Animal life
Many unique animals live in the Foothills Region of Alberta including Moose, Grizzly Bears, Elk, Deer, Cougars, Beavers and Woodpeckers.
Woodland Caribou
Animals have adaptations, or special features, to help them survive in their natural environment. Woodland Caribou have several special adaptations, such as long legs for walking in snow and wide curved hooves for pawing the snow to find food.
Scientists believe there are only 600 to 700 Woodland Caribou in the Foothills Region. Their numbers are going down and the Alberta Government considers Caribou an endangered animal.
Wildlife officers put radio collars on adult caribou. This allows them to track their migration, or movement from area to area, and learn about them. If scientist can figure out the reasons for the declining population, they can work towards solutions.
We can begin to think about what people are doing, how climate is changing and what predators Caribou have when we are trying to decide why their populations are decreasing.
Scientists believe there are only 600 to 700 Woodland Caribou in the Foothills Region. Their numbers are going down and the Alberta Government considers Caribou an endangered animal.
Wildlife officers put radio collars on adult caribou. This allows them to track their migration, or movement from area to area, and learn about them. If scientist can figure out the reasons for the declining population, they can work towards solutions.
We can begin to think about what people are doing, how climate is changing and what predators Caribou have when we are trying to decide why their populations are decreasing.
Vegetation
Coniferous trees have needled and cones and usually stay green all year.The Upper Foothills are forested with coniferous trees, including lodgepole pine, spruce, and fir trees.
The lower foothills area is a mixture of short grasses, bushes and deciduous trees. Deciduous trees have leaves that drop off in the fall. Aspen, birch, willow, and poplar trees grow in the lower foot hills. The trembling aspen is the most common tree.
Indian Paint Brush
- These wildflowers are herbaceous plants (have a green leaf like appearance).
- Most Indian PaintBrushs have beautiful bright red bracts which are often confused as being their flowers. These bracts can also be various shades of orange, purple, and yellow. Sometimes their bracts can even be white.
Interesting Indian Paint Brush Facts
This plant got its name from a Native American legend. In the legend a young American Indian wanted to paint the sunset but became frustrated because he could not produce any colors that matched the beauty of a sunset. He asked the Great Spirit for help. The Great Spirit provided him with paintbrushes with the beautiful colors on them which he used to create his painting. When done the young Indian left his used paintbrushes scattered around the landscape. These paint brushes blossomed into plants and were thus named Indian PaintBrushs.
- The Indian PaintBrush also goes by the names Prairie Fire, Grandmothers Hair, Painted Cup, Common Red Paintbrush, Painted Lady, and Butterfly Weed.
- Some of the species are annuals (survive one season) where as others are perennials (survive more than one season).
- Their beautiful colors make them popular additions to gardens. However they are very difficult to successfully transplant into a garden.
- The flowers of this plant are actually edible. American Indians used the flowers as condiments. However they should be consumed in moderation due to the fact they absorb and concentrate selenium from the soil they grow in. Selenium is a trace mineral which is essential for humans to consume. However if large amounts are consumed it can lead to health risk. They should not be eaten in areas where there is a lot of selenium in the soil.
This plant got its name from a Native American legend. In the legend a young American Indian wanted to paint the sunset but became frustrated because he could not produce any colors that matched the beauty of a sunset. He asked the Great Spirit for help. The Great Spirit provided him with paintbrushes with the beautiful colors on them which he used to create his painting. When done the young Indian left his used paintbrushes scattered around the landscape. These paint brushes blossomed into plants and were thus named Indian PaintBrushs.