Wildlife in Wells Gray Park

There are many opportunities for Wildlife Viewing in Wells Gray Park. Wells Gray Park is 5000km²of beautiful, pristine wilderness. To provide some perspective, Wells Gray Park is as large as, or in some cases larger, than one in every five nations on earth!

Due to its size, location, and its unique volcanic and glacial history, the park has a rich biodiversity that boasts 219 species of birds, 56 species of mammals and over 700 species of flowering plants, 275 bryophytes, 500 lichens and 200 microfungi! The list is growing each year!

The best way to see wildlife is to keep your eyes open as you drive into the scenic Wells Gray Park. Bears, deer, and small animals such as coyotes and foxes are often sighted alongside the road. Patience is key!

As you can see, Wells Gray Park is a truly amazing and unique area. Lets take a closer look at the most common wildlife you will see:

Mammals of Wells Gray

Wells Gray is home to an incredible variety of mammals — from powerful predators to quiet forest dwellers. Moose graze in wetlands, bears forage through berry patches, and elusive animals like wolves, cougars, and wolverines roam the park’s remote backcountry. Whether commonly seen or rarely glimpsed, each species plays an important role in the park’s ecosystems. Exploring Wells Gray with patience and awareness offers visitors a chance to witness this rich mammal community in its natural, wild habitat. Below are a few of the incredible species that we share the park with.

Moose

Moose are the largest mammals in Wells Gray, often seen grazing in wetlands and shallow lakes. Despite their size, they’re strong swimmers and can dive for aquatic plants. Dawn and dusk offer the best chances to spot them quietly feeding along marshy shorelines.

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Black Bears

Black bears roam throughout the park’s forests and meadows, especially during berry season. Black Bears are not always black, they can be a reddish/brown colour – these are known as cinnamon bears. They’re curious but generally shy, and most sightings happen in early morning or evening as they forage for food.

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Grizzly Bear

Grizzlies are far less commonly seen in Wells Gray but occasionally wander through remote valleys. Larger and more muscular than black bears, they’re powerful diggers and skilled foragers. Visitors rarely encounter them, but their presence is a reminder of the park’s wildness.

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Wolves

Wolves are elusive and highly intelligent, travelling in family groups across large territories. Sightings are rare, but their distant howls sometimes echo through the park at night. They play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by keeping prey populations balanced.

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Coyote

Coyotes are adaptable and often seen trotting through meadows or along forest edges. Smaller than wolves, they rely on keen senses and quick reflexes to hunt rodents and birds. Their yips and howls are a familiar sound in the park’s open areas.

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Foxes

Red foxes are clever, adaptable hunters found in meadows, forest edges, and open clearings throughout Wells Gray. Their sharp senses and light, graceful movements make them a delight to spot, especially at dawn or dusk. With coats ranging from bright red to silver or black, foxes are curious, quick, and often seen trotting with their signature fluffy tail held high.

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White‑tailed Deer

White‑tailed deer are graceful and alert, easily recognized by the white underside of their tail, which flashes when they run. They prefer open forests and meadows and are most active at dawn and dusk. Their agility makes them surprisingly hard to spot despite their numbers.

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Mule Deer

Mule deer are common throughout Wells Gray, named for their large, mule‑like ears. They thrive in forest edges and clearings, browsing on shrubs and grasses. Their bounding gait — called “stotting” — helps them navigate uneven terrain with ease.

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Deep Snow Caribou

Deep Snow Caribou once roamed widely across the Wells Gray region, but today they are critically endangered. These caribou rely on old‑growth forests and deep‑snow winter habitat, feeding on tree‑hanging lichens that few other animals can reach. Their numbers have dropped sharply in recent decades, and they are now facing extinction. Their decline highlights the urgent need to protect intact wilderness and the specialized habitats they depend on.

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Cougar

Cougars are a secretive predator in the park. Rarely seen, they move silently through forests and rocky terrain, hunting deer and smaller mammals. Their powerful build and incredible agility allow them to leap long distances and climb steep slopes with ease.

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Wolverine

Wolverines are tough, wide‑ranging animals built for strength and endurance. Though small, they’re incredibly powerful predators and have even been known to challenge prey as large as moose. Living in remote, rugged terrain, they’re rarely seen — making every sighting in Wells Gray a remarkable event.

