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Birds

Clark's nutcracker retrieving seed from pine trees

Habitats surround this high-elevation mountain area with low-growing seasons; the cold freezes many lakes and plants, restricting their access to food and water. This climate would render it impossible for many bird species to survive.

In this range, horned larks (registered as endangered since July 14, 2005) and American pipits live in alpine habitats, announcing their arrival as snow melts and departing before the snowfall begins. Horned larks are sandy to rusty brown, while American pipits are small with a grey top and stripped bottom. Other species, like White-tailed ptarmigan, are endemic to the mountains, where they have designated the southern limit. Among the species that can adapt to high elevations are the Franklin’s, blue and ruffed grouse, red crossbills, white-winged crossbills, gray jay, Steller’s jay, and pine grosbeaks. Whitebark pine (registered endangered since June 20, 2012) can be eaten by Clark's nutcrackers, whose seeds are harvested from the pine.

The gyrfalcon, the northern harrier and red-tailed hawk, the Swainson's hawk, the bald eagle, and the golden eagles are predators that serve different prey-predator relationships. Golden eagles, distributed equally throughout the world, surprise attack their prey to feed on s mall mammals and larger prey such as marmots, ground squirrels, seals, and coyotes. Other species like the Great gray owl, great horned owl, three-toed, black-backed, pileated, and hairy woodpeckers are common in the mountain all year round.

Mountain Pine Beetle damage to trees

Insects

There are few insect databases available; some relevant insect populations are the Bristly tachinid flies, Flower flies, Sarcophagid flies, Blow files, Swallowtail butterflies, and ladybird beetles. Mountain tops are crowded with insects during mating season, where they stay for only a moment before returning to their preferred habitats. The ladybird beetle hibernates in elevated and warm areas to avoid the cold throughout the winter.

Mountain pine beetles create adversities with the lodgepole tree population. Pine trees in British Columbia are experiencing a pine beetle invasion on a landscape level. Lodgepole pine trees are attacked by these beetles yearly, and their larvae build up inside the trees. Over time, healthier trees are becoming increasingly difficult to compete with mountain pine beetles.