Features

Overview:

• The Beehive is a small provincial Natural Area, located within AWA's area of interest known as the Livingstone/Porcupine area.
• The Beehive is located in the Rocky Mountain Natural Region.

Drainage:

• The Oldman River forms part of the South Saskatchewan River catchment. Its waters flow across southern Alberta and into Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
• Forests in the mountains and foothills play a crucial role in maintaining clean and abundant water supplies.
• Threats to watersheds include forest fragmentation and road construction by the oil and gas and forestry industries, uncontrolled off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, and climate change.
• Although the forests in the Beehive Natural Area are relatively well protected, forestry activity in the surrounding area has been extensive.

Forests:

• The forests in the Beehive are up to 1000 years old, with individual trees as old as 300 years.
• An old-growth forest is more than just a group of old trees. It is a complex system of interconnected species, including plants, mammals, birds, fish, insects, and micro-organisms.
• Old-growth forests are better defined by their features than by their age. These features include large trees, fallen trees, wood in various stages of decay, and a high diversity of species.
• Old-growth forests are important for water conservation, carbon storage and fish and wildlife habitat.
• Some species that occur at the Beehive, such as pileated woodpecker and northern flying squirrel, depend on old-growth forest for their primary habitat.

Wildlife:

• The Beehive contains important habitat for grizzly and black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and one of Alberta's largest elk herds.
• The Oldman River and its tributaries are among Alberta's top trout fisheries.
• The Beehive is home to a number of rare and sensitive species:

• Grizzly Bear - May be at risk

• Canada Lynx - Sensitive

• Peregrine Falcon - At risk

• Golden Eagle - Sensitive

• Common Nighthawk - Sensitive

• Pileated Woodpecker - Sensitive

• Yellow Angelica - Rare

• Lance-leaved Grape Fern - Rare

• Rocky Mountain Willowherb - Rare

• Blunt-fruited Sweet Cicely - Rare

• 1987 Wildlife List

Recreation:

• The Great Divide Trail is an informal 1200 km hiking trail, running from Waterton National Park on the Canadian/U.S. border to Kakwa Lake, north of Mount Robson.
• It runs through the Beehive at treeline, and crosses the Oldman River at the northern boundary of the Natural Area.
• The Trail consists of an assortment of tracks, cut lines and roads.