Wildlife

Fish

While there are four species of fish in Buffalo Lake, by far the most prominest is northern pike. Recreational fishing for northern pike is a long standing tradition. The lake also supports burbot, white suckers, and brook stickleback. All of these species are native to the lake.

Waterfowl

The lake is one of the most important waterfowl breeding and staging grounds in Alberta. Dabbling ducks include Mallards, Pintails, Gadwills, American Widgeons, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal and Shovellers; diving ducks include Lesser Scaup, Redheads, Canvasbacks, Ring-necked Ducks, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye and White-winged Scoters. Colonies of Great Blue Herons, Ring-billed Gulls, California Gulls, Forester's Terns, Common Terns and Eared Grebes also nest at Buffalo Lake. The Ring-billed Gull colony is one of the three largest colonies in Alberta, and Buffalo Lake is one of only three lakes in Alberta known to support a colony of Forester's Terns. In autumn, up to 17,000 ducks, 3,500 swans and 12,000 geese (mostly Canadian Geese and Snow Geese) use Buffalo Lake for staging before migrations. A Buck for Wildlife project is in place to preserve and enhance habitat for waterfowl, Ring-necked Pheasants and other wildlife.

Other Wildlife

Beaver and muskrats are plentiful. The area supports numerous white-tailed deer; mule deer are less common and moose are occasionally seen.