Welcome to animals and wildlife in Alberta.
Alberta is the fourth largest province in the west of Canada, strategically adjoined by the Rocky Mountains on the west, prairies, and badlands on the east, together with Northwest Territories on the north. It is a prominent tourist attraction with a mountainous landscape, impressive lakes, a number of glaciers, and eclectic wildlife species.
Many unique wild animals and wildlife are located in five significant national parks in Alberta, including Jasper, Banff, Waterton Lakes, Wood Buffalo, and Elk Island. Thousands of tourists take a tour of Alberta, making it one of the most popular sites.
Click below to jump to any section on animals in Alberta:
Grizzly Bear
Bison
Elk
Mountain Goat
Moose
Bighorn Sheep
Wolf
Caribou
Great Horned Owl
Burrowing Owl
Snow Goose
Wild Turkeys
Golden Eagles
Bald Eagle
American Pika
North American River Otter
American Marten
Common Nighthawk
Short-tailed weasel
Red Fox
Animals and Wildlife in Alberta are composed of 587 species, many of which are endangered in other parts of the world. This migration is to join this community for protection.
The seven biggest animals include elk, moose, bighorn sheep, grizzly bear, bison, cougar, and wolf. To be able to view all these species, however, requires one to have a tour guide to access all parts of the animal habitat. Type in Alberta
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear is a North American subspecies of brown bears, usually brown though they commonly appear grizzled.
They are commonly spotted at fishing spots feasting on fish. They undergo hibernation during winter, and much of their food consists of nuts, berries, fruit, leaves, and roots though they can also feed on other animals.
Where are they found in Alberta?
The frizzy bear breeding area is around Lake Louise, and therefore, the Canadian government has erected an electric fence around the lake. A ride around Lake Louise village can enable you to spot grizzly bears crossing the road.
They are also well spotted during summer through aerial view when the grassy vegetation is dried. Spending time around the lake will enable you to witness bears taking water from springs.
Bison
Bison is also referred to as buffalo or wisent and is more extensive, broad, and heavy at the shoulder level with a more pronounced hump.
Its skin has shaggy fur, which is dark brown and grows on the head, neck, and shoulders, and forms a beard on the chin. They live in small groups and prefer grass and herbs though they feed on twigs and leaves. They undergo seasonal migration during summer and winter.
Where are they found in Alberta?
Elk Island National Park is the largest fenced park in Canada and has the most significant number of bison. Tour officers assist in creating experiences and providing vital information on how bison were brought back from near-extinction states.
An opportunity to drive on bison loops provides the only chance to watch bison from far distances and can also camp around the area, allowing them to gaze even at night.
Elk
Elk are also called wapiti from the subspecies of red deer. They are commonly known for their social behavior, with summer groups reaching 400.
They rub against complex objects or trees to shed their winter coats during early summer and migrate to higher altitudes during spring to retreat from the rainfall. They are ruminants and like wooded areas for greater food availability.
Where are they found in Alberta?
This is the second-largest animal species in Alberta after moose. They are commonly spotted in the Cypress Hills and Rocky Mountains region of southeastern Alberta. Elk also call Elk Island National Park their home, but they are not the main species of wildlife found in the area.
Mountain Goat
The mountain goats resemble common goats but are associated with envelopes, gazelle, and cattle. They occupy high-altitude regions to avoid predators but migrate to lower altitudes during winter.
They are often more aggressive in protecting nannies and searching for food. Mountain goats can associate well with people, but the fact remains that they are wild animals with sharp horns and, therefore dangerous.
Where are they found in Alberta?
They resemble antelope and inhabit inhospitable terrain. The places that favor their comfort are the Jasper National Park’s Mt. Keresklin and on-ice fields in Banff. They should always be differentiated from bighorn sheep as they usually have short black horns and are white.
Moose
Moose is the most prominent member of the deer family, characterized by towering size, black color, long legs, pendulous muzzle, and hairy dewlap. They feed on land like other deer species and also on aquatic vegetation.
They can run at a speed of 35 miles per hour despite their clumsy body. Their hooves are adapted to work like snowshoes during harsh winter climates. They prefer habitats that are plant rich with shrubs for feeding.
Where are they found in Alberta?
Mount Engadine Lodge is in a strategic position to have a great view of moose during feasting. They are also observed making their way across a muddy path to a slimy pit containing selenium minerals y moose to stay healthy. Other animals can also be seen as well from this spot.
