Rocky Mountain Natural Region:
Montane Subregion
Flora
The Montane Subregion of the Cypress Hills is represented by lodgepole
pine forest, white spruce forest and aspen woodland.
Lodgepole Pine Forest: The lodgepole pine was named because
its long straight trunk was used by the Natives for teepee poles.
It forms the predominant forest in Cypress Hills. It grows
in drier areas at elevations above 1281 metres (4200 feet), and
extends from Cypress Hills in Saskatchewan to the western extremity
of the Hills in Alberta.
Lodgepole pine characteristically grow very close together in thick
stands creating heavy shade. Very little shrub undergrowth
is found in the pine needle blanket beneath the trees except for
some dwarf and prostrate shrubs, such as bearberry, ground cedar and dwarf bilberry, and forbs such as twinflower and saprophytic
pine drops and coral root orchids. Where openings occur in
the forest and light penetrates, there are often willows, prickly
rose and Canada buffaloberry.
Solitary lodgepole pine are also found growing on the grass-covered
plateau. Here, with more abundant sun, they take on a much
bushier appearance.
White Spruce Forest: The white spruce can be found in cool,
moist areas near springs on north-facing slopes. Often aspen
poplar is associated with the spruce stands. The vegetation under
the spruce is rich and usually stratified into three layers.
The upper layer, the height of humans, is made of red-osier dogwood,
willows and low-bush cranberry. Red baneberry can grow to
a height of about 1 metre (3 feet). Bunchberry, twinflower,
various wintergreens, stiff club moss, some orchids and mosses grow
close to the forest floor.
Aspen Woodland: Aspen woodlands, including both balsam poplar
and aspen, form a belt along the north side of the plateau just
below the lodgepole pine forest. The aspen has spread out
onto the surrounding prairies following moist creek beds.
Aspen are also found in the grassland on the top of the plateau
and can be in pure stands, or mixed with other deciduous trees,
or with white spruce.
The growth is thick and layered under the canopy provided by the
leafy branches of these trees. Here grow saskatoon, choke
cherry and pin cherry, well-known prairie shrubs used extensively
by the Natives and early settlers as the only supply of fresh fruit.
Along with them, are willows, red-osier dogwood and hawthorn.
Lower shrubs include dogbane, northern gooseberry, and wild white
geranium. Very low plants, such as the western Canada violet
and wild strawberry, are found in the shade close to the woodland
floor.
Check the Cypress Hills Plant
Checklist for a more comprehensive overview of the vegetation
in the entire park.
Fauna
In the pine and spruce forests red squirrels, introduced to the
Cypress Hills in mid-1950s, are now abundant. Active and agile
climbers, the squirrels spend much of their time in late summer
harvesting seeds and cones for winter food.
The aspen woodland provides food and shelter for the slow-moving
solitary porcupine. The least chipmunk, mule deer, white-tailed
deer, elk and moose are often encountered  close
to, or in, woodland areas, although the mule deer ventures a considerable
distance from cover. The white-footed mouse, although not
abundant, lives here. Nuttall's cottontail and the snowshoe
hare, bobcat and the occasional lynx prefer bushy lands and coulees
for protection.
The Cypress Hills Mammals Checklist provides a more comprehensive overview of the wildlife in
the park.
Birds
The montane forest provides excellent habitat for a variety of different species
of birds. Our Bird
Checklist is available to visitors and provides a more
comprehensive overview of bird species in the parks.
The lodgepole pine forest is home of the black-capped chickadee,
yellow-rumped warbler, dark-eyed junco, pine siskin, hairy woodpecker,
American crow, great horned owl, red crossbills, ruffed grouse,
dusky flycatcher, orange-crowned warbler and white-crowned sparrow.
The aspen and white spruce forest contains the mourning dove, house
wren, American robin, veery, yellow warbler, black-billed magpie,
mountain bluebird, rufous-sided towhee, gray catbird, brown thrasher,
brown-headed cowbird, white-crowned sparrow, song sparrow, great
horned owl, Swainson's thrush, least flycatcher, downy woodpecker,
western wood pewee, yellow-breasted chat, common poorwill, turkey
vulture and the wild turkey.
