Wildlife in Waterton

Waterton is an excellent place for animal lovers. Animals that frequent the park include: Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Black Bears, Grizzly Bears, Cougars, Coyotes, Foxes and Wolves. 

The prairie blending with the mountains creates a broad range of wildlife habitats. No other national park in Canada protects so much wildlife within such a small area. In just 505 sq. kilometers (195 sq. miles), Waterton has over 250 species of birds, more than 60 species of mammals, 24 species of fish, ten species of reptiles and amphibians, as well as thousands of species of insects, arthropods and other invertebrates.

The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is one of the few places in North America where all native carnivores survive. Large predators, like wolves, cougars and wolverines indicate healthy landscapes with abundant prey, intact habitats and tolerant people. Grizzly and black bears forage amid greenery along streams and avalanche slopes, or fatten on wild berries found throughout the park and its surrounding region. The Southwest Alberta Grizzly Strategy is one such innovative initiative.

Waterton serves as an important wildlife refuge that is mostly protected from the pressures of logging, mining, oil and gas exploration and ranching. Waterton is one of the most heavily used and developed national parks in western Canada, but it are just part of a broader landscape within the Crown of the Continent ecosystem.

 

   Safety Measures while watching wildlife in Waterton:

 

1. Do not feed the animals for your own safety. 

2. Keep a safe distance from them while taking pictures.

3. Even if the animals seem tame,  they still show aggressive territorial behaviors especially during mating season.

4. Respect their space.

photo source: rockies.com