Although you may not think it, Manitoba in Canada is a great place for spotting wildlife. Most of us automatically think of the Canadian Rockies but Manitoba shares the same excitement of wildlife and many of the same species of animals. You also don’t have to wander too far from the province’s capital city of Winnipeg to find that thrill of seeing something furry rummage through the bush or a bird in flight high in the sky.
Of course like all wildlife spotting missions, it takes a lot of patience, sometimes multiple trips back and usually a bit of luck. You’re best bet is going exploring in the forest but if you’re hoping to spot some from your car it is still possible to see something. Many times you just need to drive around and keep your eyes peeled.
A few tips if you’re on a mission to spot wildlife in Manitoba:
- remember to always have your camera ready
- in most cases you’ll need to move slowly but think fast
- if you see an animal move away don’t give up just yet as sometimes they’ll revisit the spot they were just in
- focus on the eyes of the animal
- play with the aperture to ensure you have the correct depth of field ie. having the right amount of the animal in focus
- you’ll want fast shutter speeds (start with 1/500, generally)
- don’t forget to look around– it’s so exciting to photograph big animals but there may something smaller close striking a pose!
Here is a guide to help you spot wildlife in Manitoba– what you can see, where and what time of year. Some locations are vague because as mentioned before it’s best to take a drive or do some exploring. All the animals I have seen I have actually seen from my car. Sometimes on the main roads and sometimes just driving down the gravel onto side roads.
There are many areas to spot wildlife in Manitoba but I’ve included some spots that myself, my dad and other photographers have found successful.
What animals can you see?
The better question might be what wildlife in Manitoba you can’t see! The province is quite abundant in our furry friends. Some big, some small. It really depends on where you are as to what type of wildlife you will see. Animals like beavers and pelicans like creeks and rushing rivers. Moose like walking through swamps while eagles and owls make their nest above. Black bears can be seen wandering through the bush or even by the roadside. There are a few spots to see Buffalo which are living semi wild and is a very cool experience.
All of these animals are the most common to see but as always not guaranteed. There are also areas high in Caribou populations but not at all easily accessible to the public. Manitoba is also home to Lynx, bobcats and wolves which are quite rare to spot (for most) and require a lot of extra effort to increase your chances to see. There are a lot of common small animals as well that can be fun to watch like squirrels, chipmunks and ducks (non native).
What is the best time of day to see wildlife?
Generally they say the best time is dawn and dusk. This applies more strongly to animals like Moose who can be quite flighty and shy. I have had luck though seeing bears, beavers and bird life in the middle of the day. You will find it’s harder to spot anything during the day in the middle of a Manitoba summer as it is just too hot out for them.
What is the best time of year?
The time of year is dependent on the animal. For example you have a better chance of spotting grey owls in March but snowy owls in November/December. Bears tend come out more around April/May when they’re out of hibernation and buffalo you can see all year round. I’ll note what time of year is best for each animal below.
What can I see and where?
Black bears
If you read my article on spotting wildlife in the Rockies you’ll read the line ‘these guys seem to just pop out anywhere’. It holds true for Manitoba too! The times I’ve seen black bears, they’ve always been happily grazing on the side of the road and when I’ve least expected it.
It’s not totally surprising as they love grassy areas to graze on dandelions and grass shoots. They can be quite shy and spook easily so when you’re viewing them stay quiet, calm and non threatening. Also, don’t forget to look up! Often momma bear will send her cubs up a tree if she’s protecting them and sometimes during the day at nap time that’s where you’ll find them.
Photo tip: Photographing black bears can be be tricky as the dark hues of their coats absorb more light. It’s easy to underexpose the animal in the image and not be able to bring out the details that you want. Try adding light with the exposure compensation. It might make the background blah but that can be fixed post-production.
The best time of year would be around May when they’ve come out of hibernation and are hungry and then in September when they’re foraging to get ready for hibernation. Although chances of seeing bears are higher be aware that these are much more sensitive times for them. They are very food driven so practicing good bear smarts is essential.
Some spots to try:
- Riding Mountain National Park (along Highway 10 anywhere from the north side of Clear Lake up to Moon Lake)
- Lac du Bonnet (wooded areas)
- Whiteshell Provincial Park (wooded areas)
Polar bears
The Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg has a pretty epic polar bear enclosure called ‘Journey to Churchill’ but if you want to see them in their natural habitat in the wild, you have got to get up to Churchill! Wonderfully named the ‘polar bear capital of the world’.
Viewing polar bears is a bit different than what is is like viewing black bears or even grizzlies in the Rockies. It is pretty much essential to join a tour or hire an experienced guide which there are a lot to choose from! Getting to Churchill is also a mission in itself as you can’t just drive up there.
I have not had the privilege to see these beauties yet but I’ve asked Marielena from Epic 7 Travel to share her thoughts below on her time in Churchill.
