BACKGROUND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 717

Sheep and Goats
Dall's sheep (also known as Rocky Mountain or bighorn sheep) are one of the most dis-
tinctive mammals of Canada. Easily recognized by their impressive horns, they are often
seen grazing on grassy mountain slopes or at salt licks beside the road. The color of their
coat varies with the season; in summer it's a brownish gray with a cream-colored belly and
rump, turning lighter in winter. Bighorn sheep are particularly tolerant of humans and often
approach parked vehicles; although they are not especially dangerous, you should not ap-
proach or feed them (as with all mammals).
The remarkable rock-climbing ability of nimble mountain goats allows them to live
high in the mountains, retreating to rocky ledges or near-vertical slopes when threatened by
predators.
Small Mammals
One of the animal kingdom's most industrious mammals is the beaver. Growing to a length
of 50 centimeters (20 inches) and tipping the scales at around 20 kilograms (44 pounds),
it has a flat, rudderlike tail and webbed back feet that enable it to swim at speeds up to 10
kph (6.2 mph). The exploration of western Canada can be directly attributed to the beaver,
whose pelt was in high demand in fashion-conscious Europe in the early 1800s. The beaver
was never entirely wiped out from the mountains, and today the animals inhabit almost
any forested valley with flowing water. Beavers build their dam walls and lodges of twigs,
branches, sticks of felled trees, and mud. They eat the bark and smaller twigs of deciduous
plants and store branches underwater, near the lodge, as a winter food supply.
Several species of squirrel are common in British Columbia, including the golden-
mantled ground, Columbian, and red squirrels. Marmots are common and widespread, with
various species living in different habitats. They are stocky creatures, weighing 4-9 kilo-
grams (9-20 pounds). The porcupine, a small, squat animal, is easily recognized by its
thick coat of quills. It eats roots and leaves but is also known for being destructive around
wooden buildings and vehicle tires.
REPTILES
Reptiles don't like cold climates, and therefore they don't like Canada. British Columbia
is home to just 17 of the world's 10,000-odd reptile species. All 17 inhabit dry, hot valleys
of grassland, such as the Okanagan Valley. The breakdown includes nine species of snakes,
five turtles, two lizards, and one species of skink. The province's only poisonous snake is