THE NORTH STAY EAT EXPLORE

MACKENZIE FRONTIER WILDLIFE IN THE FRONTIER THE MACKENZIE FRONTIER. MY FREEDOM. MY FRONTIER.

Come and explore the wildlife of the Mackenzie Frontier!

Be amazed at the over 80,000 square kilometers of beautiful wild country comprising the Mackenzie Frontier. Spanning across 12 percent of ’s landmass, this vast, lush terrain is home to nearly 600 species of wildlife. The Mackenzie Frontier hosts a diverse group of habitats including the BOREAL FORESTS, the HAY-ZAMA WETLANDS, the CARIBOU MOUNTAINS, and the BUFFALO HEAD HILLS. Additionally, the renowned WOOD BUFFALO NATIONAL PARK CONTENTS borders the Mackenzie Frontier’s east side. With so many diverse activities to choose from, the Frontier is the perfect place to connect with nature. On any given day, you can cast a line into | 2 WEASELS & RELATED | 16 Goose / American White Ermine / American Marten / one of many lakes and rivers or feel the adrenaline of stalking a deer with Pelican / Birds of the Frontier American Mink / Fisher / Northern the support of a well-equipped hunting outfitter. From camping, canoeing, Species index River Otter / Wolverine horseback riding, ATV-ing, and hiking in the summer, to snowmobiling and cross country skiing in our winter months; the Frontier always has FISH | 6 GARTER SNAKE | 17 something to offer. Arctic Grayling / Lake Whitefish Northern Pike / Rainbow Trout / WILD CATS | 18 Walleye & more! Cougar / Canada Lynx

BEARS | 8 BISON, CARIBOU & HORSES | 20 Black Bear / Grizzly Bear Wood Bison / Wild Horses / Woodland Caribou DEER | 10 Mule Deer / White-Tailed Deer / Elk / Moose WOLVES & FOXES | 22 Red Fox / Swift Fox / Gray Wolf / REGIONAL MAP | 12 Coyote The HAY-ZAMA LAKES is one of Hunting zones / Ecology / Services the most extensive sedge wetlands CONTACTS | 24 in Western North America. Credit: Ron Garnett/airscapes.ca RABBITS & RODENTS | 14 Snowshoe Hare / Red Squirrel Over 250,000 ducks and 177,000 geese have been observed during Muskrat / Woodchuck / a single migration here. This park is also the only site in Alberta Porcupine / Beaver targeted for re-introduction of the Wood Bison. Explore the Mackenzie Frontier 1 EXPLOREEXPLORE t Rainbow La lican at Zama e a ke. pe Po WILDLIFEWILDLIFE es C A nd e re . G di C a t: re d A d a d it n a : m K a a C I y n l a T h W

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BIRDS OF y THE FRONTIER Hay-Zama Lakes Wildland Provincial Park, Machesis Lake, Hutch Lake, Rainbow CANADA GOOSE AMERICAN WHITE Lake, Tourangeau Lake, Wadlin Lake, and GENERAL STATUS: the Wetlands are perfect places Secure PELICAN to bring your binoculars to catch a glimpse These iconic geese nest in the of many of the 250 species of birds here in Frontier on their way north in GENERAL STATUS: Sensitive the region. Canoe along the Mighty Peace the spring and stop to feed These large, water-dwelling River or the to experience every fall on their way south. birds inhabit a small island unspoiled landscape filled with wild in the middle of Wadlin Lake, populations of birds. Skies fill with V-formations of geese and the sound of honking known as Pelican Island. We are home to many birds species classified as at travels with them. Since they American white pelicans do not risk or sensitive by the Alberta Environment and Parks. feed off of the fall harvest, dive for prey, but catch their Barred Owl • Bay-breasted Warbler • Black-throated Green Warbler they are likely to be spotted in food while swimming. They eat Canada Warbler • Cape May Warbler • Harlequin Duck • Northern farmers’ fields. over 4 pounds of fish per day! Pygmy Owl • Peregrine Falcon • Short-eared Owl • Trumpeter Swan • Western Grebe • White-winged Scoter • Whooping Cranes •

