Riding Mountain National Park
🇨🇦 Canada
🫎 Moose Roaming Riding Mountain TrailsRiding Mountain National Park sits atop an ancient highland plateau in southwestern Manitoba, Canada, where dense boreal forest meets aspen parkland and native fescue prairie. Visitors walk narrow dirt trails winding through tall spruce stands, damp willow wetlands, and sunlit meadows. This protected landscape is famous for its thriving populations of the American Black Bear, which wanders forest edges and berry patches through the summer months.
50.870° N 100.079° W
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
Red-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceus
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
Snowshoe Hare
Lepus americanus
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Coyote
Canis latrans
Franklin's Ground Squirrel
Poliocitellus franklinii
Woodchuck
Marmota monax
Northern River Otter
Lontra canadensis
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
American Marten
Martes americana
📊 Most Spotted
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
Red-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceus
Recent sightings in Riding Mountain National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Elk Rutting Season
Male elk (bulls) engage in dramatic vocalizations and antler clashes to establish dominance and attract mates.
2Black Bear Activity Peak
Black bears are most active, foraging for food and often seen near berry patches and open meadows.
3Bison Herd Grazing Tours
The park’s bison herd grazes in open grasslands, offering visitors a chance to observe these massive herbivores in their natural habitat.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Elk Rutting Season
- 2Black Bear Activity Peak
- 3Bison Herd Grazing Tours
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
We were at the park by 6:50 the following day, and within two hours, we saw four black bears—one a cinnamon morph—and several deer. black bear white-tailed deer Multiple cars drove by as we watched alongside the road, but no one stopped.
We had come to look for Bison in the Bison enclosure and we got to see this one… up close as she walked by our truck. (We think it was a she as we also saw a calf not far from her.) We were lucky enough to see a few more as they crossed the road from one bit of shade to another.
We are on a Canada's Big Five (made up, I realize still) tour and like 10 minutes (yes, I'm officially revising the number...) into our first search for the black bear / moose / bison portion of the Big Five and we see two black bears.
We saw two mink (we think) scampering across the road, and several fawns, but no more bears. ): We visited the bison enclosure.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Riding Mountain National Park?
The most likely sightings are American Crow (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), American Robin (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), Red-winged Blackbird (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), White-throated Sparrow (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), Common Raven (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers) — among 455 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Riding Mountain 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 Moose in Riding Mountain National Park?
Yes — about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Moose sighting in Riding Mountain National Park, based on 57 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see American Black Bear in Riding Mountain National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a American Black Bear sighting in Riding Mountain National Park, based on 275 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see American Bison in Riding Mountain National Park?
Yes — about 20% of wildlife watchers report a American Bison sighting in Riding Mountain National Park, based on 42 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
ExcellentHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
GoodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
