Note: This article pertaining to Meet Some of My Animal Friends From the Canadian Rocky Mountains was originally published on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at 4:15 in the afternoon and has been updated.
I truly enjoyed my trip to the Rocky Mountains in Canada, visiting Banff National Park and Jasper National Park in Alberta; and Yoho National Park and Mount Robson Provincial Park in British Columbia — and because I was as fascinated by the fauna as much as the flora, I would like for you to meet some of my animal friends from the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Meet Some of My Animal Friends From the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
I was not even in Canada for 24 hours yet when along the Bow Valley Parkway in Alberta, I spotted this elk, who decided to smile for the camera. He must have just had a satisfying meal of poutine.
Along Maligne Lake Road — which, out of sheer coincidence, just happens to go to Maligne Lake within Jasper National Park — this moose decided to make an appearance.
Can anyone bear to pass up this fellow, who appeared alongside Kinney Lake Road? Apparently, neither the flies nor the mosquitoes can resist this black bear. Access to the Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park in British Columbia is via this road.
By the way, his favorite meal is dandelions — plenty of dandelions.
This guy literally likes living on the edge, as mountain goats are adept to doing. I saw him thanks to easy access from Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park. Park the car, walk a few minutes, take photographs — cannot get any easier than that.
These two bighorn sheep decided to go for a stroll together near the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park.
A mule deer minds his own business at the side of a lake at dusk southwest of Hinton in Alberta.
Final Boarding Call
I have decided to ask my new friends if they would not mind being my emotional support animals from now on while I travel, as I seriously need help. They can take turns however they like. They can even sit on my lap.
I have yet to hear from them…
…but you can visit them in person this summer, as you have unlimited opportunities to visit any of the national parks of Parks Canada from coast to coast without having to pay any admission fee between this coming Friday, June 19, 2026 and Monday, September 7, 2026.
Go visit my animal friends. They are waiting for you to visit them, as they are looking forward to meeting you…
All photographs ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
