Caribou Mountains (Alberta)
- 1 min read
- 3 chapters
Explore on Lably
ToursExplore Lably’s 3D toursBecause of their unique environment, the Caribou Mountains Wildland Park (5,910 km2 (2,280 sq mi)) was created in 2001 as part of the Special Places program. The largest provincial wildland park in the province, its fragile ecosystem contains sensitive wetlands, permafrost habitat and rich bird breeding habitat. "A population of up to 120 wood bison, an endangered species, lives in the Wentzel Lake area in small groups of up to 15 animals."
Geography
The region is an upland region surrounded by lowlands, but both are forested and are considered part of the Boreal Plains Ecozone by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation and the Mid-Continental Canadian forests by the World Wildlife Fund.
Sign in to keep reading
2 more chapters are free with a Lably account.
Ecology
Due to it being unchanged by the glaciers, the mountains have similar habitat to the arctic tundra further north, leading to it hosting a unique array of species not found in other parts of Alberta. The Caribou Mountains is the only location in Alberta where red-necked phalarope, grey-cheeked thrush, American tree sparrow, red-throated loon, and common redpoll breed.
Boreal woodland caribou
"The Park contains relatively undisturbed and lichen-rich forests, favoured habitat for woodland caribou. About 80 percent of the range of an important population of woodland caribou is contained within the Park, and about a third of Alberta's population of this threatened species is dependent on the Park."