Have you seen the flash of a feathered wing at your bird feeder, or a tuft of fur disappearing into the bushes of your backyard this winter? If so, you might be curious about the creatures that spend their winters in the snow here in Calgary.
If you’re lucky, you’ll spot one today or throughout the remainder of the holiday season. It’s a surefire way to bring some festive cheer to your day.
Meet some of the faces you could spot in your backyard, or at a public park this winter. Here are all the creatures who call Calgary home, 12 months of the year.
Bobcats can sometimes be spotted in the yards of Calgarians who live close to Nose Hill or Fish Creek Park. Surprisingly, they don’t seem to be bothered much by our presence. They are generally quite shy and timid animals, unless they are threatened.
If you see a big cat in the snow this season, one that looks a little bit larger than your average kitty, it might be a bobcat. It’s best to leave these tuft-tailed felines to their own devices, as they’ve got plenty of things to do and mouths to feed during winter.
Living in a location close to parks and green spaces can increase your chances of encountering one, so make sure your pets are safely inside or monitored during their outdoor time. The city of Calgary encourages co-existence with these animals as an important member of our ecosystem.
Calgary’s most beloved bird can also be spotted at green spaces like Carburn Park, Fish Creek and the Glenmore Reservoir during winter.
They are extremely friendly and are happy to snack on sunflower seeds during the colder months. Although some people hand-feed chickadees in Calgary, it’s best to let them come to a bird feeder.
This friendly little fuzzball is bound to be a frequent flier at your feeder. Keep an eye out for these charming black, white and grey feathered friends hopping amongst the brambles this winter.
White-tailed deer are a common sight in Carburn Park and Nose Hill, as well as forested areas in Weaselhead Flats. They are usually very docile and timid, though the odd one may be bold enough to give you a sniff.
Their antlers fall off and re-grow each year, and they are smaller than their cousins in the mule deer family. They have reddish coats and long brown tails that expose the white underneath when they are alarmed.
They are particularly active at dawn and dusk, so you might see one out and about on a morning walk.
The large, bushy-tailed Eastern grey squirrel is actually non-native to Alberta and was accidentally introduced. Their native counterpart is the red squirrel, which you can find all over feeders and in forests throughout Fish Creek and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.
Sadly, the red squirrel has been largely pushed out of Calgary and into Kananaskis country by the competitive grey squirrel, which has also adapted to eat the seeds of non-native ash, maple and elm trees.
The more native trees that are planted locally in Calgary, the more we’ll see these charming red squirrels return to the city. If you’re itching to go tree planting this Christmas, this is your sign!
Maybe one of Calgary’s most controversial residents, the black-billed magpie lives here year-round.
They’re actually a unique feature of the city, which led them to be included in the vote for Calgary’s official bird in 2022. You can’t really find magpies alongside crows and ravens in other major Canadian urban centres.
Magpies can be chattery and overprotective. They’ve been known to swoop down at residents and dogs to protect their nests and fledglings.
A local Calgary Reddit user has some choice advice: “Good old magpies,” they said in a post. “Don’t start beef with them because they can describe human faces and tell all their buddies about you.” Best to treat this fickle friend with respect.
If you have some Christmas leftovers tonight, put them right in the bin rather than leaving them out in the cold. Magpies can be quite the scavengers!
Happy holidays, Calgary. We wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a sighting of one or two of these critters.
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