Jasper National Park

🇨🇦 Canada

🐏 Bighorn Rams on Jasper's Slopes
🌍 #230 Global · 3.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #42 in North America #40 in Temperate Forest
Canadian Rockies, Canada 462 spp. recorded

Jasper National Park is a vast protected sanctuary in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, defined by a dense temperate conifer forest of pine and spruce, jagged mountain peaks, and deep glacial valleys. This landscape supports a thriving community of wildlife adapted to high altitudes and cold winters.

52.872° N   117.969° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Elk ★
LC Endemic

Elk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

70–80% · Very likely
Bighorn Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

70–80% · Very likely
Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

40–50% · Possible
Elk ★
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

40–50% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

70–80% · Very likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

70–80% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

70–80% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

60–70% · Likely
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

50–60% · Likely
Red-breasted Nuthatch
LC

Red-breasted Nuthatch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sitta canadensis

50–60% · Likely
Pine Siskin
LC

Pine Siskin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spinus pinus

50–60% · Likely
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

50–60% · Likely
American Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

40–50% · Likely
Hoary Marmot
LC

Hoary Marmot

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Marmota caligata

40–50% · Likely
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
LC

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Callospermophilus lateralis

40–50% · Likely
Columbian Ground Squirrel
LC

Columbian Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Urocitellus columbianus

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Elk ★
LC Endemic

Elk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

70–80% · Very likely
Bighorn Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

70–80% · Very likely
Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

40–50% · Possible
Elk ★
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

40–50% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

50–60% · Likely
American Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

40–50% · Likely
Hoary Marmot
LC

Hoary Marmot

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Marmota caligata

40–50% · Likely
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
LC

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Callospermophilus lateralis

40–50% · Likely
Columbian Ground Squirrel
LC

Columbian Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Urocitellus columbianus

40–50% · Likely
Mountain Goat
LC

Mountain Goat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oreamnos americanus

30–40% · Possible
Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

30–40% · Possible
American Pika
LC

American Pika

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ochotona princeps

30–40% · Possible
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

20–30% · Possible
Least Chipmunk

Least Chipmunk

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamias minimus

20–30% · Possible
American Beaver
LC

American Beaver

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Castor canadensis

20–30% · Possible
Moose

Moose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces americanus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

70–80% · Very likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

70–80% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

70–80% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

60–70% · Likely
Red-breasted Nuthatch
LC

Red-breasted Nuthatch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sitta canadensis

50–60% · Likely
Pine Siskin
LC

Pine Siskin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spinus pinus

50–60% · Likely
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

50–60% · Likely
Chipping Sparrow
LC

Chipping Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella passerina

40–50% · Likely
Golden-crowned Kinglet
LC

Golden-crowned Kinglet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Regulus satrapa

30–40% · Possible
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Regulus calendula

30–40% · Possible
Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

30–40% · Possible
Common Loon
LC

Common Loon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gavia immer

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
LC

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis elegans

10–20% · With luck
Common Garter Snake
LC Endemic

Common Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis sirtalis

5–10% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Western Toad
LC

Western Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus boreas

30–40% · Possible
Wood Frog
LC

Wood Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lithobates sylvaticus

10–20% · With luck
Columbia Spotted Frog
LC

Columbia Spotted Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana luteiventris

10–20% · With luck
Long-toed Salamander
LC Endemic

Long-toed Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ambystoma macrodactylum

10–20% · With luck
Pacific chorus frog
LC

Pacific chorus frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudacris regilla

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Elk Rut

SepOct

Bull elk bugle, spar and gather harems in the Athabasca Valley and around the Jasper townsite during the autumn breeding season.

Elk
LC Endemic

Elk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

70–80% · Very likely
🫎

Moose Rut at the Wetlands

SepOct

Moose become most active and visible during the autumn rut, feeding at wetland edges and lake shallows such as Maligne Lake.

Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

40–50% · Possible
🐻

Bear Emergence

MayJun

Black and grizzly bears emerge from hibernation and feed at low elevations, with peak roadside viewing along Maligne Lake Road from to .

American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

50–60% · Likely
Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

40–50% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
Elk
80–90
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
Bighorn Sheep
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
Brown Bear
20–30
5–10
5–10
<5
50–60
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
5–10
Elk
40–50
20–30
10–20
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
Dark-eyed Junco
40–50
40–50
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
40–50
50–60
50–60
American Robin
30–40
20–30
30–40
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
Yellow-rumped Warbler
20–30
20–30
20–30
30–40
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
50–60
30–40
30–40
40–50
Common Raven
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
American Black Bear
20–30
10–20
5–10
30–40
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
40–50
30–40
10–20
20–30
Red-breasted Nuthatch
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
80–90
60–70
70–80
Pine Siskin
50–60
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
60–70
70–80
50–60
30–40
30–40
50–60
40–50
American Crow
20–30
10–20
50–60
70–80
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
40–50
20–30
30–40
American Red Squirrel
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
20–30
Hoary Marmot
5–10
20–30
5–10
10–20
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
30–40
<5
10–20
10–20
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
5–10
5–10
10–20
10–20
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
30–40
20–30
10–20
10–20
Columbian Ground Squirrel
5–10
5–10
5–10
10–20
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
5–10
<5
10–20
10–20
Animal Events
🦌 Elk Rut
🐻 Bear Emergence
🫎 Moose Rut at the Wetlands

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐏 Bighorn Rams on Jasper's Slopes

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
364
🐒 Mammals
88
🦎 Reptiles
3
🐸 Amphibians
7
462 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
17 Threatened 61 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
62%
📊
Coverage (131 species at ≥5% of 462 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
28%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 5 mammal)
46% Global avg
65%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
90
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
10
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
15

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Jasper National Park?

The most likely sightings are Elk (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Bighorn Sheep (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Dark-eyed Junco (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), American Robin (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Yellow-rumped Warbler (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers) — among 462 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Jasper National Park for wildlife?

July 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 Elk in Jasper National Park?

Yes — about 79% of wildlife watchers report a Elk sighting in Jasper National Park, based on 910 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Bighorn Sheep in Jasper National Park?

Yes — about 72% of wildlife watchers report a Bighorn Sheep sighting in Jasper National Park, based on 666 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Brown Bear in Jasper National Park?

Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Bear sighting in Jasper National Park, based on 179 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Elk in Jasper National Park?

Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Elk sighting in Jasper National Park, based on 179 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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