Wildlife follows seasonal patterns that have developed over thousands of years. These patterns are as predictable as the changing of the seasons. For most animals, the quest for food, security from predation, escape from severe weather and reproduction all serve to create an annual pattern that can increase your chance of spotting some species while also assist you in avoiding unwanted encounters as well.

Hoofed animals are collectively known as ungulates. In the Rockies, this group includes the white-tail and mule deer, elk, caribou, moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat.

Winter offers numerous challenges to all ungulates. Food is very scarce and of poor quality, travel can become very difficult or even impossible, and predators are quick to take advantage of the weakened animals. Each species has developed strategies to deal with winter with some species having distinct evolutionary advantages.

Most ungulates are drawn to the valley bottom during the winter months because of lower snow accumulations and higher availability of food. You have increased opportunities to spot ungulates in the wide montane valleys of the Rockies.

Winter Hot Spots for Ungulates

Look for elk and mule deer in the wide valleys of the Bow River, and along the Yellowhead and David Thompson Highways. They are common around the Minnewanka Loop, in the Vermillion Lakes area and the Indian Grounds in Banff. In Jasper, head to the Wapiti and Whistler campgrounds. Bow Valley Provincial Park and the Elbow Valley are hot spots within Kananaskis Country. The Canmore townsite area is also .

White-tail deer are increasingly common in the Rockies, but are most common along the eastern margins, in Kananaskis Country and areas east of Jasper townsite along the Yellowhead Highway.

Moose are solitary animals that may be seen at somewhat higher elevations during winter. Common locations include the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail and Kananaskis Lakes area, the Icefields Parkway between Bow Summit and Waterfowl Lakes as well as the area near Rampart Creek. In Jasper

Caribou are limited to the northern Rockies. Look for them along the north end of the Icefields Parkway, in particular between Sunwapta Falls and Beauty Creek. The Maligne Lake Road, between Medicine and Maligne Lakes is another prime location.

Dealing with Deep Snows

Moving through the snow costs ungulates precious energy. Mule and white-tail deer are particularly troubled by snow. Even a shallow snowpack can force deer to either push their way through the snow or bound through the snow. Within a short time, the benefits of movement can be over lost through the increased cost of that movement. Deer tend to 'yard up', or gather in large groups where they can take turns breaking trail, reducing each individuals energy expenditure.

Elk are also troubled by deep snow and will follow deer into the lower valleys. Even in shallow snow, elk drag their feet. Heavily treed areas offer some relief with the canopy capturing some of the snowfall. Unfortunately these areas provide little in terms of winter food supply. Despite this, the bulls will often feed in these forested areas to sacrifice the best habitat to the pregnant cows.

The long legs of moose allow them to travel easily through even the deepest snow. They are able to lift them almost straight out of the snow, making for an almost effortless travel through even chest-deep snow.

Caribou have very large, crescent-shaped widely splayed hooves. These help support their weight in deep snows, but also assists them in pawing the ground for food hidden beneath the snowpack.

The Challenges of Winter Food Supply

The challenges of winter begin with food supply. The digestive system of ungulates involves a four-chambered stomach which allows them to digest green vegetation, leaves, bark and twigs. The rumen is the first of these stomachs and teems with bacteria that helps to break down the poor quality foods that these animals eat. In winter, food is of poor quality, is more difficult to obtain and the animals must burn extra energy just to stay warm.

The poor quality of winter food takes longer to digest, preventing ungulates from eating more of these lower quality foods. They can't take in more food until the previous meal has passed far enough through their system. Ungulates begin losing weight with the onset of winter and by spring little fat remains. Starvation is a key mortality factor during particularly difficult winters.

Prior to the onset of winter, most ungulates are in prime condition. Bull elk, on the other hand, expend much of their energy during the fall rutting season. This leaves them with few fat reserves prior to the long winter.

Moose, one of the truly winter adapted ungulates, has found one strategy for dealing with this energy limitation - they can lower their body temperature by several degrees during the winter. A lower body temperature means reduces the amount of fuel necessary, much like turning down the thermostat in your home can save energy. None of the other members of the deer family have this adaptation.