|
|
| Public Safety | Contact Us Park Headquarters: Wood Buffalo National Park Box 750 Fort Smith, NWT Canada X0E 0P0 Fort Chipewyan Office: Wood Buffalo National Park Box 38 Fort Chipewyan, AB Canada T0P 1B0 Park Administration, Fort Smith: Phone: (867) 872-7900 Fax: (867) 872-3910 Visitor Reception Centre, Fort Smith: Phone: (867) 872-7960 24 hr hotline: (867) 872-7962 TTY: (867) 872-7961 Fort Chipewyan Office / Visitor Reception Centre: Phone: (780) 697-3662 Fax: (780) 697-3560 Email: wbnp.info@pc.gc.ca
|
|
![](/web/20061216072643im_/http://www.pc.gc.ca/images/spacer.gif) |
Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada
Activities
Wildlife Viewing
Wood Buffalo National Park is home to many species of wildlife
typical of the northern boreal forest. Bears, wolves, moose, lynx,
marten, wolverines, foxes, beavers and snowshoe hares are but
a few of the wild mammal species found. Common bird species include
sandhill cranes, hawks, eagles and owls.
![Wolf in meadow](/web/20061216072643im_/http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/woodbuffalo/images/wview1.jpeg)
Wolf in meadow
© Parks Canada / Ken Houseman / A-3-2 |
Despite their abundant presence, the wild animals of the park
are elusive. Tracks and scats can be seen along hiking trails
and roads, but actual sightings are often random and due to chance.
The park is perhaps best known for its free-roaming wild bison
herd, the largest self-regulating bison herd in the world. The
bison wander freely through the forests and plains of the park.
Although they can sometimes be viewed along the park roads, like
the other wild animals they are often elusive and sightings cannot
be guaranteed.
Another interesting species is the red-sided garter snake. The
most northerly known hibernaculum of this species is located at
the Salt River Day-use Area in the park. Every spring, towards
the end of April, the snakes make an above-ground appearance for
mating prior to migrating to their summer feeding grounds.
The park protects the last remaining wild nesting area of the endangered
whooping crane, as well as some nesting sites of the threatened peregrine
falcon. Due to their remoteness and fragile nature, there is no public
access to these sites.
![Snowgeese](/web/20061216072643im_/http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/woodbuffalo/images/wview2.jpeg)
Snowgeese
© Parks Canada / C.Wershler / E-4-2
|
Birdwatchers may be interested in the Peace-Athabasca Delta,
one of the largest inland freshwater deltas in the world. Migratory
birds from all four North American flyways pass through the delta
in the spring and fall. The delta may be accessed by water from
the isolated community of Fort Chipewyan. Motorized access is
restricted in some areas. Contact the Visitor Reception Centre
for more information.
Key Spots for Wildlife Viewing:
Salt Plains Viewpoint
![Salt Plains](/web/20061216072643im_/http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/woodbuffalo/images/wview3.jpeg)
Salt Plains
© Parks Canada / P-2 |
Grosbeak Lake
(access from Salt River Trail, South
Loop)
![Grosbeak Lake](/web/20061216072643im_/http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/woodbuffalo/images/wview4.jpeg)
Birdwatching at Grosbeak Lake
© Parks Canada / W.Lynch / J-2-b |
Sweetgrass
![Meadows at Sweetgrass](/web/20061216072643im_/http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/woodbuffalo/images/adv2.jpeg)
Bison in the meadows at Sweetgrass
© Parks Canada / W.Lynch /P-1 |
|