You’ve already heard of Alberta’s best-known roadside attractions. Today, we’re here to take you on a tour of a few lesser-known roadside animal statues. Put each of them on your bucket list of places to visit and take a trip through Alberta’s whimsy!
Blue Heron – Barrhead
The Blue Heron, Barrhead’s mascot, was built in 1984 by artist Trygve Seland. Herons are an important part of Barrhead’s ecosystem.
DID YOU KNOW? While they’re most often seen alone, herons like to raise their young in groups, called rookeries.
Beaver – Beaver Lodge
Right off Highway 43 heading towards British Columbia, this giant beaver catches your attention. It’s touted to be the world’s largest beaver.
DID YOU KNOW? Beavers are often called ecological engineers. While they can be a nuisance for farmers, their dams create wetlands in which other animals can live.
Crows and Nest – Blairmore
Constructed in 1958, it’s one of the older statues on the list. The statue welcomes people into the Crowsnest Pass.
DID YOU KNOW? Crows are known to hold grudges against people and will pass this information on to their friends.
Squirrel – Edson
Edson’s mascot, Eddie the Squirrel, sits between the Yellowhead Highway and 4th Ave in downtown Edson. Thinking about the rivalry between Hinton and Edson, one Mrs. Crawford said Edson should claim the squirrel as a mascot because “they think we’re all nuts anyway!”
DID YOU KNOW? Squirrels were brought over from Europe in the 1800s. Settlers thought they would bring extra beauty to North America.
Bee – Falher
This small town boasts a thriving honey bee industry. To celebrate their economy, the city built the world’s largest honey bee in 1990.
DID YOU KNOW? Honeybees are expert dancers. They communicate the location of good flower patches to their colony by dancing – each move gives key information about the patch’s location.
Elk – Vegreville
You’ve certainly heard of Vegreville’s famous Pysanka, but did you know about the giant elk right around the corner?
DID YOU KNOW? Elk antlers grow incredibly fast. At peak season, they grow up to one inch a day.
Buffalo – Wainwright
A century ago, buffalo herds wandered the plains of present-day Wainwright. To honour this heritage, the city constructed Canada’s largest buffalo statue in 1965.
DID YOU KNOW? Buffalo used to help the Blackfoot people survive the winter. They would dry buffalo meat to eat when food was scarce, and would use buffalo hide to sew warm clothing and build shelter.
