Wildlife., Jasper National Park

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Would you feel threatened if strange creatures crowded towards you snapping photos, coming into your territory, not reading your body language or talking your language to know you aren't comfortable with it? If a stranger approached your baby and you didn't know what their intentions were? Well, perhaps that's how wildlife feel... and why they react how they react. When you see wildlife, our normal reaction is excitement and the thrill of seeing a wild creature, and that's when we often forget all common sense, and do crazy things - jump out of our cars, approach them, feed them food that isn't good for them (or us), and endanger them and ourselves. Some of the most picturesque times of the year are also dangerous times of the year where wildlife is concerned - when there are newborn animals, and when they are in mating mode. (Ladies you know how crazy hormonal males get ... well think of them with sharp claws, teeth, and/or antlers!!! BEWARE!)
30 metres are suggested for being near wildlife - make sure you can safely get away from them. Best yet - stay in your car (which has 4-way flashers going, and is off the road) and take the photo.

Driving around Jasper National Park and along the Icefields Parkway, there are lots of animals you can see from the roadway. This can become one of the most exciting activities for the area. Among the animals you maybe lucky to see are deer, moose, big horn sheep, bears, and even wolves. Sometimes you can tell there is some animal activity because a number of cars have stopped on the roadside. The best times you will more than likely see amimals is going out before sunrise or after sunset. This is when most of them go out to feed. You can see the shaggy Big Horn sheep during the day usually on the side of a mountain

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Lots of deer/elk/caribou in the Jasper region....at one point a whole gang of them (roughly 7) ran on to the road and started scavenging off resident's bushes.

All the guide books say to just continue driving and don't stop.....of course no one did this so I joined the throng of German tourists in getting up close and taking photos....at one point I was charged by one.....be careful!

An amazing variety of wildlife, including large populations of grizzly and black bears, mountain caribou, elk, moose and wolves call Jasper National Park home.
The best times of year to visit Jasper, if you are looking for this wildlife are from March to June or in the fall from September to November.
Anne and I travelled in the Fall.

This bull moose was standing just off to the side of the road that leads out to Maligne Lake. It seemed more interested in eating whatever was in this swampy water but I still took the photo from inside the car.

Jasper National Park is known for its abundance of wildlife. You will undoubtably encounter some animals along your way, either from the safety of your car or while out hiking. As long as you keep your distance and don't startle an animal, you should be fine. While hiking, it is recommended that you make alot of noise, by talking, singing or just stomping along loudly so that the animals will hear you coming and clear out before you get there.

At Jasper it is common to see Black bear and Grizzly bear, moose, elk, deer, mountain goats, Bighorn sheep and coyote. Drive slowly, keep your eyes peeled and your zoom lens handy.

Keep your eyes peeled. As you drive along you may be llucky to spot Elk along the side of the road - a good reason to drive carefully in case they decide to cross the road. Treat wildlife with repect, you are in their habitat!

I do know about not feeding the wildlife , but well we had some slices of bread left and this big black raven really put on a big show for us ,so we gave him/her the reward for entertaining us .I looked like these birds sit and wait somewhere till cars stop at the viewpoint and then they fly over and come and check things out. This raven sure was used to people. I have put more pictures of this Raven visit in my travelogue.

This Elk looked like the daddy Elk ,big antlers and big appetite.
I was sure nice to see all these Elk having their breakfast ,but I wonder what the Hotel owners think of that.
So it was a pleasant surprise to see these Elk , but remember it was 5.30 in the morning , i doubt they will be there at 8 am.

Walking on the road I started looking for more Elk , it looked like the young ones come first and after the more mature Elk made their way over the road ,and they were more cautious then the younger Elk.This picture is of two beautiful more mature Elk.