Riding Mountain National Park

🇨🇦 Canada

🫎 Elk Rutting Echoes at Riding Mountain
🌍 #187 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #24 in North America #22 in Temperate Forest
Canada, Canada 455 spp. recorded

Riding 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

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

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

20–30% · Possible
American Black Bear ★
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

50–60% · Likely
American Bison ★
NT

American Bison

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Bison bison

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

60–70% · Likely
White-throated Sparrow
LC

White-throated Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia albicollis

60–70% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

60–70% · Likely
Black-capped Chickadee
LC

Black-capped Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile atricapillus

50–60% · Likely
Blue Jay
LC

Blue Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta cristata

50–60% · Likely
Song Sparrow
LC Endemic

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

50–60% · Likely
Chipping Sparrow
LC

Chipping Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella passerina

50–60% · Likely
Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

40–50% · Likely
Common Yellowthroat
LC

Common Yellowthroat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Geothlypis trichas

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Elk ★
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

20–30% · Possible
American Black Bear ★
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

50–60% · Likely
American Bison ★
NT

American Bison

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Bison bison

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

30–40% · Possible
American Beaver
LC

American Beaver

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Castor canadensis

20–30% · Possible
American Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

20–30% · Possible
Muskrat
LC

Muskrat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ondatra zibethicus

20–30% · Possible
Snowshoe Hare
LC

Snowshoe Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus americanus

20–30% · Possible
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

10–20% · With luck
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

10–20% · With luck
Franklin's Ground Squirrel
LC

Franklin's Ground Squirrel

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Poliocitellus franklinii

10–20% · With luck
Woodchuck
LC

Woodchuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Marmota monax

10–20% · With luck
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
LC

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ictidomys tridecemlineatus

10–20% · With luck
Northern River Otter
LC Endemic

Northern River Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lontra canadensis

10–20% · With luck
American Marten
LC Endemic

American Marten

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Martes americana

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

60–70% · Likely
White-throated Sparrow
LC

White-throated Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia albicollis

60–70% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

60–70% · Likely
Black-capped Chickadee
LC

Black-capped Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile atricapillus

50–60% · Likely
Blue Jay
LC

Blue Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta cristata

50–60% · Likely
Song Sparrow
LC Endemic

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

50–60% · Likely
Chipping Sparrow
LC

Chipping Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella passerina

50–60% · Likely
Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

40–50% · Likely
Common Yellowthroat
LC

Common Yellowthroat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Geothlypis trichas

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Plains Garter Snake
LC

Plains Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis radix

20–30% · Possible
Painted Turtle
LC

Painted Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chrysemys picta

10–20% · With luck
Redbelly Snake
LC

Redbelly Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Storeria occipitomaculata

5–10% · With luck
Common Garter Snake
LC Endemic

Common Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis sirtalis

Insufficient data
Snapping Turtle
LC

Snapping Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelydra serpentina

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Wood Frog
LC

Wood Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lithobates sylvaticus

30–40% · Possible
Northern Leopard Frog
LC

Northern Leopard Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lithobates pipiens

20–30% · Possible
Western Tiger Salamander
LC

Western Tiger Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ambystoma mavortium

20–30% · Possible
Boreal Chorus Frog
LC

Boreal Chorus Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudacris maculata

20–30% · Possible
Gray Treefrog
LC

Gray Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Dryophytes versicolor

10–20% · With luck
Canadian Toad
LC

Canadian Toad

Amphibian

Anaxyrus hemiophrys

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Elk Rutting Season

SepOct

Male elk (bulls) engage in dramatic vocalizations and antler clashes to establish dominance and attract mates.

Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

20–30% · Possible
🦌

Black Bear Activity Peak

MayJunJulAug

Black bears are most active, foraging for food and often seen near berry patches and open meadows.

American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

50–60% · Likely
🦌

Bison Herd Grazing Tours

JunJulAugSepOct

The park’s bison herd grazes in open grasslands, offering visitors a chance to observe these massive herbivores in their natural habitat.

American Bison
NT

American Bison

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Bison bison

10–20% · With luck

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
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
Elk
5–10
10–20
<5
20–30
20–30
30–40
20–30
5–10
30–40
10–20
20–30
30–40
American Black Bear
10–20
10–20
10–20
20–30
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
10–20
American Bison
5–10
<5
10–20
5–10
10–20
10–20
20–30
20–30
10–20
20–30
<5
<5
American Crow
40–50
30–40
70–80
90–100
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
30–40
American Robin
40–50
20–30
50–60
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
30–40
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
Red-winged Blackbird
30–40
20–30
40–50
50–60
70–80
80–90
70–80
20–30
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
White-throated Sparrow
30–40
20–30
40–50
20–30
80–90
60–70
70–80
40–50
50–60
30–40
40–50
20–30
Common Raven
70–80
80–90
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
Black-capped Chickadee
70–80
80–90
60–70
70–80
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
Blue Jay
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
80–90
Song Sparrow
30–40
20–30
40–50
30–40
60–70
70–80
70–80
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
Chipping Sparrow
30–40
20–30
40–50
20–30
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
20–30
40–50
30–40
20–30
Canada Goose
30–40
20–30
40–50
70–80
70–80
50–60
20–30
30–40
60–70
50–60
50–60
20–30
Yellow-rumped Warbler
30–40
20–30
30–40
40–50
70–80
50–60
30–40
50–60
40–50
40–50
30–40
20–30
Common Yellowthroat
30–40
20–30
30–40
10–20
40–50
70–80
60–70
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
20–30
Animal Events
🦌 Elk Rutting Season
🦌 Black Bear Activity Peak
🦌 Bison Herd Grazing Tours

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
🫎 Elk Rutting Echoes at Riding Mountain

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
353
🐒 Mammals
83
🦎 Reptiles
5
🐸 Amphibians
14
455 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
17 Threatened 54 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
58%
📊
Coverage (167 species at ≥5% of 455 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
37%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 mammal)
46% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
123
🌟
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
7
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
17

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Riding Mountain National Park?

The most likely sightings are American Crow (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), American Robin (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Red-winged Blackbird (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), White-throated Sparrow (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Common Raven (seen by 60–70% 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 Elk in Riding Mountain National Park?

Yes — about 23% of wildlife watchers report a Elk sighting in Riding Mountain National Park, based on 50 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see American Black Bear in Riding Mountain National Park?

Yes — about 51% of wildlife watchers report a American Black Bear sighting in Riding Mountain National Park, based on 202 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see American Bison in Riding Mountain National Park?

Yes — about 18% of wildlife watchers report a American Bison sighting in Riding Mountain National Park, based on 33 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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