Jasper Wildlife Tours - Animals You Might See

Badger
(Taxidea taxus) BADGER would be rare to find in Jasper, but is a wildlife species that has expanded its range greatly since the turn of the century.

Barred Owl
(Strix varia) Barred Owls, also known as the hoot owl, is a native to North America. Mature forests of Jasper are the preferred habitat, but Barred owls can also found in Jasper's open woodland areas.

Bald Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus) The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found ranging in most of Canada and easily found in Jasper. Eagles are usually near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and typically nest in old-growth trees.

Beaver
(Castor canadensis) BEAVERS prefer temperate forest & rainforest, freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams where trees are abundant. Jasper's wildlife beaver populations are quite healthy, with evidence found in many locations.

Bighorn Sheep
(Ovis canadensis) BIGHORN SHEEP are of Special concern. Without protected areas such as Jasper National Park, this wildlife species may be threatened with eventual extinction. Wildlife recovery efforts have been slow for these animals and their future is bleak unless further conservation measures are taken.

Black Bear
(Ursus americanus) BLACK BEAR prefers taiga, temperate forest & rainforest, chaparral, and mountain areas of Jasper, Alberta. The Black Bear can be found in virtually all of Canada, but is a protected wildlife species in Jasper National Park.

Jasper's Bobcat
(Lynx rufus) BOBCAT is a protected wildlife species of special concern. Bobcat's range throughout North America from southern Canada to southern Mexico. It would be quite rare to spot a Bobcat in Jasper, as they are a very elusive wildlife species.

Caribou
(Rangifer tarandus) CARIBOU or REINDEER were historically found in all northern latitudes, but are now extinct in many parts of their range. While they do exist in very small numbers in Jasper, the largest herds now occur in arctic tundra regions of Alaska, Canada, Scandanavia and Russia.

Cougar or Mountain Lion
(Puma concolor) MOUNTAIN LION or COUGARS had one of the most extensive wildlife distributions of all American terrestrial mammals, ranging from coast to coast in North America, and from southern Argentina to northern British Columbia. Cougars can be found in Jasper National Park as their range has been restricted to relatively mountainous, unpopulated areas.

Coyote
(Canis latrans) The COYOTE can easily be found in Jasper, Alberta. No other species of wildlife has a range that extends over an area as large as that of the modern coyote.

Elk
(Cervus elaphus) ELK, WAPITI, or RED DEER have large populations found only in the western United States from Canada through the Eastern Rockies to New Mexico. In some areas, this wildlife species had to be reestablished and can be found in many areas of Jasper National Park, including the townsite.

Gray Fox
(Urocyon cinereoargenteus) GRAY FOX resembles small, gracile dogs with bushy tails. This wildlife species is distinguished from most other canids by their grizzled upperparts, buff neck and black-tipped tail. Jasper's gray foxes are unique among canids in their ability to climb trees. They have strong, hooked claws that allow them to scramble up trees to avoid predators or to gather fruit.

Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus) Great Horned Owls prefer forested areas as well as open country, swamps and even city parks. This wildlife species exists, but is a tricky one to spot in Jasper National Park. Canada's Great Horned Owl gets it's name from the large ear tufts. Great Horned Owls typically do not migrate.

Grizzly Bear
(Ursus arctos) GRIZZLY BEARS, BROWN BEARS range in small numbers in Jasper and Western Canada. It is possible to have Grizzly Bear encounters between April and October in Jasper National Park. More on Grizzly Bear Encounters in Jasper.

Loon
The Canadian Loon. In Jasper, Alberta, loons prefer to live on lakes and other waterways. Loons typically spend their winter on both coasts of the US and as far south as Mexico, as well as the Atlantic coast of Europe. The common loon is the provincial bird of Ontario, and it appears on Canadian currency, including the one-dollar "loonie" coin as well as previous Canadian $20 bills.

Lynx
(Lynx canadensis) LYNX, CANADIAN. Major populations of Canadian lynx are found throughout Canada, in western Montana and nearby parts of Idaho and Washington. Canadian lynx have been exploited for furs since the seventeenth century. While Lynx are a protected wildlife species in Jasper, much of their success depends upon prey populations of hare, voles and other small mammals.

Marmot
(Marmota flaviventris) MARMOT generally occupies open habitats such as steppes, alpine meadows, pastures, gravel-covered fields and forest edge. Marmots can be found on many altitude hikes in Jasper National Park. Marmots are the largest North American ground squirrel also often nicknamed "Whistler" for their high-pitched warning sound to signifying potential danger.

Moose
(Alces alces) MOOSE are largest member of the deer family. Adult Moose may stand as tall as 2 1/3m high. The largest recorded antler spread is over two meters. Moose are great swimmers, able to sustain a speed of 6 miles an hour. They move swiftly on land as well, being clocked at 35 miles an hour. Jasper, Alberta has a small, but very healthy population of Moose that are more commonly seen in the Fall and Winter.

Mountain Goat
(Oreamnos americanus) ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOATS prefer Jasper's steep, rocky areas in alpine or sub-alpine regions. Mountain Goats migrate between lowland winter areas and high elevation summer ranges. This protected wildlife species has only been slightly affected by humans due to its remote habitat.

Mule Deer
(Odocoileus hemionus) MULE DEER are characterized by a gray winter coat or brown summer coat; a white colored throat, chin, and rump; and bucks have antlers which fork and then fork again. Mule deer are commonly mistaken for the smaller white-tailed deer in Jasper. Mule Deer appear slightly more docile than the flighty whitetail.

