| Alberta's South The Backcountry | |||||||||||||||||||
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Many of us watch and listen to wildlife as a means of re-establishing contact
with the natural world, to escape the noise and hectic pace of our busy life styles.
The sight and sound of migrating geese, a glimpse of a deer, or the call of a
loon are special experiences that highlight our memories, marking our passage.
Without such experiences, our world would be a much less interesting place.
Alberta is richly blessed with an abundance and variety of wild plants and animals. It is the only place in North America where the prairie, boreal forest and mountain ecosystems meet. As a result, over 300 bird, 90 mammal, 18 reptile and amphibian, 50 fish and 1,700 flowering plant species occur during at least part of the year. In southwestern Alberta, you'll find coulees, praire, foothills, mountain slopes; a remarkable variety of landforms and climatic conditions which produce an exceptional diversity of sites for viewing wildlife. Coulees, such as those found in Lethbridge, are steeply eroded draws and valleys which harbour sufficient moisture to create distinctive oases of trees and shrubbery in the midst of the southern prairie. These locations sustain an abundance of flora, birds and mammals which are otherwise uncommon in the prairie region. In the Crowsnest Pass, you may visit open stands of limber pines, bent and weathered by the wind, fast flowing trout streams and mountain meadows. The greatest diversity of wildlife species in the province occurs in Alberta's southwest corner, where prairie and mountain meet in Waterton Lakes National Park. The two species in the Canadian Rockies that hold the most interest are bear and elk. The former because of their power and amazing character, and the latter because they are so prolific within the area.
BearsIt sounded like a bulldozer crashing through the forest on a collision course with my tent. She stopped just feet from me, and I could hear her breathing while she examined the camp. Then as quickly as she came, the bear left, leaving me terrified and completely unharmed. The next morning I followed her tracks; it was a grizzly. She disturbed nothing in the camp and continued up into the subalpine to feed on marmots and ground squirrels. I have never known such intense fear, yet this remains one of my strongest and most precious memories of the wilderness. Bear attacks are among the rarest and most publicized dangers in the wilderness.
Bears, particularly grizzlies are an indication of true wilderness. At one time
the grizzly ranged as far east as Hudson's Bay and south into Mexico. As European
settlement expanded, the grizzly's habitat decreased to the few pockets of remaining
wilderness large enough to survive in. Remember this is the bear's home, you
are the visitor and owe your host due courtesy. Always treat bears with the
greatest care and respect. Most confrontations are avoidable. Given the opportunity
bears will usually leave the area if they are given adequate warning and do
not feel threatened. Hiking in Bear CountryIt is best to avoid an encounter by avoiding the bear. Common sense and careful observation will greatly reduce the risk of a bear attack.
Camping in Bear CountryIt is very important to keep a clean camp. Improperly stored food and abandoned garbage may attract bears. If a bear becomes used to finding food and feeding in a camp, and it becomes habitual behaviour, the chance of attack is much greater. Too many bears have been killed by the parks service because campers were careless.
Bear EncountersWith these precautions, the chance of startling a bear or being attacked are extremely remote. If you ever should encounter a bear:
If the bear attacks there are no sure methods to prevent, deter, or reduce the mauling. Each situation is as unique as every bear. The following are only recommendations that have shown to be effective more often than not.
Bear behavior is very complex, and it is impossible to predict how an individual
will react. Bears are fascinating animals and the more you learn about them,
the easier it is to travel in bear country with confidence. There are many sensational
and inaccurate stories concerning bears, but there are also quite a few reputable
books that can help you understand the animal. Elk and MooseWhile seemingly benign on occasion these animals have the potential to be dangerous. Elk in particular have been known to attack hikers with little warning. The aggressive behaviour is usually associated with protecting their offspring or their reproductive cycle. In the late spring and through the summer hinds (female) Elk are giving birth or raising a young calf. If they feel threatened they may charge. From late August to the end of November, the stags (males) are in the rut, and at this time they are very aggressive. Never approach these animals or come between a mother and its young, they will fight. Elk are responsible for more attacks on people than any other animal in the mountains, yet almost all of these are provoked by careless people. Moose can display similar aggresive characteristics for the same reason. |
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