Wildlife and safety

Riding Mountain National Park

Remember, You are in Bear Country when visiting Riding Mountain National Park.

Parks Canada monitors wildlife activity closely and takes a wide range of actions to ensure both people and wildlife can safely share these special places. Parks Canada employs a number of practices to minimize human-wildlife conflicts, such as managing attractants like garbage and human food, seasonal trail restrictions in important wildlife habitat areas, implementing reduced speed and no stopping zones along roadways, and discouraging wildlife from using high traffic areas when necessary.

All of these actions help contribute to successful coexistence of people and wildlife in our national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas.

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.

If you see someone feeding or approaching wildlife, please call 1-877-852-3100 Parks Canada Dispatch.

Wildlife attractants

Human food and garbage kill wildlife
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Many already know that leaving food out at a picnic site or campsite can attract wildlife, but did you know that wildlife is also attracted to any item that has an odour/smell? This includes:

  • Garbage
  • Dishes
  • Pots and pans
  • Stoves
  • Coolers (full or empty)
  • Pet dishes
  • Toiletries (like soap, shampoo and toothpaste)

If you need to keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer on your person or in your tent, choose a product that is unscented and keep it in a sealed container. Keep your picnic site and campsite clean of attractive smells by storing all scented items in your vehicle or in designated storage lockers. As soon as you are done cooking, eating and washing up, put everything away in a vehicle or storage locker.

Feeding wildlife in a national park is illegal and you may be charged under the Canada National Parks Act. This includes feeding them directly by offering them food, or indirectly by leaving unattended food or garbage for them to find.

Roadside wildlife viewing

Give wildlife space

Keeping wildlife wild is a shared responsibility – we all have a role to play.

Two cars are stopped on the side of the road to observe grizzly bears.

Pulling over to observe wildlife on roads is hazardous. Stopping in the middle or along the side of the road puts yourself, wildlife and other motorists at risk. It teaches animals that vehicles on highways are nothing to be afraid of. In Parks Canada’s protected places, too many animals are killed along highways each year.

Pulling over is also dangerous because stopped vehicles become visual obstructions for other drivers. If you see wildlife along the road:

  • Slow down, and always obey speed limits
  • Use your hazard lights to alert others
  • Pull over only where it is safe to do so
  • Do not stop in driving lanes
  • Observe, take photographs, and move on
  • Move on immediately if a traffic jam develops

Wildlife photography

Two people looking at something in the distance. One is taking a photograph.

Bring your binoculars, or a telephoto lens to capture a photo of a wild animal in its natural environment. Remember that although this may be a once in a lifetime experience for you, these types of encounters may be happening many times a day for the animal. Approaching wildlife or allowing wildlife to approach you can lead to them no longer being wary of people and puts yourself, others and wildlife at risk.

Stay at least 30 m (3 buses) away from large animals such as deer, moose and elk, and 100 m (10 buses) away from bears, bison, wolves, coyotes and cougars.

Safety before selfies

Selfies with wildlife are not safe. Never turn your back or attempt to take a photo of people with wildlife in the background. All wild animals are unpredictable, all wildlife is potentially dangerous, and all animals are wild even if they appear tame.

Wildlife on the trails

Three backpackers hike along a trail in the woods in a national park.

You are responsible for your own safety.

  • Always be aware of your surroundings. Never wear ear buds or headphones to avoid surprise encounters that do not give wildlife time to decide how to react
  • Make noise to let wildlife know you are in the area
  • If you encounter wildlife, back away. Return the way you came
  • Report all aggressive wildlife encounters to Parks Canada Dispatch: 780-852-6155
  • Know the Parks Canada regulations

Dogs

Off-leash dogs can trigger aggressive behaviour from wildlife. If possible, consider leaving your dog at home. Dogs cause stress for wildlife as they may be seen as a threat. If you do bring your dog, remember that dogs must always be on a leash and under control, to prevent unsafe situations – it is the law.

Two visitors and a dog walk along a boardwalk in a national park. The dog is on a leash.

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