Banff Wildlife Tours: Best Practices
When the hustle and bustle of city life get you down, sometimes the only remedy is escaping to the mountains for fresh, unpolluted air. In the modern world, we are so glued to our screens that it’s easy to forget how beautiful the world around us truly is. Visiting Banff National Park is the perfect reset for any burnt-out city dweller.
Banff’s wildlife and sightseeing tours are guaranteed to take you on the adventure of a lifetime, allowing you to witness the majesty of wildlife thriving in their natural habitat. Our brilliant tour guides teach the groups about the challenges surrounding the protection of wild animals and their habitats in Banff National Park.
Wildlife Vacation Packages
Banff Adventures’ carefully curated vacation packages include Wildlife Tours, perfect for animal lovers of any age.
For an up close and personal visit, check out the Yamuska Wolfdog Sanctuary or to visit Boo the Grizzly at Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge
Leave no trace
You wouldn’t go to a stranger’s house, throw garbage on the ground and leave! That’s impolite! Banff National Park is home to many diverse varieties of wildlife and habitats, so visitors must practice leaving no trace. Visitors are expected to leave as minimal an environmental impact as possible, which includes picking up after themselves, locking away any food while camping, and sticking to the park-designated trails and roadways when hiking and driving.
Photograph responsibily
Driving through the park on the way to town, you will likely see a variety of wild animals ducking in and out of the brush, or high up on a hilltop. It’s an exhilarating experience seeing wild animals in their natural habitat, and it can be a noteworthy experience for many! There are designated pull-off areas, and we encourage you to utilize those to photograph wildlife. Do not exit your vehicle or stop your car in the middle of the road.
While it may be thrilling to witness a black bear and her cubs in person, they are wild animals who will react accordingly. Ensuring the safety of the wildlife, environment, and our visitors is paramount for Banff National Park.
Domestic Pets
Dogs are allowed in Banff National Park but must be leashed at all times. For the safety of your pet and the wild animals roaming the park, park rules ask you to keep your dog on a leash or have them stay at home. Domestic animals are not invited to tag along during any wildlife tours, so they do not aggravate the animals in captivity.
A hiking trail may seem safe enough to let your dog off-leash; do not do this. Prey animals like deer and mountain goats will turn tail when they hear human activity in the brush. Apex predators, like mountain lions and grizzly bears, will be braver with their curiosity and might want to meet your dog. Bear spray is an essential safety item to keep in your hiking pack.
Bottom line
National Parks operate with strict rules designed to protect the environment and the wildlife that call the Rockies home. Participating in a locally created and guided wildlife tour ensures a magical experience of witnessing wildlife in controlled scenarios.
In Banff National Park, we show our dedication and respect for wildlife and their habitats by admiring from afar and keeping our shared spaces clean.
Contact our team if you have any questions or concerns about your upcoming visit, or are interested in booking a wildlife tour! Our dedicated sales team would love to help plan your itinerary.
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