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Flora and Fauna in Banff National Park

A view of rugged nature is one of the top offerings of Banff National Park.

Vegetation in the park ranges from grassland and alpine meadow to towering forests of evergreen, with the dominant sub-alpine forest spreading down the valleys. The species of vegetation in Banff National Park include 996 trees, grasses and flowers, 407 lichens, 243 mosses and 53 liverworts. The montane forest is a fairly open forest of Douglas fir, white spruce, pine, aspen and balsam. The sub-alpine forest is more dense and uniform, being almost entirely coniferous, with two kinds of spruce, fir, larch and pine. The alpine tundra area, which occurs above 2195 metres, may appear bleak, but it is a world of beautiful flowers in their dry, cold and wind-swept environment.

Ten ecologically important habitats, which support 16 rare and some threatened species, consist of black bear dens, elk, deer, goat and sheep seasonal ranges, wildlife migration corridors, and waterfowl staging and nesting areas. The 29 species of small animals include the ground squirrel, considered the grizzly bear's most reliable prey, the marmot, living at 6800 to 8000 metre elevations, porcupine, beaver, and rock rabbits (Pika) that are often seen on rock slides and talus slopes. In the deer family are the hoofed animals whose antlers fall off and re-grow each year: moose about the size of horses can be seen along the Icefields Parkway; the Wapiti (Elk), the most dangerous animal in the park, the white-tailed deer, and the woodland caribou are all given appropriate protection. The Bighorn rams have massive, permanently spiraled horns, while the all-white mountain goats have short black spikes. Both migrate easily between low grassy slopes and alpine meadows, although the goats prefer a more rugged terrain. Sadly, the wood bison no longer inhabit the park, but plains bison may be viewed in the Bison Paddock. Wolverines, pine martens, ermine, the long-tailed weasel, and the fisher can all be seen in forested areas. Wolf, coyote, lynx and cougar, Canada's largest cat, are all rarely sighted and their populations are carefully monitored. Bears that become used to humans are still a safety hazard in spite of the instructions and information the park provides its tourists. Grizzlies inhabit backcountry wilderness, subalpine forest and tundra. As part of a comprehensive study, over 20 silvertip grizzlies have been radio-collared. The smaller black bears wander through valley-bottom-forested areas.

Animals in Banff

There are 53 species of mammals in Banff National Park. Topping the "most likely to see" list:
• hoary marmot, at up to 12 kilograms one of the largest rodents in the park
• porcupine, frequent visitors to backcountry campgrounds
• elk (wapiti), the park's most common ungulate (hoofed animal)
• mule and white-tailed deer, often seen feeding side by side along the Bow Valley Parkway
• coyote, wild dog of the Bow Valley.

Occasionally, Park visitors may see:
• pika, "rock rabbit" of the upper mountain slopes (though more often located by its piercing call)
• bighorn sheep, grazers of the alpine meadows
• black bear, residents of the Bow Valley and other forested areas.

Wildlife watchers can count themselves particularly fortunate to catch sight of the following:
• beaver, more likely to be found in Jasper National Park
• moose, no longer found in the Bow Valley, but still sighted along the Icefields Parkway near Upper Waterfowl Lake
• woodland caribou, a protected animal, found in the northern part of the park
• mountain goat, numerous but seldom seen in their high, rugged habitat
• grizzly bear, more plentiful than black bears but found only in backcountry wilderness.

Birds

Park birdwatchers have 260 species to challenge their identification skills. Best viewing spots are the town of Banff, the Cave and Basin Marsh, Vermilion Lakes and Johnston's Canyon, along the Bow River from Banff to Lake Louise, and at the Bow Summit, 20 kiometres north of the TransCanada Highway on Highway 93N.

Those who venture out before the sun comes up may see or hear birds such as:
• Cliff Swallows nesting on the Banff Avenue bridge
• Clark's Nutcrackers, Pygmy Owls and Cassin's Finches on Tunnel Mountain
• Mountain Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches in Banff
• Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Green-winged Teal, and Barrow's Goldeneyes at Cave and Basin Marsh
• Warbler's galore -- Yellow, Orange-crowned, Wilson's, at Cave and Basin Marsh
• Tundra Swans, Bald Eagles, Northern Shovelers, and Hooded Mergansers at Vermilion Lakes
• Black Swift , American Dippers, and Cordilleran Flycatchers at Johnston's Canyon
• Harlequin Ducks Spotted Sandpipers and Bohemian Waxwings on the Bow between Banff and Lake Louise
• Thrushes, Fox Sparrows, Grey-crowned Rosy
• Finches and Water Pipits at the Bow Summit.