Author: Muriel Schmidt

North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) North American River Otters can be seen across the north half of Alberta. Where can I find otters in Alberta? The otters have never been plentiful in Alberta (they mostly stick to the province’s northern areas or the foothills) but the animals were once abundant across North America. The […]

Bullsnakes are burrowers, using their modified rostral (nose) scale to dig. They are diurnal (most active during the day). They are found in desert, short-grass prairie, and dry, open scrubland habitats in the south eastern corner of Alberta, with the Red Deer River basin being the northern edge of their range. Where do bull snakes […]

All snakes and their dens are protected from killing, harm, possession, and destruction under the Alberta Wildlife Act. Conserve native prairie habitat and areas likely to contain hibernacula (coulee and river valley habitat). Are garter snakes protected in Alberta? If they are disturbed an entire region can have their snake populations shrink due to lack […]

In Alberta, wolves were afforded some protection in 1964, when they made the leap from vermin to being classified as fur-bearing carnivores. This designation brings the wolf under provincial trapping and hunting regulations. Is there a wolf bounty in Alberta? In Alberta there are several regions where people are paid anywhere between $15 and $500 […]

ammolite. In April 2022, ammolite was designated the official gemstone of Alberta. Found almost exclusively in southern Alberta, ammolite is derived from the fossilized shells of ammonites, Cretaceous Period molluscs. What is Alberta’s provincial mineral? Stone. Named Alberta’s official stone in 1977, petrified wood is commonly found in gravel pits throughout the province. Petrified wood […]

Alberta has approximately 9,000 bighorn sheep: 3,000 in National Parks. 6,000 on provincial lands. Where do bighorn sheep live in Alberta? The Cadomin region of Alberta is in itself a Mecca for bighorn sheep. And for the most part, these sheep are protected from both hunting and predation, and the habitat there is perfect. Can […]

Silver maples are fast-growing trees that can sprout more than two feet per year. They prefer several hours of direct sunlight each day. Douglas maples are found throughout the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. Why are there no maple trees in Alberta? “They’re a non-starter here.” Their preference for moist, fertile soils make them a poor […]

Raspberries can be grown anywhere in the province. It is slightly more difficult to grow them in the chinook belt of southern Alberta. A loam soil with high organic matter content is the ideal place to plant raspberries. Are raspberries native to Alberta? Wild red raspberries (Rubus idaeus) Wild red raspberries grow in thickets, open […]

Rocky Mountain Douglas fir. The Rocky Mountain Douglas fir is Alberta’s largest tree, known to attain heights of up to 150 feet and diameters over three feet. The tree may live up to four hundred years. Where is the oldest tree in Alberta? Whirlpool PointThe limber pine tree in this story is real. It grows […]

According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the upcoming season was filmed almost exclusively in Montana. Where are the outdoor scenes in Yellowstone filmed? It’s why fans may be shocked to learn that the Paramount Network filmed 70 to 75 percent of Yellowstone’s scenes on Utah sound stages, right up until Season Four—spending only a fourth […]