Introduction

The Whaleback Region of southwestern Alberta encompasses the most extensive, least disturbed and relatively unfragmented area of Montane landscape in Alberta’s Rocky Mountain natural region.  In fact, it is considered one of the best representatives of Montane landscape, flora and fauna in Canada, with very high habitat diversity.  Montane compromises less than 2% of the province’s land area and occurs only where warm Chinook winds blow away the snow cover for much of the winter.