Last week we looked at areas inside the City of Yellowknife where you could see wildlife. This week we’re going to look at places in the surrounding area of Yellowknife where you can find and photograph animals.
Be sure to have a look at Yellowknife Online (ykonline.ca) for everything you’ll ever need to know if you plan to visit!
Ingraham Trail
The Ingraham Trail offers wildlife enthusiasts a number of opportunities to view wildlife in its natural habitat. From river otters, to timber wolves, to lynx you never know what you might see on a trip up the trail.
There are hundreds of lakes spread across the NWT and a trip up the trail will quickly give you an idea of the vast amount of water available for wildlife.
Foxes are a common sight both within and outside the city. Inside city limits, foxes are protected from hunters and trappers so they are more tolerant of people. This does not mean you should feed them or try to pet them. This is against the law. Outside the city, expect foxes to be much more skittish than their city-dwelling cousins.
The Prelude Lake Nature Trail is a wonderful place to spend a morning or afternoon wildlife spotting. It offers a number of opportunities to see birds and wildlife as it meanders through a number of different types of northern landscape. Small mammals such as snowshoe hare, porcupine, squirrels, and grouse might be spotted along the trail.
Cameron Falls Territorial Park is another great place to stop if you are interested in wildlife. It is well outside city limits so make sure you are prepared before you leave. The Cameron River is home to family of river otters who show up once in while to frolic and fish in the pools at the base of the ramparts. Otters can be spotted summer or winter.
Other animals you’ll want to watch for in this area include great horned owls, grey jays, pine marten, lynx, and wolves. Be sure to take some peanuts for the grey jays who will take them right out of your hand if you’re patient.
Highway 3
Just past the city limits along highway 3 there are a few spots that offer fantastic wildlife viewing. Owls, bison, wolves and moose can be spotted along this stretch of highway between October and April. You might also catch a glimpse of a lynx, caribou, or wolverine but travel can be treacherous so be prepared and check the weather.
Wood Bison Sanctuary
If you’re wanting to see North America’s largest land mammal, the wood bison sanctuary near Fort Providence almost guarantees a wood bison sighting. Many times you can spot these frosty behemoths around North Arm Park about an hour west of Yellowknife. There is nothing quite like the sight of a bull bison covered in snow. Bison are almost invisible in the dark so be extra cautious when travelling in this area between September and April.
That’s it for this week. Be sure to stop in next week for a lesson on identifying wildlife by the tracks they leave in the snow. Please feel free to share!