Wildlife Friendly Plant Species

Appropriate Species


Co-existing with wildlife is part of living in the Municipal District of Bighorn. While we must learn to live with the animals that call the area home we also must not encourage them into our residential areas. Bears are attracted to plants that produce ripened fruit or berries and these should be removed and are not considered appropriate species for planting on your property.

Non-Fruit Trees

There are many tree and shrub species that are still aesthetically pleasing and do not produce fruit. Some examples of these include:
  • Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
  • Double Flowering Plum (Prunus triloba)
  • Goldflame Spirea (Spiraea x bumalda)
  • Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)
  • Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa)
  • Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica)
  • Spring Snow Flowering Crab (Malus ‘Spring Snow')
  • Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
  • White Spruce (Picea glauca)

Fruit Trees

Some examples of fruit bearing trees and shrubs that should be AVOIDED for plantings are:
  • Any fruit bearing trees or shrubs
  • Canadian Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis)
  • Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)
  • Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica)
  • Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea, syn. Cornus stolonifera)
  • Western Mountain Ash (Sorbus scopulina)
  • Wild Rose (Rosa acicularis)
  • Wolf Willow (Elaeagnus commutata)
For more information please visit Bow Valley WildSmart www.wildsmart.ca