Safely view wildlife
Banff National Park
There are many places for wildlife sightings in Banff National Park! To protect this special place, we give wildlife the space they need to survive and thrive.
Whether you are exploring the park by foot, bike or vehicle, when you see wildlife, give them space for your safety and their survival.
Transcript
It’s thriving… yet fragile.
To protect this special place, when we see wildlife, we give them space.
For our safety, and their survival.
Give elk, sheep and moose at least 3 bus-lengths of space.
Bears, wolves, and coyotes need at least 10 bus-lengths.
Your actions matter.
When you leave Banff National Park...
On screen animation that reads "Give space".
Leave it wild.
Hashtag Wildlife Rules. Protect this special place, Banff National Park appears on screen.
Website URL: www.parkscanada.gc.ca/wildliferules
Help keep them wild by maintaining a minimum distance of:
- 3 bus lengths of space (30 metres) - deer, elk, sheep and moose
- 10 bus lengths of space (100 metres) - bears, wolves, cougars and coyotes
- Remember small animals like rodents and birds, need space too!
Never approach wildlife. Do not startle wildlife. If you make them move, you are too close.
Wildlife photography:
For photos, do not surround, crowd or follow an animal. Use a telephoto lens, the zoom function, or show the animal in its natural surroundings and crop the image later.
Seeing wildlife on the road:
If you see wildlife by the road, slow down, stay in your vehicle and move on. If you choose to stop:
- Be aware of the traffic around you.
- Pull over where safe to do so.
- Turn on hazard lights.
- Stay in your vehicle.
- Watch for a few moments, take a quick photo, and then move on.
- If a wildlife jam develops, move on. It is unsafe for people and wildlife.
Your actions matter! When you leave Banff National Park… leave it wild.
It is illegal to feed, entice or disturb any wildlife in a national park. Violators will be charged, be required to appear in court, and could pay fines up to $25 000.
Please report bear, cougar, wolf and coyote sightings and encounters to Banff Dispatch: 403-762-1470
Important links
Current wildlife warnings and closures
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