Wildlife Viewing in Canada: Where and When

Canada's vast wilderness areas provide sanctuary for an incredible diversity of wildlife. From the haunting calls of wolves in the northern forests to the magnificent breaching of whales along the coastlines, the opportunity to observe animals in their natural habitats is one of the most memorable aspects of visiting Canada. This guide will help you maximize your chances of spotting iconic Canadian wildlife by revealing the best locations and optimal times for wildlife viewing across the country.

Bears: Icons of the Canadian Wilderness

Canada is home to three species of bears: the black bear, grizzly (brown) bear, and polar bear. Each offers unique viewing opportunities and requires different approaches for safe observation.

Black Bears: The most common and widely distributed bear species in Canada, black bears can be found in forested areas across most provinces and territories. Despite their name, they can range in color from black to brown, cinnamon, and even blonde.

Best viewing locations:

• Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia: The Cabot Trail road offers good opportunities to spot black bears feeding on berries along roadsides, particularly in early morning or evening.
• Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario: Bears are frequently spotted along Highway 60, which runs through the park.
• E.C. Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia: Bears are often seen foraging in meadows and berry patches.

Best viewing season: Late spring through fall (May-October), with peak activity in early morning and evening hours. During late summer and fall, bears enter hyperphagia (intense feeding period) to prepare for winter, making them more visible as they forage extensively.

Grizzly Bears: Larger and more powerful than black bears, grizzlies (also known as brown bears) are found primarily in western Canada, especially in British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.

Best viewing locations:

• Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia: This coastal temperate rainforest is known for exceptional grizzly viewing opportunities, particularly when bears feed on spawning salmon.
• Knight Inlet, British Columbia: The floating Glendale Cove lodge offers guided grizzly viewing excursions.
• Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, British Columbia: Canada's first grizzly bear sanctuary provides protected habitat for approximately 50 bears.
• Fishing Branch Territorial Park, Yukon: Known for rare "ice bears"—grizzlies that continue fishing for salmon after the water has started to freeze.

Best viewing season: Spring (May-June) when bears emerge from hibernation and feed in meadows, and fall (August-October) during the salmon runs. The Khutzeymateen is particularly good for spring viewing when bears feed on sedge grasses in estuary meadows.

Spirit Bears: A rare subspecies of black bear with a creamy white coat due to a recessive genetic trait. These bears (known as Kermode bears) are not albinos but carry a unique genetic mutation.

Best viewing locations: Spirit bears are found almost exclusively on a few islands in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia, particularly Princess Royal Island and Gribbell Island. Guided tours from communities like Klemtu or Hartley Bay offer the best chances to see these elusive bears.

Best viewing season: September to early October, when the bears are feeding on spawning salmon.

Polar Bears: The world's largest land carnivore, polar bears are marine mammals that rely on sea ice for hunting seals. They are found along the Arctic coastlines and Hudson Bay region.

Best viewing locations:

• Churchill, Manitoba: Known as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World," Churchill offers the most accessible polar bear viewing. Specially designed tundra vehicles take visitors safely among the bears.
• Wapusk National Park, Manitoba: Adjacent to Churchill, this park protects one of the world's largest polar bear denning areas.
• Torngat Mountains National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador: This remote park offers opportunities to see polar bears along the coast during summer months.

Best viewing season: In Churchill, mid-October to mid-November when bears gather waiting for Hudson Bay to freeze. For viewing mothers with cubs emerging from dens, March is optimal in Wapusk.

Whales: Giants of the Coast

With the world's longest coastline, Canada offers exceptional whale-watching opportunities on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, as well as in the Arctic waters.

Orcas (Killer Whales): These distinctive black and white whales are actually the largest members of the dolphin family. Two different ecotypes are found in Canadian waters: resident orcas (fish-eaters) and transient orcas (mammal-eaters).

Best viewing locations:

• Johnstone Strait, British Columbia: This narrow channel between Vancouver Island and the mainland is home to about 200 resident orcas during summer months.
• Victoria and Vancouver area, British Columbia: Southern resident orcas frequent these waters, with whale-watching tours operating year-round (though summer offers highest success rates).

Best viewing season: Mid-June through October, with peak activity in July and August.

Humpback Whales: Known for their spectacular breaching displays and complex songs, humpbacks migrate to Canadian waters to feed during summer months.

Best viewing locations:

• Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick/Nova Scotia: The bay's extreme tides create nutrient-rich feeding grounds.
• Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland: Humpbacks feed on capelin in these protected waters.
• Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, British Columbia: The remote Haida Gwaii archipelago offers pristine whale habitat.

Best viewing season: June to September on both coasts.

Beluga Whales: These distinctive white whales, known for their expressive facial features and vocal abilities, are Arctic and sub-Arctic specialists.

Best viewing locations:

• Churchill River estuary, Manitoba: Thousands of belugas gather here in summer, where visitors can kayak, boat, or even snorkel among them.
• St. Lawrence Estuary, Quebec: The southernmost population of belugas resides year-round in this region.