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A Great Blue Heron in flight A flock of waders enjoys the Credit: Meagan Peters shallows at Hutch Lake 2 Explore the Mackenzie Frontier 3 EXPLORE A black-capped chickadee perched on a WARBLER Black-throated EXPLORE PERCHING BIRDS cont. GROUSE WILDLIFEWILDLIFE sapling in the woods near grey Credit: Alexandria Neufeld ORIOLE Northern Canada • GROUSE Ruffed OVENBIRD Cape May • Spruce PARULA Northern Conneticut Sharp-tailed PEWEE Western Wood Magnolia PHOEBE Eastern MacGillivray’s PIPET American Mourning RAVEN Common Orange-crowned AERIALISTS REDSTART American Palm Tennessee GULL Bonaparte’s ROBIN American California BIRDS OF Grey-crowned Wilson’s ROSYFINCH Franklin’s • at risk SISKIN Pine Yellow Yellow-rumped Herring • sensitive SPARROW Chipping Ring-billed Clay-colored WAXWING Bohemian * irregular Cedar PELICAN American White Fox TEM Common THE FRONTIER V visitor House WREN House Black fall Le Conte’s Long-billed marsh F Winter spring Lincon’s S Savannah YELLOWTHROAT Common T transient Sharp-Tailed MIGRANTS Song Swamp BIRDS OF PREY Tree WADERS CRANE Whooping (S) • EAGLE Bald Vesper Golden DUCK FAMILY DOWITCHER Long-billed (S) PERCHING BIRDS White-crowned AVOCET American DUCK Black (V)* FALCON Peregrine • BUFFLEHEAD BLACK Brewers White-throated BITTERN American GOSHAWK Northern Harlequin • STARLING European CRANE Sandhill CANVASBACK GOOSE Blue (S/F) Red-Winged HARRIER Northern COOT American Rusty SWALLOW Bank DOWITCHER Short-billed HAWK Broad-winged Snow (S/F) Barn HERON Great Blue CORMORANT Double-crested White-fronted (S/F) Yellow-Headed Cooper’s GADWALL BLUEBIRD Mountain Cliff KILLDEER Red-tailed HAWK Rough-legged (S/F) Tree PHALAROPE Rednecked GOLDENEYE Barrow’s KNOT BUNTING Lazuli Sharp-shinned Red (S) TANAGER Western Wilson’s Common LARK Horned * CHICKADEE Black-Capped Swainson’s GOOSE Canada Boreal THRUSH Grey-cheeked RAIL Virginia KESTREL American OLDSQUAW (S) Hermit SANDPIPER Curlew GREBE Eared PHALAROPE Northern (V) COWBIRD Brown-Headed MERLIN Horned CROSSBILL Red Swainson’s Solitary OSPREY PLOVER American Golden S/F Varied Spotted Pied-billed Blackbellied (S/F) White-Winged OWL Barred • Red-necked CROW American VEERY Upland Boreal Semipalmated * VIREO Philidelphia SNIPE Common Western • SANDERLING (S) FINCH Purple Great Grey LOON Common FLYCATCHER Alder Red-Eyed SORA Great Horned SANDPIPER Baird’s (S/F) Solitary YELLOWLEGS Greater Red-throated Least (S/F) Great Crested Long-eared MALLARD Least Warbling Lesser Northern hawk Stilt (S/F) WATERTHRUSH Northern MERGANSER Common Pectoral (S/F) Olive-Sided Northern pigmy • Hooded Willow WARBLER Bay-breasted • Northern saw-whet Semipalmated (T) Black & White Red-breasted SWAN Trumpeter (S/F) • Yellow-bellied Short-eared • PINTAIL Northern GOLDFINCH American Blackburnian Tundra (S/F) Blackpoll REDHEAD TURNSTONE Ruddy (S) GRACKLE Common RING-NECKED GROSBEAK Evening Black-throated RUDDY DUCK Rose-breasted green • SCAUP Greater Pine Lesser WINTER RESIDENTS JAY Blue SCOTER Surf Grey (Canada) Be sure to pick up a bird White-winged • BUNTING Snow JUNCO Dark-eyed sighting checklist at the Fort SHOVELER Northen GYRFALCON (V) KINGBIRD Easten Vermilion Heritage Centre TEAL Blue-winged OWL Snowy (V) KINGLET Golden-crowned for your tour around the Cinnamon PTARMIGAN Rock (V)* Ruby-crowned The great grey owl is Mackenzie Frontier! Green-winged Willow MAGPIE Black-billed North America’s tallest owl, WIGEON American REDPOLL Common MEADOWLARK Western Hoary NUTHATCH Red-breasted standing up to 2 ft. White-breasted Credit: Adam in the Wild Photography 4 Species index adapted from Fort Vemilion Heritage Center research Explore the Mackenzie Frontier 5 EXPLORE WILDLIFE NEED A FISHING LICENSE?

