Elk Island National Park

10/17/2026

Think you’re not feeding wildlife? Your leftovers might say otherwise.

Feeding wildlife isn’t always intentional. Leaving food behind or littering can lead to inadvertent feeding.

‼️ DO NOT FEED WILDLIFE ‼️

Feeding wildlife:
❌ Is illegal in national parks.
❌ Can change an animal’s natural behaviour.
❌ Can put wildlife and people at risk.

Help keep wildlife wild:
✔️ Dispose of food and garbage properly. Never leave food scraps or garbage behind. Even a small amount of food can attract wildlife.
✔️ Secure your attractants. Food, garbage and scented items should be stored properly when not in use.
✔️ Give wildlife space. Stay at least 100 metres away from wildlife. Never approach or disturb them.

Enjoy wildlife from a safe distance and let them find their own food.

Learn more about wildlife safety ➡️https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/elkisland/securite-safety/faune-wildlife

10/15/2026

As beautiful as the fall colours are, without a permit, your drone is not welcome here. Drone, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), use is restricted in all national parks to protect wildlife and other visitors. 🍂🛰️

🎈Drones and UAV’s are examples of powered aircrafts designed to fly without a human operator. Other devices that fall into this category are balloon drones, quad-copters or rotocraft and similar devices.

Please leave your drone at home, and enjoy the park from the ground. For more information, check out 🍁▶️

Parks Canada strictly limits the use of drones.

10/15/2026

The prescribed fire season is complete for the season in . Fresh green grass will grow in quickly and renew the Hayburger area. Learn more about habitat rejuvenation in Elk Island National Park: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/elkisland/nature/feu-fire

🌎🌾International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists
As we recognize the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, today’s prescribed fire activities highlight the role fire plays in grassland renewal and resilience. In , prescribed fire supports healthy grasslands for plants, wildlife, and the bison that call this landscape home.
Learn more about https://www.fao.org/rangelands-pastoralists-2026/about/en

10/12/2026

This Thanksgiving, we're taking a moment to recognize the people behind . 🍂♥️

After a summer of storms, flooding, and long days, our staff continued to show up. Whether working on the front lines or behind the scenes, every team has helped make this season possible. ⛈️🌊

We want to give a special thank you to everyone who stepped up to support Elk Island National Park this year. After the destructive weather we experienced, colleagues from neighbouring national parks, along with others who pitched in, generously gave their time and expertise to help us through a challenging season. Your support meant so much to our team, and we couldn't have done it without you. ♥️🤝♥️

To our students, seasonal employees, and year-round staff: thank you. We're grateful to have you on our team. ♥️👷🧑‍🔧🧑‍💻🧑‍🎓♥️

10/10/2026

Today, we celebrate Migratory Bird Day! This year’s theme, “Every bird counts, your observations matter”, recognizes the work that citizen science has contributed in developing conservation efforts and policy. The work that comes from recording wildlife observations, sharing them with the community, and taking part in land stewardship projects helps protect the native birds! 🕵️🐦‍⬛

Here at , we are privileged to house multiple bird species that use this space as migration routes and nesting sites. As you visit the park and its surrounding areas, we encourage you to take the time to observe and appreciate the roles that waterfowl, birds of prey, songbirds, and shorebirds play in helping our ecosystems flourish! 🦆🐦🪶

Want to take part in citizen science? We encourage you to go on a nature walk and upload your wildlife observations on iNaturalist. Used by scientists, nature enthusiasts, and curious minds, this app is a great place to learn about the wildlife species in your area. 📱🌲🪿 https://ow.ly/1PNC50ZUYwB

For more information on bird watching in Elk Island, visit https://ow.ly/oKBS50ZUYwC

10/08/2026

Welcome to the season of never knowing if you need a jacket or not. As we approach the long weekend, the days get shorter and colder and the only thing on everyone's mind is pumpkin spice. Even if you’re not sure about your jacket, here are some reminders before heading out to the park for the weekend:

🍂Look at the weather periodically - it can change fast.
👚Wear or bring many layers. Even if you don't want to wear that jacket in the beginning, you might still need it later in your trip.
🚙Be aware of road conditions and come with a full tank of gas.
🫂Share your trip plan with a trusted person.
🗺️Do not rely entirely on your cell phone, service is spotty. Have a physical map or download one.
🥾If you are planning to hike, head out early, bring the essentials and check sunset time.

Stay warm, and have a nice weekend!

10/05/2026

🌊🧊 The water is getting colder.

As temperatures drop this fall, remember that the lakes in are cold and hypothermia can set in quickly.

Know the signs:
🥶 Shivering
😵‍💫 Confusion
🥴 Slurred speech
🥱 Drowsiness
🪫 Low energy

If you notice these symptoms in yourself or someone else:
✔️ Go indoors.
✔️ Put on something warm and dry.
✔️ Drink something sugary (not alcohol or coffee).

You can help prevent hypothermia by wearing layers and waterproof clothing.

Beaches and open water are not patrolled. Wear a certified life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD), check the weather, share your trip plan with someone, and be prepared to self-rescue.

For more information on staying safe in and around the water:
https://ow.ly/GgkO50ZSJRY

10/03/2026

It’s October 3rd! 👚
Today, we’re taking inspiration from a certain iconic movie to deliver some friendly reminders and helpful trip planning tips 😉

📝Make a trip plan and share it with family or friends.
⛅Check the weather before departing
🐶Keep your pet on a leash and under physical control at all times
🦌Give wildlife at least 100m of space (and even more with the elk rut going on)
🧤Pack extra layers.
🎒Pack essential items and know how to use your equipment.

When it comes to enjoying safely, the limit does not exist!

For more trip planning tips and resources: https://www.adventuresmart.ca/
For things to do and how to stay safe in the park, please visit our website: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/elkisland

10/01/2026

✅ Prescribed fire is underway at Elk Island National Park. Parks Canada has begun a prescribed fire in the Hayburger area of Elk Island National Park. 🔗https://ow.ly/xHlH50YNJ96

Prescribed fires are carefully planned and only done when specific pre-determined conditions are met.

🔥 👀What to expect: Smoke may be visible from a distance, including from Highway 16 and the Elk Island Parkway. Follow all marked speed limits and, for safety reasons, do not stop to observe the fire.

🌿Why prescribed fire matters: Prescribed fires help recycle nutrients and improve habitats for many plants and animals.

ℹ️ remains open to visitors during the prescribed fire. Please see the Important Bulletin webpage for updates and area closures. https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/elkisland/securite-safety/bulletins

09/30/2026

Today, we honour residential school Survivors, the children who never returned home, and the families, friends, communities and Nations who continue to be affected by the harms caused by Canada’s residential school system.

🧡 Wear orange to honour residential school Survivors, their communities and the children who never made it home.

📖 Learn about the history of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:
https://ow.ly/cEgU50ZSlpl

📚 Learn about the history of residential schools in Canada:
https://ow.ly/qFNp50ZSlpn

🤝 Take part in community-led events and opportunities to learn, listen and reflect.

🔗 https://ow.ly/3UJt50ZSlpp

🔗 https://ow.ly/UOmr50ZSlpo

🔗 https://ow.ly/TFRh50ZSlpm

🔗 https://ow.ly/vHe350ZSlpk

Reconciliation is an ongoing journey.
Every action matters. 🧡