The Nature and Wildlife of Riding Mountain

Riding Mountain is a vibrant wilderness oasis, set high above a sea of prairie agricultural lands.  Here, in the centre of North America, the Boreal Forest, Aspen Woodland, Prairie and Eastern Hardwood Biomes come together. These Biomes, occur on a hilly, 'Pot-and Kettle' glacial moraine with fertile soils and an abundance of wetlands, streams and lakes.  This biogeophysical phenomenon creates a mosaic of flourishing ecosystems with an incredible diversity of plant and animal species. Riding Mountain National Park, which protects about 3000 square kilometres of this pristine habitat, is renowned as "the accessible wilderness" where large mammals are relatively easy to observe.

Some of the world's largest black bears and elk are found here and the population densities of black bears, elk, moose, and beavers are among the highest anywhere. The Park also harbours a herd of prairie bison on its native prairie habitat which is very easy to observe and photograph. Plus there are over 260 species of birds that nest in or visit this area.

Wildlife and Bird Species

In the spring and summer, some examples of species which guests might see include Black Bear*, Beaver*, Muskrat*, Moose*, Elk, Whitetail Deer*, Coyote*, Short-tailed Weasel*, Mink*, Fisher*, River Otter, Lynx*, Red Fox*, Porcupine*, Badger*, Richardson*, Thirteen-lined* and Franklin Ground squirrels, Red Squirrel*, Snowshoe Hare*, Common Loon*, Pied-billed*, Horned* and Red-necked* grebes, American White Pelican*, Double-crested Cormorant*, American Bittern, Great Blue* and Black-crowned Night* herons, Snowy Egret*, Tundra Swans*, Canada Goose*, Wood Duck*, Green* and Blue* Winged Teal, Mallard*, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler*, Gadwall*, American Widgeon*, Canvasback*, Redhead*, Ringed-necked Duck*, Lesser Scaup*, Common Goldeneye*, Bufflehead*, Common Merganser* and Ruddy Duck*, Turkey Vulture*, Osprey, Bald Eagle*, Northern Harrier*, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Broad-winged and Red-tailed* hawks, American Kestrel, Merlin, Spruce, Ruffed* and Sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian Partridge, American Coot*, Killdeer*, Greater* and Lesser* yellowlegs, Least* and Spotted* sandpipers, Common Snipe*, Wilson's Phalarope*, Black* and Forester's* terns, Morning Dove, Great Horned and Great Gray owls, Ruby-throated Hummingbird*, Belted Kingfisher*, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker*, Downy*, Hairy* and Pileated* woodpeckers, Eastern Phoebe*, Barn Swallow*, Gray* and Blue* jays, Black-capped Chickadee*, Black-billed Magpie*, Common Raven*, White-breasted Nuthatch*, Red-winged* and Yellow-headed* blackbirds, Evening*, Pine* and Rose-breasted* grosbeaks, Purple Finch*, American Goldfinch* plus many more.

All the species mentioned above have been seen on the Ranch and those marked with asterisks have been photographed on the Ranch. This list of species is not meant to suggest that one can expect to see or photograph a particular species, but merely to demonstrate the diversity of species that exists in our area.

In the fall, we lose some of our creatures. The ground squirrels hibernate in mid to late September and female black bears den-up about mid-October. But the male bears are often seen at our blind until early November. The migratory birds head south starting with the loons in mid-September, however, many of the hawks, eagles and waterfowl are still around until mid-October. Elk can be heard bugling through September into early October. The fall colour period occurs in late September to early October. From mid-September to mid- October,  the beavers are very busy packing fresh mud on their houses, felling aspen trees and filling their winter food caches before freeze-up.

In fall and winter, we are most likely to see elk, moose, bison, coyote and porcupine plus some of our resident winter birds e.g.. Great Gray and Great Horned owls, Blue and Gray jays, Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie, Pileated, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers, Evening grosbeaks, Black-capped chickadees and White-breasted nuthatches. Flocks of visiting Snow buntings, Pine grosbeaks and Common redpolls are common in winter. Winter also offers great opportunities to photograph fabulous, snow-laden, wilderness scenes, not to mention the possibility of photographing wildlife in this scenery.

Riding Mountain Mammals Checklist

Riding Mountain Bird Checklist

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