Wil Anglers over the age of 16 must have a Wildlife Identification Number (WiN) n The d Pho FISH i to am gr card and a license before fishing. Fishing license and WiN card can be purchased d ap : A h it y online at www.albertarelm.com or at selected retail stores. d Cast a line in one of The Mackenzie Frontier’s many e r C . stunning bodies of water. Home to seven different Every lake in Alberta has specific guidelines beyond the general fishing e y e native species of fish, the flowing rivers make for a regulations. Mackenzie Frontier is zoned NB3. To find the fishing guidelines for l l a serene evening of fishing. For weekend excursions, the lake you will be fishing at visit www.albertafishingguide.com

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A stay at one of the Frontier’s many campgrounds. Regulations change every year. They include daily/trip possession limits and In winter, feel the thrill of pulling a fish through an cleaning/transporting rules. For updated fishing regulations visit: open hole in the ice while standing in the middle of www.albertaregulations.ca. one of many frozen lakes.

NORTHERN PIKE GENERAL STATUS: Secure FOUND IN: , Chinchaga River, Hutch Lake, , Rainbow BURBOT GENERAL STATUS: Secure Lake, and Wadlin Lake FOUND IN: Bistcho Lake, Chinchaga River, They have been known to weigh up to 50 pounds! Peace River, Rainbow Lake, and Wadlin ARCTIC GRAYLING Lake RECOMMENDED HOOKS: Len Thompson lures They are bottom feeders and have skin GENERAL STATUS: Sensitive instead of scales. FOUND IN: The Peace River and Chinchaga River They can weigh up to 2.9 pounds. Arctic grayling feed on small fish, insects, WALLEYE GENERAL STATUS: Secure worms, slugs, and snails. FOUND IN: Bistcho Lake, Chinchaga River, RECOMMENDED HOOKS: The colour pink LAKE WHITEFISH Hutch Lake, Peace River, Rainbow Lake, seems to catch their attention and Wadlin Lake through murky waters. GENERAL STATUS: Secure RECOMMENDED HOOKS: Smaller spooners; FOUND IN: Bistcho Lake, Wadlin Lake divers for trolling and jigging during the summer months with frozen bait RECOMMENDED HOOKS: Use small hooks. Lake whitefish are most commonly caught while ice fishing. RAINBOW TROUT GENERAL STATUS: May be at risk BISTCHO LAKE, in the northwest corner of the province, is perfect for adventurous FOUND IN: Machesis Lake, Rainbow Lake YELLOW PERCH souls. During the summer, fly to TAPAWINGO LODGE, or snowmobile on a 93 Pond, and Zama Community Pond kilometer trail during the winter. Experience the tranquil lake filled with WALLEYE GENERAL STATUS: Secure and NORTHERN PIKE while surrounded by vast wilderness filled with wildlife. RECOMMENDED HOOKS: Small spoons and spinners FOUND IN: Hutch Lake and Wadlin Lake

6 Thank you to the friendly staff at La Crete Home Hardware who recommended hooks for each fish species. Explore the Mackenzie Frontier 7 EXPLOREEXPLORE A black bear near For trapping and hunting regulations please visit www.albertaregulations.ca WILDLIFEWILDLIFEBEARS Rainbow Lake Credit: Adam in the Wild Photography BLACK BEARS GENERAL STATUS: Secure

IDENTIFICATION: Black bears are the smallest of the BEARS North American bears. Distinguished by their large, almost pointed, ears and straight face Both black bears and grizzly profile. 18 cm bears call the Mackenzie Frontier their home. Many Adult Male (boar) 220-440 lbs 9 cm 9.5 cm tourists hope to achieve even C Adult Female (sow) 100-310 lbs ain red a glimpse of one as they drive r R it: ea A n da r m through the vast boreal forests HIBERNATION: a Black bears hibernate for 5 to 6 e i b n of the region. t months in their winter dens. They do not eat, k h c e a l W drink, defecate, or urinate during the entire b International hunters travel i l A d

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about 5 pounds by the time they leave the y den in spring. These symbols of Alberta’s untamed wilderness GRIZZLY BEARS can be found in the boreal forests blanketing the northwest part of the Mackenzie Frontier. GENERAL STATUS: Threatened Bears are very intelligent and complex animals. Each IDENTIFICATION: Grizzlies are distinguished by a bear and each encounter is unique; there is no single shoulder hump and a dished face. BEAR SAFETY strategy that will work in all situations.

