Mammals
Several large mammals make the Boardwalk their home, and other species often pass through the area.
White-tailed deer and coyote are the most abundant. You might also see elk, moose, mule deer, black bear, red fox, wolf and if you are very lucky, a grizzly bear or a cougar (which is the mascot of Hinton).
White-tailed deer calmly walk across Hinton streets and regularly raid gardens and flowerbeds. Your best chance to see a deer on the boardwalk is at dawn and dusk.
In 2008 a white-tailed deer fawn was photographed lying within 1 meter of the Beaver Boardwalk. To avoid predators, the doe hides her almost scentless fawn for the first few weeks of its life and returns several times a day to feed it. If you find a fawn leave it alone – the mother won’t be far away.
The coyote is a medium sized member of the dog family and is a year-round resident where their howls and yips are often heard. If you are lucky you may spot this mostly nocturnal predator that eats a wide variety of small prey and fruits.
You can see more photos and read more about other mammals around the Beaver Boardwalk and in the surrounding area by visiting our Flora and Fauna page.