wildlife

photo by Cheryl HvalGrosbeak Lake is part of Wood Buffalo National Park’s extensive band of salt plains which cover an area of 370 square kilometres. Unique in Canada, they are formed by water that percolates through underground salt deposits left by an ancient sea around 390 million years ago. At the location of the Salt Plains, impermeable bedrock has forced the saline water to the surface. As the water evaporates, salt deposits are left behind.

This is the tale, as recalled by Ib Kristensen, of the discovery of the legendary Muffaloose. The Muffaloose became the mascot for the Town of Fort Smith.

courtesy WBNPWhooping cranes, the tallest bird in North America, are an endangered species. Their breeding grounds are found in Wood Buffalo National Park near Fort Smith; their wintering grounds are on the gulf coast of Texas at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

courtesy Wood Buffalo National ParkLarge. It’s a word often used to describe these animals and the national park in which they’re found.

courtesy WBNPThe majestic birds of the Slave River white pelican colony nest, feed, and live on turbulent, whitewater rapids near Fort Smith. It is unique habitat for this species. All other white pelican colonies nest and feed on calm-water lakes and ponds.

Each year around April 20, the white pelicans return from their southern wintering grounds to Fort Smith with soaring grace and beauty. They raise a new generation of pelicans in a manner like no other white pelican colony in the world.