Adult Male (boar) 400–790 lbs 24.5 cm Adult Female (sow) 290–400 lbs 13 cm 14 cm IF YOU ENCOUNTER A BEAR HIBERNATION: Grizzly bears are active from spring until late autumn. In the Frontier, they hibernate in the winter, although the time spent in their dens Leave the area or take a detour. If this is impossible, wait until the bear is slightly less that the black bear. They will occaisionally wake up and roam Stay calm. Most bears don’t want to moves away. Always leave the bear an near the den during the winter. attack you; they usually want to avoid you and ensure you’re not a threat. escape route. A THREATENED SPECIES: The Bear Management Area 1 (BMA1), which includes the forested and farmlands of the Chinchaga, is Cred Immediately pick up small children the second largest in Alberta (approximately 42,000 it: Ri Talk calmly and firmly. If a bear rears and stay in a group. ch square kilometres). It is the most remote grizzly a rd on its hind legs and waves its nose L habitat and the only high boreal habitat in the e about, it is trying to identify you. e province. The area is saturated by bog-land and Remain still and talk calmly so it Back away slowly, never run! Bears can knows you are a human and not a prey tight stands of mixed coniferous and deciduous run as fast as a race-horse, both uphill animal. A scream or sudden movement forest. and downhill. may trigger an attack. FUN FACT: Bears rub their backs against trees and power poles to leave behind their scent as a If a bear stalks you and attacks, or message — “a grizzly bear’s version of Facebook.” Don’t drop your pack. It can provide attacks at night, do not play dead. protection. Fight back! 8 Explore the Mackenzie Frontier 9 EXPLOREEXPLORE A mule doe in Buffalo Head Prairie For trapping and hunting regulations for deer please visit www.albertaregulations.ca WILDLIFEWILDLIFE

Mule deer and white-tailed deer ELK (WAPITI) GENERAL STATUS: Secure are similar in seasonal coloring and overall appearance, and both SIZE: Elk are one of the world’s largest species of deer. They stand almost 5 DEER species possess excellent senses of feet tall at the shoulder and adult males can weigh over 700 pounds. sight, smell and hearing. DIET: Adult elk consume approximately 20 pounds of vegetation per day. FUN FACTS: Unlike any other deer, the elk have upper canine teeth, which serve no purpose at all, but in the 18th century were very popular for jewelry. Elk’s antlers are made of bone which can grow up to 1 inch per day. SIGHTINGS: Elk are most likely to be seen in the Rocky Lane area.

Credit: Gary Muzichuk Cows average about 770 lbs, and are White-tailed deer are the antler-less. most commonly sighted deer in the Mackenzie Mule deer are named for Frontier their large, mule-like ears.

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Healthy cows have a high chance of bearing twins.

WHITE-TAILED DEER MULE DEER MOOSE GENERAL STATUS: Secure

GENERAL STATUS: Secure GENERAL STATUS: Secure DIET: Moose need to eat 55 pounds APPEARANCE: Moose are the world’s of plants per day, and can hold ANTLERS: Unbranched tines extending ANTLERS: Divided into two equal tines largest members of the deer family. up to 100 pounds of food in their from single beams Bulls can weigh over 1000 pounds TAIL: Narrow, brown tail with a stomachs. and stand 7.5 feet at the shoulder, TAIL: Broad brown tail, fringed black tip, held down as they run, with antlers that can measure as HABITAT: Moose tend to live in with white, held erect as they run, surrounded by a white rump patch much as 6 feet tip to tip. Moose swamp-like wetlands. They can hold exposing a white underside BEHAVIOR: Inquisitive. When alarmed have a pouch of skin that hangs their breath underwater for up to a BEHAVIOR: Wary and running, they often stop for a last from their necks called a bell. minute and dive up to 20 feet. look before bounding out of sight. 10 Explore the Mackenzie Frontier 11 EXPLORE WILDLIFE NORHWES ERRORES ORDER

