Belle and Bruno were born at the Big Valley Bison Ranch in 2023. They are likely a cross between a plains and wood bison. It is our hope that seeing Belle and Bruno will encourage guests to learn about the natural history of bison in North America.
There are two subspecies of bison in North America: plains and wood bison. Plains bison predominantly lived on the Great Plains of North America, while wood bison lived in northern boreal forest areas.
Bison are completely herbivorous grazing animals, primarily consuming grass and sedges.
A herd of bison will all calve at the same time (April to August) to flood the landscape with their young. This phenomenon, known as “predator swamping”, attracts predators but overwhelms them as well.
Plains bison once ranged from the Gulf of Mexico to the Appalachians, and north into the Great Plains. Wood bison could be found across forests of Alaska, the Yukon, and British Columbia. Today, only small populations remain.
Cloud was born at the Calgary Zoo in May 2014 and transferred to the BC Wildlife Park in November 2014.
Found only on the steep slopes of North America's Rocky Mountain Range, where boreal forests meets the rocky inclines.
Mountain goats have a gestation period of 147-178 days and young are born in either late May or early June.
Completely herbivorous, mule deer will eat grasses, herbs, dry leaves, lichen, and buds, as well as twigs during the winter.
Robson was born at the BC Wildlife Park Park in May 2015. Interested in learning more about the big horn sheep?
Watch their animal story here!
Rocky mountain big horn sheep refer rocky alpine slopes and open fields.
Rocky mountain big horn sheep are herbivorous eating grass, sage, and sedges, as well as commonly searching out mineral licks such as salt deposits.
Mating season beings in fall as many different herds of Bighorn Sheep gather together. Males will begin fighting to show dominance and mate. Lambs are born in the Spring on secluded mountain ledges and are nursed for 4-6 months.
Found along the rocky mountains in Alberta and B.C., through western United States, into northern Mexico and Baja California.
The Park is home to one rescued male white-tailed deer named Pancakes. Pancakes was born in 2009 and came to the Park in December 2010.
Any forested, bushy area can be inhabited by deer, leading to their wide distribution.
Like mule deer or elk, males will fight for access to females during the mating season, using their antlers. Females give birth in May and June birthing 1 to 2 fawn which can stand within minutes, but are very feeble.
Takhi and Napoleon became residents of the BCWP in November of 2020. Takhi, the female, was born in Quebec in 2007, while Napoleon, the male, was born in Ontario in 2008. Interested in learning more about the Przewalski's horses?
These horses are native to the rocky and dry steep habitats of east Asia.
Przewalski's horses are herbivorous, eating grass, leaves, and shrubs.
Females or "mares," and their young will live in groups led by one dominant male stallion, while other bachelor stallions will live in groups called bachelor herds. Mares will give birth to 1-2 foals every 2 years.
Originally found across large areas of east Asia, from China & Mongolia to Kazakstan, Iran, & Pakistan. Today these horses have been reintroduced along the Mongolia-China border.
Kirk was born in July, 2023, in a maternity pen in Nakusp, BC, which protects the endangered Central Selkirk caribou herd. At only a few days old, Kirk was found hypothermic, malnourished, and rejected by his herd. He was raised at the Fawcett Family Wildlife Health Centre and ultimately became a permanent resident at the BC Wildlife Park. Yukon was born in June, 2024, at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve in Whitehorse, YT. Tragically, his mother passed away when he was just two days old, and he had to be hand-raised by the Wildlife Preserve’s staff. Yukon was ultimately transferred to live at the BC Wildlife Park.
Woodland caribou inhabit mature coniferous forests, peatlands, tundra, taiga, riparian zones, and shorelines. Some populations migrate seasonally between habitats.
As herbivores, woodland caribou feed on grasses, sedges, forbs, leaves, buds, bark, and fungi. In winter, they depend heavily on terrestrial and arboreal lichens.
Male caribou gain access to females through aggressive conflicts with other males. Mating occurs in late September and October, then females give birth to a single offspring in May or June.
The woodland caribou subspecies is found from British Columbia to Newfoundland, as well as the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
Sunshine, Snippy, Petal, Spring, Summer, and Autumn were all born at the BC Wildlife Park in our resident elk herd.
Elk habitats consist primarily of mountains, forests, grasslands, and valleys.
Elk are herbivores, eating a variety of greenery such as aspen, willow, hemlock, elderberry, sumac, alfalfa, and other sedges and forbs.
Breeding or rutting season for elk occurs in September and October. Male elk, called bulls, use their large antlers to assert dominance over other males and to attract females, or cows. Cows typically birth 1 or 2 calves in May or June.
Found in and around the Rocky Mountains of Canada and the United States, as well as eastern Asia.