Photographing polar bears in the wild always ranked high on my wildlife photography wish list. While researching various options, we discovered Churchill Wild’s polar bear walking safari thanks to Insatiable Traveler’s blog
Rather than looking down upon polar bears from a tundra buggy, Churchill Wild’s walking safaris allow you to be at eye level with these amazing animals. Although you have to brave the frigid temperatures while searching for them on foot, the payoff is absolutely worth it! You might also see arctic fox, arctic hare, snowy owls, wolves, moose and the Northern Lights.
For your safety and theirs, you will be farther away than you would be in a buggy, so a telephoto lens is key. A 200-500mm lens is best. If the polar bears explore just outside the lodge fences, you may only need a 70-200mm lens.
Churchill Wild offers their winter walking safaris in October and November each year at Seal River Lodge (a 25 minute flight from Churchill) and Nanuk Lodge (a 70 minute flight). You can also visit these lodges during the summer and see beluga whales at Seal River Lodge in addition to polar bears.
TIP: If you opt for the winter trips, definitely rent their gear, including waterproof pants, jackets and shoes rated to -50 C, key in bitter cold temperatures.
Interested in journeying to all seven continents with Marielena – check out her adventure travel blog or on Instagram.
Moose
I have yet to see a moose in Manitoba. Their numbers have been in decline since the 60’s dropping from 45,000 to now 20,000. They are out there it’s just a matter of finding them. Moose are more prominent in remote northern communities but can be seen in a few places a lot closer to home.
Photo tip: They tend to move silently through the bush making them easy to miss so make sure you have your camera ready as you never know when they’ll make an appearance. They can move quite quickly so like with all wildlife you’ll want to have a high shutter speed. Because you’re likely to find them in the bushes, the lighting may be compromised and you’ll have to bump up your ISO.
Best time of year: During the summer months you’re likely to find them having a dip in the water so if you’re visiting the regions below try spots around lakes and swamps. In the winter you may find they come out to lick the salt off the road.
Spots to try:
- Riding Mountain National Park
- Nopiming Provincial Park
- Hecla/Gindstone Provincial Park
Deer & Elk
Just like it would be surprising if you went to Alberta and not see Elk I would be surprised if you got out in the Manitoba wilderness and did not spot any deer! They are plentiful around the province. Very easily spooked but very easy to spot. There are also Elk around in the some of the parks. They love their boreal forest habitat.
Photo tip: Like moose you’ll likely find these guys in the bush. Again there may not be as much light coming into your camera so you may have to increase your ISO. You’ll want a fast shutter speed as they do move quickly.
Best time of year: All year round and at dawn and dusk when no one is around is prime time as that’s when they usually feel the most comfortable coming out.
Spots to try:
- Riding Mountain National Park (deer and elk- wooded areas, quiet grass clearings)
- Whiteshell Provincial Park (deer)
- All provincial parks and wooded areas (deer)
Buffalo/Bison
Now, Manitoba does not have a wild herd of Buffalo roaming around like the good old days but they do have a few herds in large enclosures which is the closest we’re going to get. They are indeed wild in nature though so always be careful and keep your distance. These are animals you don’t want to mess with!
Photo tip: Like when photographing black bears you made need to make use of your exposure compensation especially when getting a portrait shot of these guys so you are able to capture their detail.
Best time of year: You can see them in both the winter and summer months and going early in the morning or evening are the best times. There are 2 places I would recommend going to if you want to see these massive animals.
Spots to try:
- Riding Mountain National Park- Bison enclosure (Lake Audy)
- Fort Whyte Center (Winnipeg- Bison tour)
Beavers
If you’re able to find a beaver, take a good chunk of time to just watch them. They are really cool little creatures and very funny to watch! You’re of course most likely to find them near a water source as they work hard to build their homes and essentially piss people off. Beavers are nocturnal (not entirely) so seeing them during the day can get tricky.
Photo tip: again watch your camera settings so that image exposure is at its best. I found it difficult photographing them while in the water that’s already dark or in spots where the was a lot of sun glare off the water.
Best time of year: Beavers also live in their dens all winter so the best time of year to see them would be in the spring and summer time.
There are so many spots in Manitoba to try. It’s pretty safe to say they are living in most if not all provincial parks with a water source. Some spots that I have seen them:
- Whitemouth Falls
- La Bariere Park (Winnipeg)
Pelicans
Pelicans are some of my favourite bird wildlife in Manitoba. I’ve had the privilege of seeing them in a large flock hunting for fish. They are very fun to watch and have quite the attitudes towards each other when it comes to food. They do not like to share!
Photo tip: It can be tricky to photograph them especially when they’re right near the water and its a bright day. The water can come off as shiny. You can try using a single focus point so the auto focus doesn’t pick up the water.
