Fauna

Anyone who travels to the Canadian Rockies is excited by the prospect of seeing unique and unusual wildlife. Many species once found across the country are now only found in our remote mountain wilderness. We hope you enjoy the unique flora and fauna on your visit to Lake Louise. On your visit to Lake Louise, please respect the animals of our national park by maintaining your distance, keeping our national parks free of litter and recognizing that you are a visitor to their home.

Some of the animals you can watch for during your visit are:

Like humans, many animals use the same pathway to get from one place to another. In the Bow Valley, the towns of Banff and Lake Louise, the railway and the TransCanada highway all have a huge effect on wildlife movement patterns. Parks Canada has implemented protected areas called wildlife corridors that link patches of habitat together -- allowing animals access to food, denning habitat, and mates.  Note: Some corridors are closed to people, please respect the signage.

For a great interpretive display on Lake Louise area wildlife, visit the Parks Visitor Information Center in Lake Louise Village.  You can also take in a professional interpretive presentation at the Lake Louise Sightseeing Gondola - sometimes you can even catch a view of a grizzly from your gondola or open air chair! (This is available from May to October only.)
 

Flora

The Lake Louise area also offers some unique opportunities for botany buffs. In particular, the alpine meadows during the summer months are outstanding. HI-Lake Louise Alpine Center provides easy access for guests wishing to explore the high alpine meadows of the Lake O'Hara area and Sunshine Meadows. Species here are numerous, it would require a pocket field guide to identify them all.

Some of the more identifiable flora in the area are: