BADGER

The largest of the weasel family with The male is larger than the female weighing usually 7-25 pounds.  It's shaggy coat is a grizzled grey to brown with a white stripe from upturned snout to shoulder.  A very ferocious animal, the badger has few enemies.  They feed on squirrels, pocket gophers, rats and mice which they usually capture by digging out their burrows.

BEAVER 

This very large, dark brown rodent has a black, scaly tail which is horizontally flattened and paddle shaped and used as a rudder while swimming , as a sturdy support on land and for balance when the beaver carries heavy tree branches or building materials in its front paws.  Average weight is 45-60 pounds but they have been recorded at up to 110 pounds.

BIG HORN MOUNTAIN SHEEP 

This muscular bodied animal is covered with a brown coat, the belly, rump, back of legs, muzzle and eye patch are white. The most distinct feature of the mature male is a set of massive horns which spiral backwards from the top of the head.  They are excellent climber and jumper.

"BIRD BLITZ"

A long tradition in Mount Robson Park, the ‘Bird Blitz" takes place in June each year.  Bird enthusiasts from far and wide come to enjoy the beautiful spring scenery as well as the opportunity to observe and count the parks incredible bird population.  For more info click here Bird Species 

BLACK BEAR  

Typical coloration is in the west is black and brown to cinnamon.  They Inhabit heavily forested areas, dense bush and wooded mountains throughout most of British Columbia. They tend to wander a great distance, some male adults having lifetime ranges of 500 to 620 square miles.  Classed as a carnivore although most of its diet consists of vegetation such as twigs, buds, leaves, nuts, roots, various fruits, corn and berries. They are also good fisherman and feed on spawning salmon.

BOBCAT 

The color of the bobcat is tawny (greyer in the winter) with indistinct black spotting, the tail is short and stubby.  It is an excellent climber who often waits in the trees to pounce on their prey which includes rodents, hares, squirrels and birds; they also may take the occasional deer.

MOUNTAIN CARIBOU  

They reside throughout all of B.C. in the Coast Mountains to the Rockies and in the Columbia, Selkirk and Monashee Mountain ranges.  Among the most migratory of all animals. They feed on lichens, mushrooms, grasses, sedges and other green plants in the summer and twigs, horsetails, and willow in the winter.  Currently on the endangered list.

COUGAR 

This is the largest wild cat native to British Columbia WITH short and reddish-brown to grey-brown fur and a white underside.  The average adult male weighs 125 pounds and the female 100 pounds.  The cougar is a strong, solitary, strongly territorial hunting species that requires an undisturbed game-rich wilderness. They feed on large animals to mice; the cougar is capable of killing a 600 pound moose or elk.

COYOTE  

The coyote was originally native only to the prairies and arid west but as settlers moved across the country, altering the landscape and doing away with wolves they are now able to thrive in the Western Hemisphere from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans.   They have a grizzled grey or reddish-grey coat and average 20-40 pounds, eating almost anything it can chew, the coyote is a opportunistic and cunning hunter.

DEER  

Often seen on the ranch, the mule deer has the widest distribution of the deer found in B.C, whitetail deer reside in the lower south-east of the province and found only in B.C. is the Northwest Whitetail deer.  Deer feed on a variety of vegetation including green plants, nuts and corn, and trees and twigs. Although the deer is a good swimmer and runner (reaching speeds of 35 mph) it falls prey to a number of animals including the cougar, domestic dog, wolf, coyote, lynx, bobcat and bear.

ELK  

The Elk is the second largest member of the deer family.  They are tan in color with darker under parts and a thick brown neck.  In the spring, cow Elk become extremely protective of their new calves and actively defend their young if they perceive you as a threat to their young.  The antlers, only grown by males reachup to 150 cm.  In the fall it's the males that can become aggressive. The mating or ‘rutting’ season in September and October can make even the most seemingly docile Elk, Moose or Deer aggressive. 

