I thought it would be fun to share some information about wildlife viewing here in Yellowknife. I originally wrote this article for Yellowknife Online and will be doing a couple more guest posts on wildlife and birding opportunities so be sure to check out his website.
This post will be in two parts the first focusing on opportunities inside the city.
Frame Lake Trail
The Frame Lake trail loops around Frame Lake and offers a number of wildlife viewing opportunities. In the winter you can expect to see willow ptarmigan, magpies, ravens, red polls, house sparrows, red fox, and occasionally coyotes. Once in a rare while an arctic fox or wolf is spotted on or near the lake but these are extremely rare sightings.
The area between Jackfish Lake and the Frame Lake Trail is known coyote territory so be sure to keep your dog leashed at all times to avoid a potential conflict.
Niven Lake Trail
It can seem pretty quiet around the Niven Lake area once the snow falls but you can still find ptarmigan, woodpeckers, house sparrows, red polls, white-winged crossbills, snow buntings, magpies, ravens, and foxes. Once in a while there are reports of of a lynx or wolverine but these animals are a very rare sight.
Rotary Park
Rotary Park is home to ravens, magpies, and ptarmigan as well as the occasional fox and coyote. There is a boardwalk that will take you out to a viewing platform in the wetland area though the gulls and waterfowl won’t start appearing until late April or May.
Ski Hill and Back Bay
This narrow valley is a favourite spot for many winter activities including wildlife viewing. There are plenty of species to watch for including owls, squirrels, hares, ptarmigan, fox, raven, and magpies. In the spring and fall there are plenty of birds that make their home in this densely forested area while they raise their young.
The ski hill and back bay are well known for coyote dens so there is a chance you may encounter one or more. Coyotes prey on small rodents, ptarmigan, and snowshoe hares all of which can be seen in this area.
Occasionally timber wolves will pass through this area so watch the trails for wolf tracks and be aware of your surroundings. Wolves are masters at disappearing into the forest but pay attention and you might catch a glimpse of one of the North’s most magnificent creatures.
If you plan to hike or sled in this area, be sure to keep your eyes open and your dog leashed to avoid conflicts with wildlife.
Rat Lake and Tin Can Hill
This area runs parallel to Great Slave Lake and is a favourite destination for dog walkers. This doesn’t make for great wildlife viewing however there are still a number of animals you might spot if you get there before the dogs. Coyotes, foxes, ptarmigan, ravens, woodpeckers, owls, boreal chickadees, grey jays, and other winter birds can be spotted in this area. In the spring and fall this is a popular area for birdwatchers.
Next week we’ll have a look at areas for wildlife viewing in the area surrounding Yellowknife.
Feel free to share!