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Lynx

Lynx are elusive, solitary cats that roam the deep forests of Wells Gray. With their tufted ears, oversized paws, and thick fur, they’re perfectly adapted to snowy terrain. Lynx primarily hunt snowshoe hares and move with incredible silence, making sightings rare but unforgettable. Their presence is a sign of healthy, undisturbed wilderness.

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Fun Facts

Discover some surprising and delightful facts about the mammals that call Wells Gray home — from tiny tricksters to powerful predators.

Black Bears are most common below the tree line, but are often found in montane woods. With an average height of 95cm at the shoulder and 168cm in length these guys can weigh up to 200kg, with females usually being about 1/3 smaller.

Bears are not always black, they can be a reddish/brown colour – these are known as cinnamon bears. One of the most interesting facts about the black bear is that 75% of its diet is vegetarian. During the spring and summer bears will eat sprouting plants and the inner bark of shrubs and trees, (high in sugar and protein) and during the fall they will eat berries and fruit. Carrion accounts for 10-15% and insects – 5-10%, while fish and other small mammals about 1%. Pretty interesting don’t you think?

Mating occurs late June and early July, however there is a delay in the implantation of the embryo. This is delayed until the fall to ensure the female has enough stores to see herself and the cubs through the winter.

White-tailed Deer can be found all over the park and are identified by their reddish-brown summer coat and a grayish-brown winter coat. When the deer runs away it normally flips its tail and reveals its white under coat – and hence its name! Shoulder height is normally about 100cm, with a weight up to 130kg. Their antlers point forwards, with tines that point upwards.

These deer eat mainly grass, wildflowers, and leaves in the spring and summer, and during the winter season they  browse on twigs, buds of shrubs, aspens, poplars, evergreens and lichens.

Their antlers begin to grow in May and reach full size in 140 days in time for rutting season in September, and are dropped off in December. They mate in mid November and deliver in late May and early June and have a gestation period of about 210 days. Fawns are reddish-brown with white spots – and are great camouflagers. They can lie incredibly still when need be, while the mother hides each fawn under tree bows and feeds one at a time. Another protective element of the fawn is that they have no smell, and predators walk right by them without even detecting their presence! They stay with their mum for about 4 months and are then on their own. Males will grow their first set of antlers in their second year.

Rutting is a breeding behavior that takes place in the fall. Here, huge doses of testosterone are released in the males blood stream, causing their necks to swell. They also become very aggressive during these weeks. Males will walk around sniffing the females urine puddles by curling their lips to stimulate an  organ called the Jacobs organ located in the upper palate. This organ helps them sense estrus better. They rub their antlers against trees and leave their scent via glands on their faces. The males, will spar with each other clashing their antlers together and shoving each other back and forth. These acts are to reinforce hierarchy. Although they spar casually throughout the year, spars during rutting season are fights that can produce serious life threatening injuries!

If deer, elk, moose and caribou all grow and discard antlers – the woods would be full of antler right? Well, no, and here’s why. Antlers are made of bony material that takes years to break down, but snowshoe hares and other small rodents gnaw the antlers for the rich minerals they contain. Since rodents and snowshoe hares are near the bottom of the food chain – there are a lot more of them than deer!

Protecting the Wildlife

Wells Gray is home to an incredible range of wild animals, and every visitor plays a role in keeping them safe. Please never approach, feed, or follow wildlife. Wild animals in Wells Gray need to stay wild to survive. When bears or other wildlife become accustomed to people or human food, they can lose their natural fear and begin approaching roads, campsites, or visitors. Unfortunately, this often leads to the animal being killed for safety reasons. Please help protect them by keeping your distance, storing food securely, and never feeding or approaching wildlife. Small choices from visitors make a life‑or‑death difference for the animals that call this park home.

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Birds of Wells Gray

Wells Gray is a haven for birdlife, from tiny songbirds flitting through the forest canopy to powerful raptors soaring over volcanic cliffs. More than 250 species have been recorded here, making the park an incredible place for both casual observers and dedicated birders. Whether you’re listening for the flute‑like call of a thrush or scanning a lakeshore for loons, the park offers endless opportunities to spot something wild and beautiful.

Bird Watching Checklist

See the checklist below to help plan your birdwatching adventure.

Wells-Gray-Bird-ChecklistDownload