I investigated the effects of different widths of riparian forest buffer strips around lakes (20, 100, and 200 m) on habitat use and movement of mammals in the mixed-wood boreal forest of north-central Alberta. This research was conducted as part of the Terrestrial, Riparian, Organisms, Lakes, and Streams (T.R.O.L.S) Project between 1995-99. A total of 10,300 small mammals were live-trapped in 39,200 trap-nights. Small mammal abundance did not significantly differ between riparian and upland forest areas. Riparian forest buffer strip width did not significantly affect use by small mammals of forested areas adjacent to lakes. Snow-track count surveys, representing 14,691 tracks, indicated winter use by mammals (small mammals, red-squirrels, hares, weasel, mink, coyote, deer, and moose) of forest was similar at different distances from lakes. Different width buffer strips did not affect winter use by mammals of the riparian forest. This study indicates that different width riparian forest buffer strips do not significantly affect habitat use or travel of mammals in forested areas adjacent to lakes.