Best viewing season: July and August in Churchill; June to September in the St. Lawrence.

Narwhals: Often called the "unicorns of the sea" due to their long spiral tusks (actually an enlarged tooth), narwhals are elusive Arctic whales.

Best viewing locations: Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay in Nunavut offer the best opportunities, though viewing requires expedition cruises or specialized tours due to the remote location.

Best viewing season: Late May to early July when narwhals gather at the floe edge (where solid ice meets open water).

Moose and Woodland Caribou

These large members of the deer family are iconic symbols of Canada's boreal forests and tundra regions.

Moose: The largest member of the deer family, moose are solitary animals adapted to cold climates and wetland habitats. Their long legs allow them to wade in water and traverse deep snow.

Best viewing locations:

• Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario: Highway 60 corridor, particularly around wetlands.
• Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia: The aptly named "Moose Trail" (Skyline Trail) offers good viewing opportunities.
• Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland: The park has one of Canada's highest moose densities.
• Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba: Moose are frequently spotted in wetland areas.

Best viewing season: Early morning or evening hours throughout the year, with increased activity during the fall rut (September-October).

Woodland Caribou: This threatened species is found in old-growth boreal forests and mountain regions. Unlike their barren-ground cousins, woodland caribou don't undertake long migrations.

Best viewing locations:

• Gaspésie National Park, Quebec: Home to the endangered Atlantic-Gaspésie population, the last remaining herd south of the St. Lawrence River.
• Pukaskwa National Park, Ontario: The remote Coastal Hiking Trail offers opportunities to spot the Lake Superior coastal population.
• Jasper National Park, Alberta: The Maligne Lake Road sometimes yields caribou sightings.

Best viewing season: Winter and early spring when caribou are more visible against snow and gather in smaller ranges.

Bird Watching Hotspots

Canada's diverse landscapes provide habitat for over 450 bird species, making it a premier destination for birders.

Point Pelee National Park, Ontario: One of North America's best migration hotspots, this small park jutting into Lake Erie serves as a critical stopover for hundreds of bird species. During peak spring migration in May, birders can observe more than 100 species in a single day.

Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick/Nova Scotia: The world's highest tides expose vast mudflats that provide critical feeding grounds for millions of semipalmated sandpipers and other shorebirds during their southward migration.

Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland: This dramatic sea stack hosts one of North America's largest seabird colonies, including 24,000 nesting northern gannets, plus thousands of kittiwakes, murres, and razorbills.

Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii, British Columbia: These isolated islands have evolved unique subspecies found nowhere else, including the distinctively large and dark Haida Gwaii Northern Saw-whet Owl.

Best viewing season: Varies by location and target species, but generally spring migration (April-May) and fall migration (August-October) offer the greatest diversity.

Wildlife Viewing Tips and Ethics

Observing animals in their natural habitat is a privilege that comes with responsibility. Follow these guidelines for safe and ethical wildlife viewing:

• Keep your distance: Use binoculars or telephoto lenses rather than approaching animals. Parks Canada recommends staying at least 100 meters (330 feet) from bears and wolves, and 30 meters (100 feet) from other large species.
• Never feed wildlife: Feeding creates dangerous dependencies and habituates animals to humans.
• Drive carefully: Many wildlife sightings occur from roads. Reduce speed in known wildlife areas, especially at dawn and dusk.
• Choose ethical operators: Select tour companies that prioritize animal welfare and follow viewing guidelines.
• Leave no trace: Pack out all trash and respect the environment that supports wildlife.
• Be patient and quiet: Wildlife viewing rewards patience. Keep noise to a minimum and movement slow and deliberate.
• Consider timing: Early morning and evening hours typically offer the best viewing opportunities when many animals are most active.

Seasonal Wildlife Viewing Calendar

Season	Wildlife Highlights	Prime Locations
Spring (March-May)	- Bear emergence from hibernation - Bird migration - Moose calving - Gray whale migration	- Khutzeymateen, BC (grizzlies) - Point Pelee, ON (birds) - Pacific Rim, BC (gray whales) - Riding Mountain, MB (moose)
Summer (June-August)	- Beluga whales - Orcas and humpbacks - Mountain goats and sheep - Seabird colonies	- Churchill, MB (belugas) - Johnstone Strait, BC (orcas) - Jasper/Banff, AB (mountain wildlife) - Cape St. Mary's, NL (seabirds)
Fall (September-November)	- Salmon runs and bear feeding - Elk and moose rut - Fall bird migration - Polar bear gathering	- Great Bear Rainforest, BC (bears/salmon) - Jasper, AB (elk rut) - Bay of Fundy, NB/NS (shorebirds) - Churchill, MB (polar bears)
Winter (December-February)	- Wolf activity - Lynx and snowshoe hares - Snowy owls - Woodland caribou	- Algonquin Park, ON (wolves) - Boundary Waters, MB (lynx) - Southern prairies (snowy owls) - Gaspésie, QC (caribou)