Whether you’re out for a morning dog walk, a quick trail run, or catching the last light in one of Calgary’s parks, there’s a good chance you’re not the only one enjoying the outdoors. Our city’s greenspaces aren’t just a haven for locals looking to unwind — they’re essential habitats for wildlife that have adapted to urban life.
So who else are you sharing your neighbourhood with? Over the years, we’ve seen dozens of wild animal species in our parks, crossing highways and even walking down residential streets. With a little awareness (and maybe a pair of binoculars), you might just find yourself locking eyes with a jackrabbit or watching a beaver slip into the water.
Here’s a quick guide to some of the wildlife you’re most likely to spot in Calgary’s wilder corners.
Porcupines
Spiky, slow, and surprisingly good climbers, porcupines are nocturnal nibblers you might spot in the trees at Nose Hill Park. As North America’s second-largest rodent (beavers take the crown), porcupines feed on leafy greens and berries in the warmer months, while switching to bark and needles when snow takes over.
Their name comes from the Latin word for “spiny pig,” and it fits — they’re covered in up to 30,000 hollow quills that double as both insulation and defence. You’ll get plenty of warning before a porcupine gets prickly: teeth chattering and a pungent odour are your signs to back off and give them space.
Hares & Rabbits
If you’ve ever seen a long-eared, long-legged “bunny” sprint across a soccer field or munch on your neighbour’s tulips, you’ve likely met a white-tailed jackrabbit. These animals are technically hares (not rabbits), and they’re built for speed. Their oversized ears aren’t just cute — they help regulate heat, acting like radiators on warm days. Come winter, their fur shifts to white, providing perfect camouflage for the season.
Other members of this family you might spot include the snowshoe hare, which also changes its coat with the seasons, and the mountain cottontail, a smaller rabbit that prefers hiding in shrubs for cover.
And yes — it’s true. Hares and rabbits eat their own poop. It’s called coprophagy, and while not the most elegant habit, it helps them extract all the nutrients possible from their leafy diet. Think of it like a second pass at a salad bar.
Deer
Both white-tailed and mule deer live right here in Calgary. And telling them apart is easier than you think: white-tails raise their bright tails like flags when spooked, while mule deer have huge, “mule-like” ears and a white rump patch. Their antlers also grow differently — mule deer’s fork as they branch, while white-tails’ sprout off a central beam.
If you ever come across a fawn curled up alone in tall grass, resist the urge to intervene. Chances are, its mother is close by, keeping her scent away to avoid attracting predators.
Fun fact: We’ve seen deer in over a dozen Calgary parks! They’re so common that we’ve spotted them on many of our Outdoor Insider adventures. If you want detailed local itineraries in and around Calgary sent to you every single week (no research or planning required)…
Sign up for the Outdoor Insider here.
Beavers & Muskrats
Beavers, once widely hunted for their pelts, now act as ecological engineers. Their dams slow water, prevent erosion, and create habitats for countless other wildlife. In Calgary, you can spot their handiwork along creeks and rivers — especially the Bow River, in Fish Creek Park & Weaselhead Flats. We’ve personally spotted them in Bowness Park and Chinook Rotary Nature Park too!
Look for chewed-up trees or dome-like lodges. Along larger rivers, beavers might skip the dam-building altogether and burrow into banks for a cozy, underwater-accessible den. They’re most active at dawn and dusk, so early or late outings will be your best chance of seeing one!
Now muskrats, often mistaken for beavers, are smaller with thin, hairless tails that trail behind them as they swim. They like calmer waters, like ponds and wetlands, and occasionally take up residence in a beaver lodge for the winter. Talk about roommates with benefits.
Squirrels
While the red squirrel is Alberta’s only native tree squirrel, you’ll often see black or grey squirrels in Calgary. Which were introduced from eastern Canada. Red squirrels are smaller, feistier, and very territorial. You’ll often hear their distinctive, angry chatter before you spot them.
These fiery little creatures don’t hibernate. Instead, they spend summer and fall gathering conifer cones and seeds to stash in massive underground middens (layers of discarded cones that can measure many meters across!). They often dry mushrooms on tree branches like tiny forest chefs prepping their pantry for winter.
