Wildlife List for The Cabin Area

CaribouThe follwoing lists wildlife that has been physically seen (denoted by an asterix), have seen tracks/scat or are known to be in our area. The animal is listed by it's common name, family and genus and species name, followed by the best site(s) and time of year for observation.

American Mink (Mustelidae; Mustela vison): Nocturnal and fairly common along streams and lake shores; year-round

*Bats (Little Brown Bat; Vespertelionidae; Mycotis lucifugus): dusk-dawn around the cabins; May to October

*Beaver (Castoridae; Castor canadensis): On the drive in from Highway 40 on the Rock Lake Road, canoe trip between Blue Lake and Gregg Lake; spring to fall.

*Big Horn Sheep (Bovidae; Ovis canadensis): Binocular Ridge and the alpine meadow hike; spring to fall

*Black Bear (Ursidae; Ursus americanus): Most common in montane woods; spring and late summer/early fall; May to November

Cougar/Mountain Lion/Puma (Felidae; Felis concolor): Tracks seen at the 'Escape clearing, on the Munn Creek Trail and on the Mountain Shadow Trail; year-round

*Coyote (Canidae; Canis latrans): Seen along the Rock Lake Road, Highway 40 and the Mountain Shadow Trail; year-round

*Elk/Wapiti (Cervidae; Cervus elaphus): Rock Lake and surrounding bald hills; year-round

*Ermine/Short-tailed Weasel (Mustelidae; Mustela erminia): Nocturnally common along the trail to the alpine meadow and Munn Creek Trail; year-round

Fisher (Mustelidae; Martes pennanti): Rare in subalpine forest, usually near water; year-round

*Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Sciuridae; Spermophilus lateralis): rock outcropping on the alpine meadow; spring to fall.

*Grizzly Bear (Ursidae; Ursus arctos): Valley floors in spring and late summer/early fall, above treeline in summer and late fall; March to November

*Hoary Marmot (Sciuridae; Marmota caligata): Munn Creek pass into Willmore Wilderness; summer and fall

*Least Chipmunk (Sciuridae; Eutamias minimum): woodpiles; spring to fall

Least Weasel (Mustelidae; Mustela nivalis): Nocturnal in meadows and mixed forest; year-round

Long-tailed Weasel (Mustelidae; Mustela frenata): Nocturnal in open meadows; year-round

Lynx (Felidae; Felis lynx): Tracks and scat seen at the 'Escape clearing and on the trail to the alpine meadow; year-round

*Marten (Mustelidae; Martis americana): Nocturnal in and around the horse pasture at the 'Escape, occassionally seen during the day; year-round

*Mice (Deer Mouse; Cricetidae; Peromyscus maniculatus and House Mouse; Muridae; Mus musculus): as for Shrews; year-round

*Moose (Cervidae; Alces alces): Rock Lake lowlands and the Rock Lake Road between the Wild Hay Group Camp and Doctor Creek; spring and fall

*Mountain Goat (Bovidae; Oreamnos americanus): Occasional on Binocular Ridge; spring to fall

*Mule Deer (Cervidae; Odocoileus hemionus): Montane woods and brushy meadows around the 'Escape; year-round

*Muskrat (Cricetidae; Ondatra zibethicus): Rock Lake/Willmore Wilderness staging area, Rock Lake Lookout; spring to fall

*Northern Flying Squirrel (Sciuridae; Glaucomys sabrinus): Nocturnal at Rock Lake; spring to fall

*Porcupine (Erethizontidae; Erethizon dorsatum): uncommonly seen at dusk on the lower bench adjacent to Munn Creek; year-round

*Red Fox (Canidae; Vulpes vulpes): A family has lived at Doctor Creek on the Rock Lake Road; spring and fall, tracks seen in the winter along the Rock Lake Road

*Red Squirrel (Sciuridae; Tamiasciurus husonicus): in the trees around the cabins; year-round

River Otter (Mustelidae; Lontra canadensis): Occasional around Rock Lake and the Wild Hay River; year-round (Otter "play" tracks seen at Rock Lake in the winter)

*Snowshoe Hare (Leporidae; Lepus americanus): Common on trails around the 'Escape; year-round

*Shrews (Pygmy Shrew; Soricidae; Microsorex hoyi): grassy subalpine meadows and drier forest floors (sometimes in the cook tent or my cat's jaws); year-round

*Timber Wolf (Canidae; Canis lupus): Rock Lake, Munn Creek Trail, Mountain Shadow Trail; winter

*White-tailed Deer (Cervidae; Odocoileus virginianus): Montane woods and brush meadows around the 'Escape; year-round

*Wolverine (Mustelidae; Gulo gulo): Occasional at subalpine and alpine elevations, in nearly any habitat; year-round

*Woodland Caribou (Cervidae; Rangifer tarandus): On Highway 40 between the Rock Lake turnoff and Grade Cache; winter.

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