“We saw Moose, Elk, Eagles and Mountain Sheep. It was a reminder that we really are visitors in the animals’ home.”
Alexia Gezink, Google Review.
Over fifty species of mammals call Jasper National Park home, making it an intriguing place to take a wildlife tour. But as Alexia discovered during her Jasper wildlife tour with SunDog Tours, getting to see the animals of Jasper up close is a privilege that should be enjoyed with respect for the environment. It is the home, after all, to a diverse range of animals that depend on a variety of habitats.
At SunDog Tours, you have the opportunity to see a variety of spectacular animals from the safe and respectful proximity of a comfortable vehicle, led with stories and information by one of our expert guides.
Remember to bring your camera for the photo opportunities – here are 7 animals you could see on a Jasper wildlife tour.
Bald Eagles
If you’re visiting Jasper National Park from outside of North America, the prospect of a bald eagle sighting can be particularly enticing. Bald eagles are the only eagle that only lives in North America, according to Canadian Geographic.
Bighorn Sheep
Also known as mountain sheep, these epically-horned ruminant animals are frequently seen by visitors to Jasper National Park year-round. The dramatic, rounded ram horns can weigh as much as thirty pounds (13 kilograms)!
Wolves
When it comes to the wolf pack, communication is key. The stirring, unforgettable sound of a wolf’s howl is the channel they use to locate members of the pack or gather momentum before heading out together on a hunt (much like a sports huddle before a big game). It also acts as a warning to neighbouring packs to steer clear. Learning about wolves as pack animals is fascinating. On a SunDog Wildlife Tour, you might get the chance to hear their incredible sound of the wild.
Deer
It’s important to our tour guides that the natural environment of Jasper’s wildlife is not disturbed. Not only is it crucial for maintaining healthy and stable populations of the species that have made this region their home, but because it affords us the quiet, memorable moments when we do get to see animals such as deer in their habitat. Deer can be elusive and understated in comparison to the gigantic presence of moose, but they are fascinating all the same. Did you know deer are the only group of animals in the world that have antlers? Every year, antlers fall off and regrow, becoming coated in a furry substance called velvet. Velvet contains nerves and blood vessels, which make fast growth possible.
Moose
On a Jasper wildlife tour, you can have the opportunity to see for yourself the true enormity of moose. As the largest members of the deer family, this striking species typically eats around 73 pounds (33 kilograms) of the buds of plants a day in the winter, remarkable given the limitations of what is edible in winter. They take the feasting down a notch in the summer to approximately 34 pounds ( 15 kilograms) of shrubs, woody plants, and aquatic vegetation. Thank you Mental Floss for the jaw-dropping moose facts!
Mountain Goats
Don’t laugh, but: mountain goats aren’t actually goats! As members of the Bovidae family, mountain goats are associated with antelopes, gazelles, and cattle.
Coyotes
The name coyote comes from an Indigenous word meaning “barking dog”, and if you get the chance to see a coyote during your Jasper wildlife tour, you are sure to recognize the similarities between these canines. Your Jasper wildlife tour with SunDog Tours provides a safe and exciting way to see animals such as the coyote that have inhabited this region for thousands of years.
What will you see on your Jasper wildlife tour?
Book a tour with SunDog Tours today, and share your photos with us on Facebook – we love to see the natural beauty of Jasper National Park through the eyes of our visitors.
