Hinton is home to and attracts various outdoor enthusiasts that like to explore the great outdoors in many meaningful ways. From appreciation to sport, there are endless species of plants and animals that call our region home.
Fauna in the region
Hinton and the surrounding Alberta Northern Rockies are home to many species of animal life but we’ve highlighted some of the most popular you may see when out exploring.
Elk
One of the largest species within the deer family (Cervidae) and one of the largest land mammals in North America. Males are called bulls, while females are called cows.
Wolf
Wolves are distinguished from other Canis species by their larger size and less pointed features, particularly on the ears and muzzle. Their fur is predominantly a mottled gray in colour, though other colours such as white, black, red, and brown do occur.
Cougar
The official animal of Hinton! The cougar is highly adaptable and can survive in any location that provides them with cover and a food source, such as deer.
Woodland Caribou
Caribou are a member of the deer family and able to cope with harsh winter conditions. The caribou is one of the most critically endangered mammals in Canada.
Bighorn
Sheep
A species of sheep named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to 30 lb. They range in colour from light brown to greyish or dark brown and have a white rump and lining on the backs of all four legs.
Black
Bear
Black bears have many coats that range from blond, cinnamon, light or dark brown but in Hinton and the Alberta Northern Rockies they are mostly jet black, sometimes with a white chest patch.
Grizzly Bear
Known for their pronounced hump on their shoulders, grizzly bears are one of the more popular animals for visitors to photograph. Always remember to be safe and that these are wild animals.
Beaver
A large, primarily nocturnal, semi-aquatic rodent. Their colonies create one or more dams to provide still, deep water to protect against predators and survive cold winters. When startled or frightened, a swimming beaver will rapidly dive, forcefully slapping the water with its broad tail.
Moose
The moose is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the broad, flat antlers of the males. Moose are solitary animals and do not form herds.
Flora in the region
There are hundreds of plant species to be found in the area around Hinton and the Alberta Northern Rockies. The official flower of Hinton is the Red Paintbrush, a member of the figwort family and is one of the most widespread wildflower in the region.
Botany enthusiasts can pick up a copy of Wildflowers of Whitehorse Wildland Provincial Park which features many of the plant species in the region. The book is available for sale at the Hinton Visitor Centre.
