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MapSpeciesParksDiving
  1. Home
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  3. Canada
  4. Elk Island
Elk Island, Canada

Elk Island

National Park
AlbertaDesignated in 1906194 km²
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Fenced all round since its founding; one of the oldest and most continuously maintained bison sanctuaries in the world

Area

194 km²

Protection category

IUCN II

Parque nacional —

Designated in

1906

Declared in 1906, Elk Island is one of the oldest and most continuously fenced bison sanctuaries in the world, and the only national park in Canada completely ringed by a perimeter fence since its founding, originally designed to protect the last surviving plains bison from the near-total extinction of the species in the late 19th century. It is also one of the few places in the world where both plains bison and wood bison, two genetically distinct subspecies, live side by side in separate herds.

Location

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Elk Island: 45 documented species

Mammals12Birds27Reptiles2Amphibians

Flora and ecosystems

Ecosystems found in Canada, where Elk Island lies.

Tropical rainforestTemperate forestTundra / polar

Experiences in this park

Birdwatching

Wildlife you can see now

What is worth looking out for this month in Canada?

Now is a good time: Polar bear gathering at Churchill (October to November)

Similar parks

Which other parks are like this one?

Same country: Canada

Same country: Canada

Same country: Canada

Same country: Canada

Keep exploring

Based on what we already know about this park.

Share your experience visiting Elk Island, or a tip for other travellers.

Region

Alberta

Climate

Temperate, Polar / cold

Best season

June to September

Plan your visit

Best season
June to September
Area
194 km²
See location
4

Threatened:,

Canada · Alberta
what the IUCN categories mean
See on the interactive map→
Polar BearVulnerable

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus

National Park

Aulavik

Canada

Muskox · Peary caribou

June to September

See park
National Park

Forillon

Canada

Grey seal · humpback whale

June to September

See park
National Park

Glacier (British Columbia)

Canada

Grizzly bear · mountain goat

June to September

See park
National Park

Prince Edward Island

Canada

Piping plover · red fox

June to September

See park
CountryCanada

AI-generated image: an illustration, not a photograph.

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More places in Canada
Horned Grebe
Little Brown Bat
MooseLeast Concern

Moose

Alces alces

Turkey VultureLeast Concern

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

Canada GooseLeast Concern

Canada Goose

Branta canadensis

Red-tailed HawkLeast Concern

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Great Grey OwlLeast Concern

Great Grey Owl

Strix nebulosa

Northern FlickerLeast Concern

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

American BeaverNot Evaluated

American Beaver

Castor canadensis

American KestrelLeast Concern

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Mule DeerLeast Concern

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

Trumpeter SwanLeast Concern

Trumpeter Swan

Cygnus buccinator

CoyoteLeast Concern

Coyote

Canis latrans

Sandhill CraneLeast Concern

Sandhill Crane

Antigone canadensis

See all 45 species found here