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Kathleen Lake in Kluane National Park, Yukon
Photo: Wikibunt, CC BY-SA 3.0

Region · Canada

Yukon Wildlife Checklist

The Yukon, in Canada's far north-west, is known for grizzly bears and white Dall sheep in Kluane, caribou on the Dempster Highway and moose in almost every wetland. This checklist covers 75 animals, from muskox and wolverine to gyrfalcons and Arctic grayling. June to September is best for wildlife, and late August to April for the northern lights.

The territory covers about 482,000 km², roughly twice the size of the UK, with fewer than 50,000 people. Most wildlife is seen from the road, so a car and patience are the key tools.

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The Yukon checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked
Animals to find
75
Where
Canada
Best time
Jun to Sep
Territory size
482,000 km²

The Yukon's big animals

  • Moose, one of the animals to look for in Yukon

    Moose

    Found across the territory. Scan ponds and willow flats at dawn along the Alaska and Klondike highways.

    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Caribou, one of the animals to look for in Yukon

    Caribou

    The Porcupine herd crosses the Dempster Highway in autumn on its way to winter range, and smaller woodland herds live in the mountains of the south.

    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Grizzly Bear, one of the animals to look for in Yukon

    Grizzly Bear

    Kluane and Tombstone have good numbers. Look on open slopes in early summer and in soapberry patches along the roads in August.

    Photo: Rick McCharles from Calgary, Canada, CC BY 2.0

  • Dall Sheep

    The white sheep of the north. Sheep Mountain (Thechàl Dhâl) above Kluane Lake is the classic viewpoint, best in late spring and autumn.

  • Mountain Goat

    Found in the southern mountains. Look high on cliffs in Kluane and along the road to the White Pass.

  • Grey Wolf

    Widespread but wary. Early morning drives on quiet highways such as the Dempster give the best chance.

  • Bison

    Wood bison were reintroduced in the late 1980s, and the Aishihik herd is sometimes seen near the Alaska Highway west of Whitehorse.

  • Muskox

    Wild muskox live only on the North Slope near the Arctic coast. Most visitors see them at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve near Whitehorse, which isn't a wild sighting.

  • Canada Lynx

    Numbers rise and fall with snowshoe hares on a roughly ten-year cycle. In a peak year, lynx are seen on roadsides even by day.

All 75 animals to spot in Yukon

Grouped the way you'll meet them. Tips show where to look.

Big mammals 10

Hunters 10

Small mammals 9

Birds of prey 12

Water birds 12

Land birds 13

Amphibians 3

Fish 6

  • Last reviewed September 2026.
  • Sources are listed below the questions.
  • Wild animals only. Please give them space.

Best time to see wildlife in Yukon

Wildlife viewing peaks from June to September, when the roads are open, the days are long and animals are active. Early summer is best for bears grazing fresh greens, moose with calves and nesting waterbirds. July is warm, with near-constant daylight and plenty of mosquitoes. In August bears feed on soapberries and blueberries along the roadsides. In September the tundra turns red and gold, the moose rut starts, and the Porcupine caribou herd may cross the Dempster Highway. From late August to April, clear dark nights bring the northern lights. Winter is long and very cold, but it's a good time for tracks, ravens and owls around Whitehorse.

  • May-JunBears on green slopes, moose calves
  • JulLong daylight, nesting birds
  • AugBerries and roadside bears
  • SepAutumn colour, rut, caribou
  • Oct-AprNorthern lights, tracks in snow

Tips for spotting wildlife in Yukon

  1. Stop at Sheep Mountain

    The Parks Canada visitor centre at Thechàl Dhâl (Sheep Mountain) on the Alaska Highway overlooks slopes where Dall sheep graze. Bring binoculars or use the scopes there, and come in late spring or autumn.

  2. Drive the Dempster

    The Dempster Highway runs 736 km from near Dawson City to Inuvik through Tombstone Territorial Park. Carry two spare tyres and fill up with fuel at Eagle Plains.

  3. Visit Tombstone in late August

    Tombstone's interpretive centre at km 71 of the Dempster is the base for red autumn tundra, collared pikas and arctic ground squirrels, with a chance of grizzlies on the slopes.

  4. Use the long evenings

    Moose, bears and wolves use the road edges early and late. In June and July the light lasts nearly all night, so late-evening drives work as well as dawn.

  5. Be bear aware

    Carry bear spray and know how to use it, make noise on trails, and keep food locked in your vehicle. Never stop to feed or approach roadside bears.

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Keep your Yukon road-trip list in one place, from Kluane sheep to Dempster caribou. Wilder is free to start and works where there's no signal, which is most of the Yukon.

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  • A summary of the tripEverything you saw, day by day.
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The Yukon checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked

Yukon wildlife FAQ

What animals can you see in the Yukon?

The Yukon has moose, caribou, grizzly and black bears, Dall sheep, mountain goats, wolves, lynx and wood bison, plus smaller animals such as arctic ground squirrels, hoary marmots and pikas. Birds include golden eagles, gyrfalcons, trumpeter swans and three kinds of ptarmigan. Muskox and polar bears live only in the far north.

Where can you see Dall sheep in the Yukon?

Sheep Mountain (Thechàl Dhâl) in Kluane National Park, on the shore of Kluane Lake, is the best place to see Dall sheep in the Yukon. Look for white dots on the slopes above the Alaska Highway, best in late spring and autumn. They also live in other mountain ranges across the territory, but are harder to find from the road.

Can you see caribou on the Dempster Highway?

Yes, often. The Porcupine caribou herd, a large migratory herd shared with Alaska, crosses the Dempster Highway in autumn, usually between late August and October, though timing and numbers change every year. The smaller Hart River herd lives around Tombstone. Check the Yukon government's caribou updates before you go and give crossing animals room.

When is the best time for wildlife in the Yukon?

June to September is the best time for wildlife in the Yukon. June and July have long days, young animals and active bears; August brings berries and bears on the roadsides; September brings the rut, autumn colour and caribou on the move. For the northern lights, go between late August and April.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026

Photo credits

All photo credits. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, resized.

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