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35 Caribou Mountains Park spans upwards CARO MONANS of 6000 km and is the province’s largest provincial park. This habitat is known WLDLAND RONCAL ARK for its fragile ecosystem containing Meander River sensitive wetlands and a permafrost itchii habitat with its rich breeding bird ake grounds and sanctuary for Woodland Caribou. Mararet ake

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Footner ake 58 58 58 Campground Rocky Lane Picnic Site eace ier

Lookout 697 aino ake FIRST NATION’S 35 RESERVATIONS CAMPGROUNDS & PICNIC SITES 1. Beaver Ranch 1. Aspen Ridge Campground 2. Boyer 2. Buffalo Head Tower 697 3. Bushe River Tompkins Landing 3. Elmwood RV Park 88 4. Chateh eace ier 4. Fantasy North RV Park 5. Child Lake 5. Fort Vermilion Bridge Campsite 6. Fox Lake 6. Fox Haven Golf & Country Club The HUNGRY BEND SANDHILLS stretch between 7. John D’Or Prairie 7. Hutch Lake 3 communities; High Level to the northwest, 8. La Crete Ferry Campground Fort Vermilion to the east, and La Crete to the 8. Meander River 9. Lederer Enterprises southeast. It also adjoins the Beaver First Nations alin ake 9. Tall Cree 10. Machesis Lake Reserve, Child Lake Reserve, and North Vermilion 11. Mackenzie Crossroads Museum (Buttertown). 12. Pioneer Country Cabins & Campground 13. Rainbow Lake Provincial Campground 14. Shady Acres Hotel & Campground 15. SS D.A. Thomas Park 16. Tompkins Landing 17. Tourangeau Lake All of the Mackenzie Frontier 18. Wadlin Lake Campground 19. Watt Mountain falls in Trapping Zone 2 20. Zama Community Park and Campgound 12 Explore the Mackenzie Frontier 13 EXPLORE For trapping and hunting regulations please visit www.albertaregulations.ca WILDLIFE

WOODCHUCK GENERAL STATUS: Secure RABBITS & The woodchuck is a member of a group of large, ground dwelling squirrels, called marmots or groundhogs. IDENTIFICATION: Robust bodies, broad heads, and short RODENTS legs and tails BEHAVIOR: They hibernate during the winter. A woodchuck’s Photog ild raph burrow will usually have multiple entraces and chambers with specific purposes, e W y th in such as nesting or waste. m a d A

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The SNOWSHOE HARE PORCUPINE GENERAL STATUS: Secure is the only rabbit species living in the Mackenzie frontier. The porcupine is covered with a dense brown fur undercoat with yellow tipped quills. The quills can GENERAL STATUS: Secure RED SQUIRREL vary from 1 to 2.5 inches. A female will only give birth to one baby during early summer. The baby IDENTIFICATION: Reddish/greyish brown GENERAL STATUS: Secure is born covered in hair and quills, with their eyes fur that turns completely white in the open. Their quills are limp when born but as they winter; black tipped ears IDENTIFICATION: Reddish/greyish brown fur and white underbodies dry they begin to stand up. They are weaned in their FUN FACTS: Broad hind feet covered in second week. thick, stiff hair allow the hare to glide DIET & BEHAVIOUR: They do not hibernate on top of the snow, like it’s wearing during the winter, but ensure they have stored plenty of food for it’s namesake snowshoes. Their young ld Photogra Wi phy the cold months in tree cavities, BEAVER GENERAL STATUS: Secure he are born with long hair and their eyes t n underbrush piles, and dens. Though i open. They leave the nest a few days m The beaver is North America’s largest rodent. A a d they mainly feed on nuts and seeds, A

after birth. beaver will only take one mate, which it keeps for : t their diets also consist of , i d life. Amazingly, they can see as well in water as e r

berries, mushrooms, bugs, mice, and C on land. small birds. on erts ob THESE RODENTS ARE THE REASON CANADA WAS EXPLORED. . R E n o d r GENERAL STATUS: Secure Looking for gold and not finding any, French o G