Bighorn sheep
They are endangered animal species with different subspecies, some living in deserts while others living in mountainous regions have greyish-brown skin, which appears darker in summer.
Both rams and ewes of this species have horns, and they grow throughout their lives. They are commonly found in same-sex yards where rams are seen fighting for dominion.
Where are they found in Alberta?
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep live around Rocky Mountain areas, commonly spotted in alpine pastures, forests, mixed prairies, and bushy plenty of grass.
They like to live next to water bodies with salty water. They are specifically found in large numbers near Jasper along Maligne, from Calgary towards Canmore, in Bow Valley Parkway, and Kananaskis village on the main road.
Wolf
Wolves form one of the well-known predictors in the animal kingdom. They are carnivorous animals with pointed ears, elongated snouts, and bushy tails.
They have rough and thick fur of either beige or gray patterns. They prey on hoofed mammals and prefer larger animals but can prey on smaller mammals like rabbits in the absence of larger animals. They are dangerous to human beings as they are very aggressive.
Where are they found in Alberta?
In Alberta, they are commonly spotted in the mountain, foothill, and boreal regions. They are never considered endangered as they are present in large numbers in these territories. Gray wolves once inhabited grassland areas but are currently only restricted to forested areas.
Caribou
Caribou is also referred to as reindeer, and it has no antlers and a unique stomach that permits them to eat many different kinds of food. It comprises several species, with two of them extinct due to hunting. Both males and females have antlers though the female antlers grow slightly late.
They live in herds and periodically migrate in search of food. Their diet consists of willows, birches, grasses, and live plants.
Where are they found in Alberta?
Caribou in Alberta tend to have white coats to help them hide in the snow, while those in wooded lands have dark brown colors to hide in the woods.
They live in places with tundra or forests containing large grass areas with lichen to aid in glucose levels in winter. A strategic location to see caribou in Alberta is Tonquin Caller in Jasper National Park.
Great Horned Owl
They are commonly known as tiger owls or hoot owls. They are large and predatory birds characterized by various colors. They have long and sharp nails to facilitate presentation. They have a tremendously excellent flying speed of up to 40 mph.
They have a unique ability to silently fly and drop down on their prey with merely a whisper. They are created with large proportional eyes to capture every detail with asymmetrical ears for triangulation of sound.
Where are these animals in Alberta found?
They are most widespread globally, with Canada and Alaska being the significant locations. The great horned owl is the provincial bird of Alberta. It can be found in forests, open woods, and river valleys outside the mountain regions.
Burrowing Owl
This owl is a distinctly slender, long-legged bird, unlike other owls where the female or more significant than both sexes are of the same size. They are composed of 18 recognized subspecies, and they commonly migrate during winter.
They dwell in nests established in abandoned burrows of other animal species where their nests help attract insects. They are of medium size with brown feathers. They have round yellow eyes with no visible ear tufts.
Where are they found in Alberta?
These animals commonly inhabit the Western Hemisphere, where they choose to reside in open regions with limited herbage or plants, including pastures, prairies, and farming fields.
This species is endangered in Alberta and found in abandoned burrows by badgers, gophers, or foxes. They are commonly witnessed in Southern Alberta in the summer.
Snow Goose
They are a group of large waterfowl. They are loud and aggressive but have caring behavior toward their young ones. They construct simple nests made of leafy and grassy vegetation on the ground, especially near elevated areas.
They have plump bodies, slender necks, and humped bills appearing at the end. They have a unique feature known as a unihemispheric method, where they stay alert while sleeping. They migrate in V formations to conserve energy.
Where are these animals in Alberta found?
The general locations of snow geese are near freshwater found in rivers and even ponds including streams in N. America with parts of Asia and Europe included.
In Alberta, they pass during spring and other full migrations in shallow wetlands, lakes, and fields. The majority can also be seen in Holden, southeast of Edmonton.
Wild Turkeys
These are intelligent and social animals related to dinosaurs, pheasants, and grouse. The fascinating thing about turkeys is that their gender can be identified by their droppings, where male droppings are J-shaped while female droppings are spiral.
They establish nests on the ground, particularly under trees, using dead leaves and other plant materials. They have feather more small heads with colorful tail feathers.
Where are they found in Alberta?
Wild turkeys are generally located in North America and almost every part of the United States. Also, some in Mexico and Canada. In Alberta, they are located in Cypress Hills and are now commonly seen at Elkwater Lake Lodge and neighboring areas.
