Even though the temperatures are dropping, Assiniboine Park is a beautiful place to go on a nature walk, stroll or ride every day of the year. With so much to see, hear, and smell, there are so many delights awaiting you! Discover below just a few of the things you might see on your next adventure through the Park in this cooler season:
Mating Season for Deer
The whitetail deer are in their physical prime and are challenging one another for breeding territory. As you stroll along our beautiful paths in the morning, you might be interrupted by a strong, echoing snort as a buck shows off how strong his lungs are, to everyone and no one in particular. They’ll stamp their feet and a shake of their antlers, and eventually run off to follow a doe’s scent on the wind and the ground.
Resting Racoons
The racoons of the Park spend their evenings looking for food in the Park and along the river. Come the morning light, it curls up in a hollow tree made by the woodpeckers.
Darting Around for Squirrels
Our red and grey squirrels are rapidly scurrying about this time of year! Looking to create stores of food to eat over the winter, they run around to ensure that they have enough food, and no one will come to eat it – such as the deer. If they do, they’ll chitter at the deer until it walks away.
Searching for Dogwood
Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) will be abundant throughout the Park in this chilly, late autumn season. Its red bark shines against the darkness of the forest and the brightness of the snow. While the berries on this plant are not edible for humans, they're excellent for birds and other animals that live and roam around our Park all year round.
There is so much beauty to discover in the plants and animals that call Assiniboine Park their home. Take a deep breath, take that first step into one of our beautiful walkways, and enjoy all that nature provides.