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r trade in the 16th century. In Europe, beaver pelts were C beavers, its habitat is in the water, but they do used to make hats, coats, robes, and more. During the peak not build dams. Its tail is narrow and used as a of the fur trade, about 200,000 pelts were sent to Europe each year. The HBC rudder while swimming. incorporated the beaver onto their coat of arms, which lead other companies and governments to use the water-dwelling rodent to represent Canada. 14 Explore the Mackenzie Frontier 15 EXPLORE Credit: Gord Klassen ’Trapper Gord’ For trapping and hunting regulations please visit www.albertaregulations.ca WILDLIFE NORTHERN RIVER OTTER FUN FACTS: An otter can stay under water up to 4 minutes, even though most of its dives are less than 60 seconds. WEASEL FAMILY Its thick pelt traps an insulating layer of air next to its skin that keeps the animal warm even in the icy water of winter. During the summer, Otters have long whiskers on their snouts, which assists ERMINE GENERAL STATUS: Secure the ermine’s them in dark murky water to catch their prey. Their whiskers are sensitive to the underwater pressure waves created by Also known as a short-tailed weasel or stoat. coat is sandy- brown with white escaping prey . While males mature at 10 -11 months, underbelly, but female stoats will be breed at 2-3 weeks, during the winter while still blind, deaf, hairless, and not months it adopts yet weaned. a completely white coat with a WOLVERINE black tipped tail. The wolverine is the largest of the weasel family in the Frontier. Average adults weigh 22 to 33 pounds. Despite their size, they have been AMERICAN MARTEN IDENTIFICATION: Orange underbelly, seen taking down adult caribou! adult weight ranges from 1 to 3 pounds. The wolverine’s scientific name is BEHAVIOR: It is very rare to see a marten on the ground. They Gulo gulo, which in Latin means spend the majority of their time either in trees hunting for ‘glutton’ because of their reputation squirrels or scurrying in tunnels under the snow. for eating large amounts of food in one sitting.

Photo Credit: Vincent Can Zalinge AMERICAN MINK IDENTIFICATION: A fully grown mink weighs approximately 2 pounds, with long narrow bodies ranging from 25 to 30 inches long. BEHAVIOR & DIET: Minks love the waterside and can swim up to 95 feet under water! Their diet consists of ducks, fish, small birds, rodents, frogs, mice, snakes and even muskrats! RED SIDED GARTER SNAKE GENERAL STATUS: Sensitive This snake is non-venomous and can grow up to 40 inches long. FISHER IDENTIFICATION: Fishers are nearly twice as large and four times as heavy as the marten, with extremely sharp claws. The snake gives birth to 6 to 18 live young at a time and does not lay eggs. FUN FACTS: They are one of the few animals that will eat a skunk. The fisher has very few predators other than humans since few animals can take on the large weasel. 16 Explore the Mackenzie Frontier 17 EXPLORE hotogra ild P phy NATURAL SNOWSHOES In the winter, lynxes’ large feet e W WILDLIFE Cougars’ large paws th in grow dense, course hair to help them travel on m a and hind legs make d A top of the snow. : t them incredible i d e r

jumpers. They can C leap vertically over 18 ft and horizontally up to CANADA LYNX 40 ft! The Canada lynx is a secretive wild cat that lives in the boreal forests of the Mackenzie Frontier. When spotted, it can be easily recognized by its prominent ear tufts, short, black-tipped tail and furry ruff - which looks like a double-pointed beard.

POPULATION: The Canada lynx has no natural preditors. COUGAR Their population fluctuates in ten year cycles, varying with the snowshoe hare, their primary prey. GENERAL STATUS: Secure