Ground Squirrels
You might know them as gophers, but those whistling critters in Calgary parks are Richardson’s ground squirrels. They spend a lot of the year underground in hibernation, but are an important food source for raptors, foxes, and coyotes during the warmer months.
Then there’s the elusive pocket gopher, a true underground dweller you’ll probably never see — but you might notice its work. Fresh mounds of dirt with no visible hole? That’s a pocket gopher at work, tunnelling beneath the surface.
Skunks
More elusive than some of our other city wildlife, the striped skunk is a nocturnal carnivore that you may catch a brief glimpse of as it runs under a deck or into the cover of the trees. Although they’re known for their signature smelly spray (and the foreboding tomato juice bath you’ll need to take after an encounter), skunks avoid people whenever possible and will only spray you or your pet as a last resort. Evening walks in parks like Elgin Hill or New Brighton Central Park offer your best chance of spotting one.
Bobcats
A little wilder and a lot more secretive, bobcats are elusive but increasingly spotted right here in the city. Larger than a housecat and adorned with stubby tails and tufted ears, bobcats are part of the lynx family. They typically hunt at night and prefer wooded or brushy areas, but sightings in yards, alleys and parks are not uncommon. If you’re lucky enough to see one, count yourself among the few.
Coyotes
With their long legs, yellow eyes, and pointed ears, coyotes are highly adaptable and increasingly common in Calgary. From Weaselhead Flats to Fish Creek Park, these clever canines thrive in green spaces and even some suburban backyards. Though they look like scruffy dogs, they’re true wild animals — cunning, cautious, and curious.
Coyotes eat everything from jackrabbits to berries to roadkill. They’re true generalists, which is why they do so well in the urban and natural landscapes we call home. We’ve spotted these in Nose Hill, along Deerfoot Trail and even in our neighbourhood communities.
Moose
The biggest land animal in North America sometimes wanders into the outer edges of Calgary. Think Wood’s Douglas Fir Tree Sanctuary, 12 Mile Coulee or Griffith Woods. Towering and solitary, moose are often mistaken for elk by newcomers, thanks to a naming mix-up: in Europe, “elk” means moose, and the name got reassigned when settlers arrived.
Males sport massive antlers, but don’t let their size fool you — moose are strong swimmers, aided by their hollow, buoyant fur. Rare and majestic, they’re a lucky sighting when you’re exploring Calgary’s wilder greenspaces.
Curious what birds you might spot here in Calgary too? Here are 12 common species to look out for on your next adventure. So much wildlife to see in our city!
Responsible Wildlife Viewing Tips
As Calgarians, we’re lucky to share space with such a wide range of animals. But living alongside wildlife comes with responsibility. That’s why there are bylaws to keep your pets on-leash in natural areas, secure your garbage and compost, and to never feed wild animals.
In addition to human food not being good for wildlife, it can also cause them to lose their fear of people, which for many animals is a death sentence — when they become aggressive and see humans as a food source. Remember, these wild animals are just trying to survive, and every time they’re disturbed, it means they are using energy for something other than finding food (which is critical in Calgary’s short growing season). While we encourage you to observe Calgary’s amazing animal species, be sure to do so quietly and from a distance so they don’t feel threatened.
A good tool is the “Rule of Thumb:” if you hold your arm out straight with your thumb up and close one eye, your thumb should cover the entire animal. If some is still visible, you’re too close!
Learn More About Your Local Wild Neighbours
As Calgarians, we’re lucky to share space with such a wide range of animals. But living alongside wildlife comes with responsibility. That’s why there are bylaws to keep your pets on-leash in natural areas, secure your garbage and compost, and to never feed wild animals.
If you’re curious to learn more, Calgary has many guided walks and interpretive programs where you can deepen your understanding of the wild lives around us:
- Check out Alberta Wilderness Association events.
- Inglewood Bird Sanctuary hosts programs throughout the year.
- Friends Of Fish Creek offers on-site tours and programs.
Next time you’re out walking or exploring in Calgary, slow down and look a little closer. You might be surprised by who’s hiding behind the next bush, tree or bench.
This blog was written in partnership with the Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA). Expanding Alberta’s network of protected areas is something the AWA has been working on since 1965, so Calgarians like you can continue to enjoy wild spaces for generations to come.
