Wild Animals of Manitoba

Manitoba is home to many wildlife species that make our ecosystems unique and support long-lasting traditional uses. The Wildlife Act provides for the designation of some wild animal species under Schedule A and the Designation of Wild Animals Regulation. These designations occur among the following divisions:

Big Game
  • Moose (Alces alces)
  • Elk (Cervus elaphus)
  • Barren-ground Caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus)
  • Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou)
  • White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
  • Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
  • Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
  • Gray (Timber) Wolf (Canis lupus)
Fur Bearing Animals
  • Beaver (Castor canadensis)
  • Short-tailed Weasel (Mustela erminea)
  • Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata)
  • Coyote (Canis latrans)
  • Fisher (Martes pennanti)
  • Arctic Fox (Canis lagopus)
  • Red Fox (Canis vulpes)
  • River Otter (Lutra canadensis)
  • Badger (Taxidea taxus)
  • Bobcat (Felis rufus)
  • Marten (Martes americana)
  • Mink (Mustela vision)
  • Muskrat (Ondatra zibethica)
  • Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
  • Wolverine (Gulo gulo)
  • Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
  • Lynx (Felis canadensis)
Game Birds
  • Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
  • Gray (Hungarian) Partridge (Perdix perdix)
  • (Wild) Turkey (Meleagris gallopava)
  • Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus)
  • Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)
  • Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis)
  • Sharp-tailed Grouse (Pedioecetes phasianellus)
  • Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
  • Migratory Game Birds protected in Canada under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (Canada).
Amphibians and Reptiles
  • Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)
  • Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
  • Red-sided Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
  • Western Plains Garter Snake (Thamnophis radix)
  • Cope's (Diploid) Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis)
  • Gray (Tetraploid) Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)
  • Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
  • Striped Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata)
  • Green Frog (Rana clamitans)
  • Mink Frog (Rana septentrionalis)
  • Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica)
  • Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus)
  • Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)
  • Redbelly Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata)
  • Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis)
  • American Toad (Bufo americanus)
  • Canadian Toad (Bufo hemiophrys)
  • Great Plains Toad (Bufo cognatus)
Protected Species
  • Pronghorn (Antelope) (Antilocapra americana)
  • Cougar (Felis concolor)
  • White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
  • Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
  • Greater Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)
  • All vultures, eagles, hawks, osprey and falcons (Falconiformes)
  • All owls (Strigiformes)
  • Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
  • Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
  • Gray (Canada) Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)
  • Common Raven (Corvus corax)
  • Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus)
  • Northern Prairie Skink (Eumeces septentrionalis)
  • Plains Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus bombifrons)
  • Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
  • Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) (except Wood Bison kept in captivity and privately owned)
  • Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentine)
  • Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
  • Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus);
  • Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)
  • Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus)
  • Keen's Myotis (Myotis keenii)
  • Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)
  • Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)
  • Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos)
  • Muskox (Ovibos moschatus)
  • Swift Fox (Vulpes velox)

The listing of wild animals within these divisions facilitates population management, conservation and enhancement of these species, often supported through regulated hunting and trapping activities or management strategies. Consult the annual Manitoba Hunting Guide and Trapping Guide for summarized information about licences and applicable laws for these activities.