SNOWSHOE HARE LIFESPAN: 15-20 years CANADA LYNX SIZE: The average lynx weighs 17 to 30 pounds and POPULATION The cougar is known by 40 stands 23 inches tall at the shoulder. 1 5 10 different names in English, YEARS including mountain lion, puma, panther, ghost cat, painter, CANADA deer tiger, and mountain LYNX IDENTITY MIX-UP screamer. A lynx The Canada lynx IF YOU ENCOUNTER A COUGAR pelt can fetch up is often confused GENERAL STATUS: Secure to several with the bobcat, hundred who lives in the SIGHTINGS: Rare Immediately pick up South of Alberta. small children or small pets. dollars. SIZE: The bobcat has The average cougar weighs Trapping shorter ear tufts about 93 pounds and stands 23 to 30 season is only and it has a Face the animal, and retreat slowly inches tall at the shoulder. for 2 and a half red spotted – Do NOT run or play dead. months each LIFESPAN: Cougars live about 10 years coat. year. in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity Try to appear bigger by holding For trapping and PREY: Cougars hunt deer, elk, moose your arms or an object above your hunting regulations calves, and some smaller prey. head. Actions such as shouting, please visit waving a stick and throwing rocks www.albertaregulations.ca According to locals living in the Frontier, may deter an attack. cougars are also known to kill livestock, and have been spotted in close BE AGGRESSIVE. A lynx near Rainbow Lake proximity of towns and communities. Credit: Adam in The Wild Photography

18 Explore the Mackenzie Frontier 19 EXPLOREEXPLORE WILDLIFEWILDLIFE WOODLAND CARIBOU GENERAL STATUS: At Risk

SIZE: Caribou stand just over 3 feet at the shoulder and weigh 240 to 460 pounds

RANGES: The Frontier hosts five woodland caribou ranges; Bistcho, Yates, Caribou Mountains, Chinchaga, and the Red Earth region. Some of these areas span into , the Northwest Territories, and even into Wood Buffalo National Park.

Wood Bison NUMBERS: There are 2,849 caribou in Alberta and over one thousand call are the largest the Frontier home. The Canadian population of all sub-species of caribou herbivore living is about 2.4 million. In comparison, there are about 500,000 to one million in the Mackenzie moose in Canada. Frontier. Wood Bison near Zama City FOOD: Caribou eat lichen which is their major food source, but also eat Credit: Adam in the Wild Photography grasses, sedges, birch and willow leaves, and mosses. WOOD BISON GENERAL STATUS: At Risk PREDATORS: Wolves, bears, wolverine, lynx, cougar and coyotes SIGHTINGS: Areas around Zama City, Rainbow Lake, LIFESPAN: 15 years. Chateh, Cameron Hills, Caribou Mountains and south THE HAY-ZAMA HERD: Wood bison thrive in the wet meadows of the boreal eco- towards Red Earth region in the Zama City and Chateh area. The Hay-Zama Bison are a healthy, non- diseased herd and have been surveyed annually since 1994. The herd has since Credit: Gary Muzichuk expanded to over 650 animals.

HUNTING: Since the winter of 2008/2009 the Hay-Zama Bison Hunt has been in effect and is the only recreational bison hunt in Alberta. Bison hunting is closely monitored to manage heard growth and range in order to maintain a population of 400 to 600. For more information regarding the Wood Bison Hunt visit: mywildalberta.ca/hunting/ game-species/wood-bison-hunt-hay-zama.aspx

SIGHTING: While traveling through or to Zama City or Chateh areas, bison are seen frequently. Their presence is a wonderful addition to any northern road trip.

For trapping and hunting regulations please visit www.albertaregulations.ca

Wild horses near Chateh Credit: Adam in the Wild Photography Mackenzie Frontier is home to a herd of wild horses! A herd of approximately 30, part-mustang horses breed and foal every year. These magnificent wild spirits belong to the community and families of Chateh, and roam in the northwest corner of the Mackenzie Frontier. The herd moves into the Hay-Zama Lakes for the fall and winter. History dates this herd back as far as the 1930’s. One story states that a wolf scattered the horses from where they were fenced. However, no one truly WILD HORSES knows, as only the elders that are long gone know the true story behind them. 20 Explore the Mackenzie Frontier 21 EXPLORE A uniquely-colored red fox near High Level P ho Credit: Adam in the Wild Photography to C re WILDLIFE d it TIMBER WOLF : E ll e n

