Wildlife viewing

Discover Grasslands National Park in Southern Saskatchewan, the only park to represent the Prairie Grasslands Natural Region.

Connect with national treasures and see some of the rarest wildlife in Canada as you explore the West Block’s Frenchman River Valley. Catch a glimpse of a Burrowing Owl, Short-horned Lizard or Greater Sage-Grouse and spy on the comical Black-tailed Prairie Dogs. Hike the breathtaking badlands of the East Block. Discover the astonishing dinosaur fossils exposed in the eroding layers of earth. Connect with ranching and prairie life like nowhere else.

Wild and rare: grasslands then and now

With ~70 million year old fossilized species to over 30 present-day species at risk in Grasslands National Park, a wild and rare conservation story is an understatement. Once near global extinction, in 2005 Parks Canada re-introduced Plains Bison to the mixed grass prairie of southern Saskatchewan. Playing an essential role in shaping the ecology of the prairie, this conservation herd has the potential to significantly contribute to the continental restoration of the species.

Wildlife viewing tips

Grasslands National Park is rich with diverse populations of wildlife including over thirty species at risk. To improve your chances of viewing:

• Plan your visit around dawn and dusk, times of day that may provide a better chance of sighting wildlife. Many animals look for respite from the heat during mid-day on the prairies.
• Drive slowly on Ecotour Road and Badlands Parkway, or better yet, go for a hike. Opportunities to view wildlife improve if you’re moving more slowly.
• Appreciate the little things! Grasslands is home to small mammals, birds, frogs, and butterflies in summer. Keep a lookout for these spectacular creatures, too.
• When you do spot larger wildlife such as bison, remember to view them safely from 100 metres (330 feet or the length of 3 buses) away. Give them space and keep the animal’s line of travel or escape route clear.
• Learn more about wildlife safety!

Give wildlife their space and respect. Do not approach or feed.