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Mixedgrass Subregion
Flora
The predominant grassland on the eastern part of the plateau and
on the dry south-facing slopes is the mixedgrass prairie, characteristic
of the adjacent plains. The most common grasses are northern wheat
grass, spear grass, blue grama grass, and various dryland sedges.
In dry, exposed places, prairie selaginella covers the soil surface.
Two prostrate junipers, ground juniper and creeping juniper, are
common on eroded slopes. Their extensive root systems help
to bind the soil. Yellow umbrella plant, succulent narrow-petaled
stone crop, and moss phlox are common associates. Early yellow
locoweed, purple prairie clover, and golden bean are examples of
the many legumes that grow in the mixed grass prairie.
Check the Cypress Hills Plant Checklist for a more comprehensive overview of the vegetation in the
park.
Fauna
Grassland areas of the hills are the home of the Richardson's ground
squirrel, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, and  the
northern pocket gopher. Since they are active during the day,
the ground squirrels are often seen by visitors, but the pocket
gopher seldom, if ever, leaves its tunnels during daylight.
The white-tailed jack rabbit, the red fox and the coyote prefer
the open grassland. The striped skunk is occasionally sighted
in this habitat too. In the area immediately surrounding the
Cypress Hills, the pronghorn antelope feeds on the open grassland.
The swift fox, which was once extirpated from the prairie, has been
reintroduced in areas south of the Hills and its success is currently
being monitored.
The Cypress Hills Mammal Checklist provides a more comprehensive overview of the mammals of the
Cypress Hills.
Birds
The mixed grass prairie provides excellent habitat for the red-tail
and Swainson's hawk, sharp-tailed grouse, horned lark, chestnut-collared
longspur, McCown's longspur, lark bunting, and the sage grouse.
On a lucky day, one may even stumble across the odd burrowing owl,
ferruginous hawk, bald or golden eagle.
The Cypress Hills Bird Checklist provides
a more comprehensive overview of the birds in the park.
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Wetlands
Flora
Plants found growing in or near creeks, lakes, ponds, and spring-fed
marshes make up the wetland vegetation of the Cypress Hills.
Partly or wholly submerged aquatic plants like slender naiad, yellow
water crowfoot, pondweed, and duckweed are abundant in ponds and
lakes. Yellow monkey flower and mare's-tail are inhabitants
of running water in creeks and streams. Rooted in the mud
at the margins of ponds and lakes and in marshes are wetland sedges,
cattail rushes, marsh reed grass, and tall manna grass. The
tall grass-like plants provide cover for waterfowl.
The banks of many creeks in the Cypress Hills are wooded with willows,
balsam poplar, river and swamp birch and some white spruce.
Under this canopy are such primitive moisture-loving plants as mosses,
liverworts, and horsetails. This habitat also features of
numerous orchid species and the early-flowering spring beauty, a
montane plant that blooms as soon as the snow melts in the spring.
The Cypress Hills Plant Checklist outlines
more comprehensively the different plants found in the hills.
Fauna
Along the water courses in the hills live many fur-bearing  mammals
such as muskrat, mink, and the short-tailed, long-tailed, and least weasels.
Moose, introduced to the area in 1956, can be found in the wetland areas
of the park as well. The presence of many beaver ponds along the
creeks indicates heavy beaver activity in the area.
Check the Cypress Hills Mammal Checklist for a more detailed look at the wildlife in the park.
Birds
Trumpeter Swans, though once near extinction, have been sighted
on rare occasions in the Cypress Hills area. whistling swans,
now called tundra swans, snow geese and Canada geese can often be
sighted migrating south in the fall. The latter of these birds
often establish their nesting areas in the Cypress Hills as well.
Other wetland birds common to the Cypress Hills are the mallard,
blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, American widgeon, lesser scaup,
red-winged blackbird, yellow-headed blackbird, spotted sandpiper,
killdeer, black tern, Kingfisher, great blue heron, bank swallow,
barn swallow, and cliff swallow.
The Cypress Hills Bird Checklist provides
a more comprehensive overview of the birds in the park. |
