| Abstract |
The Canadian Rocky Mountains are home to a diversity of large, terrestrial mammals including carnivores (wolf (Canis lupus), cougar (Felis concolor), grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), black bear (Ursus americanus), lynx (Lynx canadensis), coyote (Canis latrans), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and wolverine (Gulo gulo)), and herbivores (elk (Cervus elaphus), deer (Odocoileus sp.), moose (Alces alces), bighorn sheep (Ovis Canadensis) and mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus)). As human use of the Rocky Mountain landscape increases in both space and intensity, the effects of natural topographic fragmentation are exacerbated by human infrastructure, compromising wildlife movement and habitat use. While formal protection of these landscapes may exclude industrial disturbance, impacts from recreation and related infrastructure (trails, campgrounds, picnic sites, day-use facilities) may still represent a significant challenge to wildlife, particularly more wary species. |