Best time of year: During spring and summer months as they fly south for their winter vacations to California or the Gulf of Mexico.
There are quite a few spots to see these cool birds. The ones I’ve had the best luck are:
- Whitemouth Falls (picnic area near the dam)
- Lockport
- Fort Whyte Center (in Winnipeg)
- Hecla/ Grindstone Provincial park
Bald Eagles
Bald Eagles are really cool birds to see. They have massive wingspands and striking eyes. Their call is just as impressive as it echos into the distance. They are huge fisherman so they build their nests along large river valleys and lakes. Which if you haven’t seen an eagles nest, they’re typically 1.8 to 3 meters wide!
Photo tip: It’s best to have a long lens for these guys as you will generally find them up in the trees or soaring in the sky. If they’re moving you’ll want a fast shutter speed to freeze the motion. If you have enough light close your aperture a bit to get a better depth of field.
Best time of year: Bald eagles migrate south for fall and winter where they can find food so the best times would be spring and summer. They often fly back just as water is thawing so they can get their catch.
Some places to try especially along rivers and lakes are:
- Riding Mountain National Park
- Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park
- Pembina Valley Provincial Park
Snowy & Great grey owls
How cool are owls eh. Those eyes and feather colours. I personally think they are very impressive birds. If you want to know more about photographing owls, I will have to pass you on to my father. Another animal I have seen plenty of but have not yet photographed. Owls are really unique birds but can pose to be difficult to photograph. They generally like to fly at dawn or dusk.
Photo tip: The low light will mean using a wider aperture, and a higher ISO so you can keep a high shutter speed– you don’t want to miss the motion of these birds. Snowy owls tend to blend in with white snowy landscapes and end up under exposed so you’ll want to keep that in mind and may need to adjust the exposure compensation.
Best time of year: Grey owls are easier seen in March whereas Snowy owls are seen more in November/December. I’ve seen snowy owls mostly just sitting on country roads or fence posts outside of south Winnipeg.
You can also try these spots:
- Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park
- Riding Mountain National Park
Foxes
Red foxes can be quite tricky to see as they dip in and out of wooden areas hunting for their prey. They are nocturnal so you can see them out in the day but are much more active during dusk hours. For the most part, there isn’t just one spot where you can go and see them. Many people have luck spotting them just at random old homesteads or farmland with abandoned buildings. Spots near wooded areas are good as they prey on squirrels, chipmunks and other rodents you’d find near the trees.
Of course if you’re looking for arctic foxes you’ll need to make a trip up to Churchill. You can see red foxes up there as well. There are many wildlife safari-like tours up there for the best wildlife encounters.
Photo tip: Foxes have incredible senses so you’ll want to be very quiet and still when photographing these dudes. They’re very playful and expressive so you’ll want to try different focal lengths to frame the subject and different angles. If you see one lying down, lie down too. The effect will result in a much more emotionally connected photography.
Best time of year: Springtime (May to June). This is when families emerge from their dens with kits, parents going out to hunt and kits stay near the den grooming and playing. Like I said, there’s not just one spot to see them but getting out in prairie land, asking a friend to have a look on their farm and around buildings may help.
Birds
There of course are all sorts of birds to see as well. Blue jays, Canadian geese, the Rock wren, Boreal chickadee, ducks and lots more! Assiniboine park is a great spot to view different different birds and species.
Always respect the wildlife
It is always super exciting to see wildlife but remember to take a deep breath and calm down. The most important thing is the welfare of the animal. You don’t want to compromise that by scaring them, feeding them, getting too close or be a threat to them.
When viewing from the side of the road only stop if it is safe to do so. Stopping erratically or not being properly pulled over can cause trouble for passing and oncoming traffic. Also, make sure to keep your distance. You must be at least 30 m from large animals (like Moose, elk or deer) and 100 m from bears. Even if you are in your car. IF you happen to see a wolf den, coyotes or foxes you must stay 200 meters away.
Never approach wildlife, do not look for babies–if you find young leave the area immediately– they are hidden for a reason and never feed wildlife, (no not even the squirrels). This includes leaving garbage out, throwing it out the window, dumping a drink on the ground or enticing animals over. You can be fined by Parks Canada up to $25,000 for feeding or approaching wildlife.
Check out these ten tips to respecting wildlife. The more animals get closer to people, the more familiar and problematic they become. Too many animals are euthanized because of human interaction.
Have you seen wildlife in the Manitoba? Have you seen some of the rarer animals? Any spots to add?
If you love this post, make sure to check out the beautiful animals from the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg and what animals you can see in the Canadian Rockies!
Special thanks to Marielena from Epic 7 Travel for her beautiful photograph of a polar bear. Also to my dad, Dave Korstrom for helping out with images from our home in Manitoba.