The cycle of life in Canada's national mountain parks is an astonishing thing. And, every now and then, someone is able to capture the wonder through a camera's lens.
So, to mark the year that was, both Banff National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park made best use of social media and compiled stunning photo galleries to mark some of the most amazing events caught on film in 2013.
From elk losing their way amidst the 2013 summer Alberta flood, to a small herd drowning under the ice, and the efforts of parks staff to keep wildlife and ecosystems healthy, the galleries are a stunning literal snapshot of life, and death, in Canada's Rocky Mountain parks.
Click through the slideshow below for some of the best moments and photos captured in Banff and Waterton Lakes by Parks Canada staff in 2013.
