On Tuesday 21 February we went dog-sledding in the back-country near Canmore, just outside of the Banff National Park.
We had a great bus driver who told us a LOT about wildlife living in and around the Canadian Rockies.
Did you know that EVERYONE who lives in the mountain and foothill areas around the Rocky Mountains carries Bear Spray with them AT ALL TIMES!
Bear Spray is like capsicum spray - and it's not just used on bears, but on any large animals in a potentially dangerous situation.
The most common bears in the Rocky Mountains is the Black Bear, although at this time of year they are all hibernating so it is very unlikely that one will be seen anywhere until the Spring.
Black Bear
There are also Grizzly bears, which are MUCH bigger, but not as common as the Black Bear.
Grizzly Bear
Then there is the Deer Family.
There are 5 kinds of Deer that live in the Canadian Rockies, they are - in order of size (smallest to largest):
White-tail Dear
Mule Dear
Caribou (also known as reindeer)
Elk
Moose
On our way back to Banff after our dog-sled tour we saw a White-tail Deer, they are small and very pretty. A White-tail Deer will put it's tail up to signal to other members of the herd that there is danger nearby!
I haven't seen any of the other members of the Deer family yet, however, when my Mum was driving back from Fernie (in British Columbia) to Calgary yesterday when she had to go pick my sister up she saw several herds of Elk and Caribou - and - a MOOSE jumped a fence and ran across the road right in front of the truck that was just ahead of her! I'm not sure I want to see a moose up that close, they're very dangerous.
Caribou (Reindeer)
Moose!
L-R: Coyote, Black Wolf, Cougar
Out on the Prairies, where we are staying, we really only have to worry about Coyotes - although they are really scared of people and never come close. There are gofers here on the property we're staying at as well as lots of hares (large rabbits).
Gofers
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