of males is 160 pounds, females 120 pounds, may exceed 200 pounds
prefers forests and protective evergreen cover
very alert and suspicious, hard to spot
well alerted to the presence of others while remaining undetected
can travel great distances within large territories, 40-50 miles
females with cubs often stay close to home
likes to live in caves or nests
hunt and feed on Elk, deer, antelope, mountain sheep as well as birds and rodents
mature cougars have very few if any natural enemies

Wapiti (Elk)

second largest in size of the deer family, the moose is the largest
is an ungulate: has hooves
males have heavy large antlers which they shed annually
females have no antlers
have very thick bodies, long legs, a mane on the neck,short tail
Males (Bull) can weigh 700-1,000 pounds, females (Cows) can weigh 500-600 pounds
found at 2,500-8,000 feet
Bull 'Bugles' in October with harem of adult females during the mating season
Bulls 'rout' with each other for dominance within the herd

Mule Deer

adult males can weigh 200-250 pounds
range is 700-7,000 feet
during Summer the adult males and females are segregated
the Summer range is to the treeline and above
during Winter they come down to lower forested areas
like the Male elk, they lose their antlers in the Fall after mating season and sprout them again in late Spring
the antlers start as velvet, then harden at full size in late Summer
can jump great heights
are larger than the white tailed deer

White Tailed Deer

likes mixedwood forest to the treeline, 6,000-7,000 feet
comes lower down in the Winter
mature males can reach 150-300 pounds
usually occur in small numbers
have a conspicuous white bushy tail
antlers are simple and undivided
smaller than mule deer
are wary and prefer cover
can jump very high

Moose

largest and most rugged of the deer family
appears ungainly and grotesque
Males have antlers, females don't
have large ears, hanging skin at the throat called the 'bell'
very large head and shoulder hump, short tail, long legs
average weight for males is 950-1,000 pounds, can reach up to 1,400 pounds, females are 10-15 % smaller
prefer mixedwood forest close to lakes, streams and bogs, secluded wilderness areas
found at 700-7,000 feet
abundance varies by territory
feeds on aquatic plants and growth/vegetation
will stand deep in the water ducking its head searching for food and feeding
also feeds on twigs/foliage, in the Winter shrubs and trees
has a hoarse bellow during mating season, deep throated and memorable
mates in the Fall

Rocky Mountain Sheep (Bighorn)

are compact and sturdy
have spiral horns, short tails, pointed ears
Males (Rams) can wiegh 200-340 pounds, Females (Ewes) are 10-15 % smaller
in Summer they prefer sub alpine grassy slopes/alpine meadows, passes and ridges above the treeline
in Winter they come down to lower elevations
found at 4,000-9,000 feet
restricted to certain mountain slopes due to food/climate needs
superb climbers - have sponge centred hooves with hard rims that provide extremely firm grip on rocks
can easily climb and scale steep rocky faces that are extremely difficult too man
eats grass and plants
mature Rams fight for the Females, crashing head-on with their massive horns until one declines
combat may result in participants appearing temporaily 'groggy' before the challenge continues
they travel in flocks and are shy and elusive

Mountain Goat

type of antelope
has high shoulders and neck and rock gripping hooves
has black horns and a short tail
Males can weigh 175-300 pounds, females are a bit smaller
live above the treeline in cliifs, rocks, scree, rockslides as well as grassy slopes and alpine meadows
usually are close to rocky retreats and higher elevations to escape to
usually found at about 6,500 feet
are shy and seclusive, prefer higher elevations than Sheep
are expert climbers with great stamina and agility
do little travelling
varied diet of grass, twigs and leaves
strongly attracted to alkaline earth licks travelling to unusually lower elevations to get to