Elk Island National Park
🇨🇦 Canada
🦬 Plains Bison Herds at Elk IslandElk Island National Park is a fenced temperate grassland and aspen woodland preserve located in central Alberta, Canada. Its terrain consists of flat prairie meadows and shallow wetlands connected by dirt walking trails.
53.669° N 112.830° W
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
American Bison
Bison bison
★ Elk (wapiti)
Cervus canadensis
★ 
Moose
Alces americanus
★ 
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
📊 Most Spotted
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegena
Wood Frog
Lithobates sylvaticus
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Blue-winged Teal
Spatula discors
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
⭐ Iconic Species
★ American Bison
Bison bison
★ Elk (wapiti)
Cervus canadensis
★ Moose
Alces americanus
★ American Beaver
Castor canadensis
📊 Most Spotted
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
Coyote
Canis latrans
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Snowshoe Hare
Lepus americanus
Quiller
Erethizon dorsatus
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Fisher
Pekania pennanti
Southern Red-backed Vole
Myodes gapperi
Meadow Vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus
📊 Most Spotted
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegena
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Blue-winged Teal
Spatula discors
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Recent sightings in Elk Island National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Bison Rut
Plains and Wood bison mating season — bulls bellow, wallow and spar across the meadows, peaking in
2Elk Herds
Elk gather in large herds in the open aspen parkland in winter — the season when sightings of the park's namesake peak
3Astotin Lake Waterbird Nesting
Breeding congregation on Astotin Lake — red-necked grebes nest in numbers (80+ counted) and American white pelicans breed on the lake's islands
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Bison Rut
- 2Elk Herds
- 3Astotin Lake Waterbird Nesting
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
It turned out to be a good area for spotting wildlife as well – we startled a female elk who took off into the woods, paused as a coyote jogged across the trail a few yards in front of us, and saw beaver evidence all along the lake.
Our first stop on the Bison Loop Road was a bit quiet, but we did manage to spot a White-faced Ibis, American Kestrel, and a few Franklin’s Gulls flying by.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Elk Island National Park?
The most likely sightings are American Bison (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Mallard (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Red-necked Grebe (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), American Beaver (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Elk (wapiti) (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers) — among 400 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Elk Island National Park for wildlife?
May has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see American Bison in Elk Island National Park?
Yes — about 90% of wildlife watchers report a American Bison sighting in Elk Island National Park, based on 740 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Elk (wapiti) in Elk Island National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Elk (wapiti) sighting in Elk Island National Park, based on 176 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Moose in Elk Island National Park?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Moose sighting in Elk Island National Park, based on 55 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see American Beaver in Elk Island National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a American Beaver sighting in Elk Island National Park, based on 213 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
GoodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
Very goodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
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