Golden Eagles
Golden eagles are distinctive from other eagles in that their wings are long as seven feet. Whether others are soaring in the air or perched on a tree, they are seen due to their enormous size.
They have a fast-flying capability, up to 30mph, with the ability to tuck wings and dive. They feed on bigger than they are, including rabbits and squirrels. They survive purely on meat.
Where are these animals in Alberta found?
They are generally well distributed worldwide as they blend into almost all types of climatical conditions. They don’t like urban areas and instead prefer mountainous regions and forested regions. In Alberta, they are best viewed at Mount Lorette in Kananaskis Country.
Bald eagle
This is a particular animal species well known for constructing heavy nests of as much as 2000 pounds. It is the type of fly usually used to symbolize strength and power. It has a remarkable vision ability with great techniques, including stealing prey from other birds.
It is, however, characterized by weak sense. They like nesting in trees and can attack any predator going near them.
Where are these animals found in Alberta?
They are generally found in North America, Belize, and Bermuda region near Artic. They are gender located where there is a good source of water nearby. They enjoy picking fish from both fresh and salty water masses. They are viewed at Mount Lorette in Kananaskis.
American Pika
They are of the same family as rabbits and hares. Their legs are, however, of the same length compared to those of rabbits and hares, which makes them hop. They have rounded ears, beady eyes, and whiskers. They are often confused with rabbits, but they have an approximate size gripping unique in that they lack a visible tail.
Where are they found in Alberta?
They are found in the Rocky Mountains, where they dwell in spaces between rocks. They are good at camouflaging with the external surroundings. The production of high-pitched noise usually notices their presence though they cannot be seen.
North American River Otter
They are naturally known to be the most playful creatures ever created. They slide around, dive into the water and float on their back, and even manage to play with small rocks on the beach. They are adapted for aquatic environments with webbed feet, long bodies, and thick repellent fur.
Where are these animals in Alberta found?
They commonly occupy the north half of Alberta. They typically live in rivers and lakes and sometimes go to the nearest forest. They are presently identified by the presence of fish bones and beaver-like marks on the beach.
American Marten
They are another type of animal that is playful and looks attractive. Its face resembles that of a fox with a body resembling a lease. They have soft skin with soft fur. They are evident in the north half of the province, mostly in coniferous forests. Their diet is composed of rodents, but they can also eat eggs from birds and wild berries.
Common Nighthawk
This type of animal is termed cute due to its oval eyes and tiny peaks, but able to wildly open its mouth while flying to catch bugs in the air. They camouflage on tree bark and leaf litter as their feathers are similar to the color of that environment.
They are commonly seen during the day despite their naming. They are highly active during sunrise and sunset. They dwell across Alberta but majorly in southern Alberta in the Badlands.
Short-tailed Weasel
They are approximately a foot long with little total body weight. Despite the size of their bodies, they are mighty in that they prey on giant mammals, invertebrates, and even amphibians. They are usually difficult to be spotted as they blend with their surroundings. They are only active during the night and can not be spotted during the day.
Where are they found in Alberta?
They prefer thick vegetation and are commonly seen in the dense prairies away from the mountainous region. They are commonly seen during the summer due to more miniature bush and vegetation.
Red Fox
This dog family member is commonly known for hunting hares, birds, and rodents. They are approximately the size of a dog, but they are more aggressive and wild than domestic dogs. They have been classified as one of the most dangerous due to their ability in human beginnings.
Where are they found in Alberta?
They prefer open places but burrow into the ground and establish dens for hiding and hunting. They are seen throughout the year in Alberta, but unlike other animals, their skin color never changes. They are easily spotted during winter due to their bright orange color.
Summary of Animals and Wildlife in Alberta
Animals and wildlife in Alberta are of many categories ranging from birds, and hoofed animals to unhoofed animals. This offers a great reason for anyone to visit this place. People also enjoy the great scenery of Alberta where they play ice skiing and surfing.
Many tourists also like producing films and other videos with great pictures of Alaska. Before you leave, take a look at this article about wildlife in New York. It’ll be worth the while.
As a little kid, I fell in love with nature, wildlife, and animals. Living in the USA, South Africa, Italy, China and Germany gave me the opportunity to discover the world's Wildlife. My favorite animals are Mountain Gorillas, Siberian Tigers, and Great White Sharks.
I'm a certified PADI Open Water Diver, went to Everest Base Camp and Trekked Gorillas in Uganda. I hold a Master of Science in Economics and Finance.
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