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Wild Species

About the Wild Species pages

Here you will find profiles of a number of wild animal and plant species found in the Province of Alberta. This listing is not a comprehensive one as the species represented are those designated as species of interest within the mandate of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (SRD), be they:

• game species managed under hunting, trapping and fishing regulations
• species at risk
• watchable wildlife

Species are listed in alphabetical groupings, rather than taxonomically.

Alberta’s wildlife diversity

Few places in the world have as great a diversity of wildlife as Alberta. The province boasts 587 species that are traditionally considered wildlife, including 10 species of amphibians, 93 mammals, 411 birds, 8 reptiles and 65 fish. British Columbia is the only province in Canada with a greater number of mammals.

Modern wildlife management includes the conservation of plants and invertebrates as well. There are about 3500 species of plants and fungi, and many thousands of invertebrates that occur in Alberta.

Value of wildlife

Wildlife adds to the quality of life that residents enjoy and living creatures have an economic as well as a recreational value. Activities such as hunting and wildlife watching contribute significantly to the provincial economy. Many wild species provide ecological services as well, such as the role that insect pollinators play in maintaining wild plant communities and enabling crops to produce fruit and seeds.

Provincial wildlife legislation

Alberta's Wildlife Act is the provincial legislation that deals with wildlife. Protecting and maintaining suitable habitat is critical in maintaining long-term wildlife health and viability. Similarly, wildlife health is an important indicator of the health of Alberta's environment.

The provincial government is committed to conserving wild species and it pays particular attention to those that may be at risk of extinction. Alberta has been involved in programs to identify and restore species at risk for more than 30 years.

Posted: June 22, 2009