Muskrat
(Ondatra zibethicus) MUSKRAT. This wildlife species prefers temperate forest & rainforest, freshwater lake, freshwater rivers - Muskrats are found in wet environments, favoring locations with four to six feet of water. While muskrats are found in ponds, lakes, and swamps, their favorite locations in Jasper National Park are marshes, where the water level stays constant.

Northern Hawk-Owl
Canadian Rockies Northern Hawk-Owl. The Northern Hawk-Owl is one of the few owls that are not nocturnal. Being active in Jasper only during the day, this wildlife species is sometimes called simply the "Hawk Owl"; however, many Owl species in the genus Ninox are also called "hawk owls". The northern hawk-owl resembles a hawk in appearance and in behavior. In North America, its appearance in flight is often considered similar to a Cooper's hawk. Northern Hawk-Owls are said to possibly fill an important diurnal niche similar to that of day hunters such as hawks.

Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus) Osprey or more specifically, the western osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk is a fish-eating bird of prey. The Osprey is a large raptor, reaching more than 60 cm (24 in) in length and 180 cm (71 in) across the wings. Osprey live in a wide variety of habitats in Jasper National Park, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply.

Pika
(Ochotona princeps) PIKAS are found in mountain habitats from central British Columbia to South-Central California and east to Colorado. Jasper, Alberta's mounatin pikas are found in areas of broken rock and talus, which are surrounded by suitable vegetation. They are most often found at the interface between meadow habitat and open rocky terrain.

Pine Marten
(Martes americana) Pine Martens live in the mature coniferous or mixed forests of Jasper National Park. Pine Martens are a much easier wildlife species to come across than their less abundant larger cousin, the Fisher. Pine Martens are also much easier to spot in the winter than when they blend in so well in the summer.

Porcupine
(Erethizon dorsatum) PORCUPINE. When approached by predators, the porcupine faces away from its enemy, raises its spines in a threatening gesture, and rapidly lashes out with its barbed tail. The quills of the porcupine are not thrown or shot but easily detached after contact with a predator's flesh. Porcupines have poor vision but good senses of hearing and smell. The voice of the common porcupine has been described as a combination of moans, whines, grunts, squeeks, snorts, and shrieks.

Red-Fox
(Vulpes vulpes) RED FOX. The red fox is found all throughout Canada, and is commonly encountered in Jasper. Coloration of this wildlife species ranges from pale yellowish red to deep reddish brown on the upper parts and white, ashy or slaty on the underside. The lower part of the legs is usually black and the tail usually has a white or black tip. The eyes of mature animals are yellow.

Jasper's River Otter
North American River Otter. Jasper National Park's river otter is a member of the subfamily Lutrinae in the weasel family (Mustelidae), and is equally versatile in the water and on land. River Otters typically establish burrows close to the water's edge in rivers, lakes, coastal shorelines, or estuary ecosystems. Their dens typically have many tunnel openings, one of which generally allows the otter to enter and exit the body of water. Female river otters give birth in these underground burrows, producing litters of one to six pups.

Skunk
(Mephitis mephitis) STRIPED SKUNK. Mephitis mephitis has perhaps the most widely known defense system of any mammal, the scent-spraying mechanism. A striped skunk usually does not dispatch its spray unless its life is in danger. When faced with danger, it arches its back and erects its tail and hair. When a skunk feels mortally threatened, it bends into a U-shape with both head and rump facing the enemy. It then squirts out two streams of fluid from scent glands located just inside the anus, which meet after travelling about a foot, finally spreading into a fine spray that can travel up to 2 or 3 meters. The spray often causes nausea and burns the eyes and nasal cavities of the unfortunate target.

Snowy Owl
(Bubo Scandiacus) Snowy Owls are one of the heaviest of Canada's owls. The Snowy Owl is a diurnal bird of prey(more active during the day). Male snowy owls may be almost pure white in colour, with adult females being darker.. their white feathers barred with dark brown. Snowy Owls are shy and usually silent, unless they are nesting. Snowy owls will hiss, scream, or snap their bill at intruders and even dive at, and strike any intruders near their nesting sites. During the breeding season, males will hoot loudly as well as attack any other intruding males.

Whitetail Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus) WHITETAIL DEER. A common wildlife species found in Jasper, whitetail deer inhabit most of southern Canada. Whitetail deer's bodily coloration differs in shading locally, seasonally, and among subspecies; however in general it is grayer in the winter and redder in the summer. White fur is located in a band behind the nose, in circles around the eyes, inside the ears, over the chin and throat, on the upper insides of the legs and beneath the tail. Males possess antlers which are shed from January to March and grow out again in April or May, losing their velvet in August or September. Antlers do not branch (as in the mule deer) but arise on a single shaft.

Wolf
(Canis lupus lycaon) WOLF. Wolves exist in small numbers in Jasper National Park. This wildlife species is very territorial with packs occupying an area that they will defend. Wolf pack territories vary greatly, mostly dependent on the abundance of prey available. Hunting in packs consists of complex patterns of social behaviour that displays very high intelligence. Wolves are social animals, typically made up of a family male, female, and pups as the basic pack unit. Other adults or pups of previous years or even adults from other packs may also remain in this basic family unit.

Jasper's Wolverine
Wolverine. Canada's Wolverine is the largest wildlife species of the family "Mustelidae". Wolverines are stocky and muscular carnivores that more closely resemble small bears rather than their other family relatives - "mustelids". Wolverines are mainly solitary animals with a fierce reputation that is also known to have strength far beyound it's proportional size.