BANFF NATIONAL PARK - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 41

Bears
The exhilaration of seeing one of these magnificent creatures in its natural habitat is un-
forgettable. From the road you're most likely to see black bears, which actually range
in color from jet black to cinnamon brown and number around 50. Try the Bow Valley
Parkway at dawn or late in the afternoon. Farther north they are occasionally seen near the
road as it passes Cirrus Mountain. Banff's 60-odd grizzly bears spend most of the year
in remote valleys, often on south-facing slopes away from the Bow Valley Corridor. Dur-
ing late spring they are occasionally seen in residential areas, along the Lake Minnewanka
loop road, on the golf course, and in the area of Bow Pass.
The chance of encountering a bear face-to-face in the backcountry is remote. To lessen
chances even further, you should take some simple precautions: Never hike alone or at
dusk. Make lots of noise when passing through heavy vegetation. Keep a clean camp. Read
the pamphlets available at all park visitors centers. At the Banff Visitor Centre (224 Ban-
ff Ave.), daily trail reports list all recent bear sightings. Report any bears you see to the
Warden's Office (403/762-4506).
Reptiles and Amphibians
The wandering garter snake is rare and found only near the Cave and Basin, where warm
water from the mineral spring flows down a shaded slope into Vermilion Lakes. Amphi-
bians found in the park include the widespread western toad; the wood frog, commonly
found along the Bow River; the rare spotted frog; and the long-toed salamander, which
spawns in shallow ponds and spends the summer under logs or rocks in the vicinity of its
spawning grounds.
Birds
Although more than 240 species of birds have been recorded in the park, most are shy and
live in heavily wooded areas. One species that definitely isn't shy is the fearless gray jay,
which haunts all campgrounds and picnic areas. Similar in color, but larger, is the Clark's
nutcracker, which lives in higher, subalpine forests. Another common bird is the black-
and-white magpie. Ravens are frequently encountered, especially around campgrounds.
Several species of woodpecker live in subalpine forests. A number of species of grouse
are also in residence. Most common is the downy ruffed grouse, seen in montane forest.
The blue grouse and spruce grouse are seen at higher elevations, as is the white-tailed
ptarmigan, which lives above the tree line. (Watch for them in Sunshine Meadows or on