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e r Foxes have whiskers SIZE: The gray wolf is the largest in y on their face and the wild dog family. On average, they legs to help navigate weigh around 130 pounds and stand their way through thick 26 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder. bushes, and long grass. LIFESPAN: 6 to 8 years and up to 16 The fox’s tail helps it years in captivity to balance APPEARANCE: Their coats are long and BEHAVIOUR: Wolves are social animals dense, with fur ranging in color from that live in packs of 2 to over 20. They almost black to white. Wolves have travel and hunt together as a family. broader faces and rounder ears than coyotes. DIET: Mainly moose, deer and caribou, but occaisionally hare, fish, and beaver RED FOX DID YOU KNOW? Foxes’ have vertical pupils, like cats which helps Credit: A GENERAL STATUS: Secure ke. dam La in them see better at night. w th o e b SIZE: in W COYOTE GENERAL STATUS: Secure The average red fox weighs 7 i a ld R to 11 lbs Foxes are known to be sneaky creatures r P a h LIFESPAN: 10 – 14 years in the wild and up e o and are rarely spotted in the wild. They n t o LIFESPAN: 2 – 5 years in the wild e to 20 years in captivity have a slim and graceful build with a t g r o

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coat of dense fur. Their fluffy tail is just o h

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y SIZE: The average coyote weighs 22 to APPEARANCE: They are usually red as long as their body. A 50 pounds and stands 23 to 26 inches in colour but have been known DIET: The fox’s diet changes tall. to have a silver coat or red with throughout the year depending on black markings on the back. what is available. They primarily hunt Coyotes are highly adaptable wild dogs mice, but also feed on other small with a reddish grey or grey fur coat, black , insects, fruit, and eggs back markings, pointed ears, and narrow of ground nesting birds. They also snouts. They carry their tails tucked between scavenge off of carrion. Foxes mainly their hind legs. They are not picky eaters and will SWIFT FOX. hunt at night. feed on mice, hares, livestock carcasses, young calves, and fresh berries during A swift fox the summer months. . Cr GENERAL STATUS At Risk ed it: N In the Frontier, coyotes are often heard communicating with each other from a ik SIZE: Swift foxes average 4 to 7 lbs o long distance away. Usually heard during the late evening or night, their howls la y sound more like a cackle. T c LIFESPAN: 8 – 10 years in the wild and h

a

o Coyotes have survived repeated attempts to be eliminated by humans. They

up to 13 years in captivity u c

h have an incredible ability to adapt to many changes brought about by people. e

APPEARANCE: The swift fox has soft v Coyotes can reach incredible speeds (40 – 64km/ hour) and have a remarkable grey fur tinged with orange or tan sense of hearing and smell; they will even change direction mid step. on the legs and lower part of the body. They have a light throat, chest and belly, and a black tipped tail. For trapping and hunting regulations please visit www.albertaregulations.ca

22 Explore the Mackenzie Frontier 23 EXPLOREEXPLORE WILDLIFEWILDLIFE REPORT A POACHER Dial toll free – 1-800-642-3800 Report online at CONTACTS www.reportapoacher.com

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONTACTS

HIGH LEVEL 2nd Floor, 10106 100 Ave (780) 926-2238 ALBERTA TRAPPERS ASSOCIATION FORT VERMILION (780) 926-1428 5001 46 Ave www.albertatrappers.com/ (780) 927-4488 HAY ZAMA WILDLAND PARK: www.albertaparks.ca/media/2661/ A red fox in winter HayZama_web.pdf Credit: Adam in the Wild Photography CARIBOU MOUNTAIN WILDLAND PARK www.albertaparks.ca/parks/northwest/ caribou-mountains-wpp/#hunting

WOOD BUFFALO NATIONAL PARK www.travelalberta.com/ca/places- to-go/national-parks/wood-buffalo- national-park/

RESEARCH REFERENCES IMAGE ATTRIBUTION Albertawilderness.ca justfunfacts.com Page 10: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/ aep.alberta.ca earthrangers.com licenses/by-sa/2.0)] cbc.ca cdnhistorybits.wordpress.com Page 14: D. Gordon E. Robertson [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ hww.ca aiwc.ca by-sa/3.0/} animalfactguide.com albertaviews.ca Page 23: Ellie Attebery [CC BY 2.0 (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)] Photos: Adam in the Wild Photography 24 MACKENZIE FRONTIER TOURIST ASSOCIATION

PO Box 26 High Level, Alberta, Canada T0H 1Z0

www.mackenziefrontier.com [email protected]

Follow along: facebook.com/mackenziefrontier Instagram: @mackenziefrontier

Cover Image: Adam in the Wild Photography Production: Wilma O’Rourke Design: Meagan Peters