FOX 

This small, doglike animal the tail is long and bushy with a white tip.  The fox goes through color phases of black, silver, and mixed.  The fox prefers the edges of forests, tilled fields and near marshes, but they can be found on farmland, beaches, prairies, woodlands and both alpine and arctic tundra.  They thrive throughout most of British Columbia.  An efficient and lethal predator; being an omnivore it eats whatever is available including corn, berries, apples, grasses, birds and mammals.

GRIZZLY BEAR  

This large mammal reaches weights of 1500 pounds and in spite of this mass size, runs at speeds of up to 35 mph.  The coat color ranges from blond, brown to black with outer guard hairs often tipped white or silver giving it a grizzled appearance hence the name.  The grizzly has a large hump of muscle mass over the shoulders to power the forelimbs in digging.  Nearly half of Canada's grizzly population - about 13,000 - live in B.C.  Being omnivores, they feed on a variety of plants and berries including roots or sprouts and fungi as well as fish, insects and small mammals.  They are often seen on the ranch during the salmon run.

MARMOT  

The Marmot is silver-grey with a brownish rump and whitish belly and distinct black and white marks are on the head and shoulders.  Their average weight is 8-20 pounds they live in talus slopes in the mountains feeding almost entirely on greens.  When in danger this animal gives off a shrill, piercing "Eeeeeee" alarm hence the nickname "whistler".

MARTEN  

This weasel like animal is dark brown to blond in color, The tail is long and bushy.  Their average weight is 1-4 pounds and they feed on squirrels, rabbits, birds, mice, eggs, berries, seeds and honey.   The Marten occurs throughout most of Canada particularly in coniferous forests and they are now protected.

MOUNTAIN GOATS  

Mountain Goats can often be spotted on mountain slopes from the highway corridor.  The coat is white and on the chin is a double beard of long hair. Weighing an average of 150-300 pounds and reaching heights of 35-45 inches, this animal is sure-footed and agile due to its hooves with cushioned skid-proof pads for grip.  The mountain goat lives in rocky mountainous areas above the timberline,  British Columbia's population is by far the largest at approximately 100,000.  This animal feeds on alpine grasses and flowers to almost any tree and shrub.

MOOSE  

This horse-sized animal is the largest member of the deer family with long, dark brown hair, high, humped shoulders and long legs.  A pendant of hair-covered skin sometimes reaching 2 feet hangs under the throat. Each April the male moose or bull grows a set of antlers reaching 120-150 cm which he loses in the winter after rutting season.  The moose occurs in spruce forests, swamps, aspen and willow thickets; it is built to live in rough country and is well adapted to a cold climate and can be found throughout most of B.C.  Moose are unpredictable and sometimes dangerous.

WOLF  

Generally the wolf is a grizzled grey but color varies from white to black, The male is larger than the female and average weight is 55-130 pounds.  The wolf is a very social animal who mates for life and lives in packs.  Usually hunting at night, they feed primarily on large mammals by chasing down their victims either slashing tendons or driving it back to waiting pack members.

WOLVERINE  

This bulky, bear-like animal is dark brown with broad, yellowish bands from shoulders to hips, meeting at the base of the tail. The male is generally larger than the female and average weight is 18-42 pounds.  Preferring forests and tundra, the wolverine is distributed throughout B.C. except in heavily populated areas.  The wolverine eats anything it can find or kill; being poor hunters they tend to follow wolves and bears, feeding off the leftovers from kills.

WARNING

ALL ANIMALS CAN BE DANGEROUS do not feed or approach any strange or wild animal.  Although they are beautiful to look at, wildlife are best viewed at a distance, give them plenty of space to ensure their safety and yours.   On rare occasions animals have been known to attack and kill people, it is advisable to research safety precautions around different species.  Binoculars are a great aid to the traveler so that wildlife, mountain slopes, slide paths and cliffs can be safely examined.  STINGING INSECTS can CARRY DISEASE and cause RASHES/LESIONS/ALLERGIC REACTIONS along with CERTAIN PLANTS.  Consult a physician to find out if you need shots or medications and if you should avoid remote destinations for any reason.