Report wildlife issues

Wildlife emergencies

Remember: a wildlife emergency isn’t just any wildlife sighting. A wildlife emergency is a situation with the potential to put public safety at risk.

Contact numbers by region

Beaufort Delta Region (Inuvik): 1-867-678-0289

Sahtu Region (Norman Wells): 1-867-587-2422

North Slave Region (Yellowknife): 1-867-446-2073 primary,

South Slave Region (Fort Smith): 1-867-872-0400    (leave a message Oct-May)

Hay River Area Office (Hay River): 1-867-875-7640    (leave a message Oct-May)

Dehcho Region (Fort Simpson): 1-867-695-7433    

Examples of wildlife emergencies

  • A sighting of a potentially dangerous animal (i.e. bear, lynx, wolverine, cougar, etc) in a populated area – like a community or areas with several cabins
  • An animal in any area displaying predatory behaviour to people
  • An animal displaying signs of disease (i.e. rabies) in areas where they could interact with people, pets, or livestock
  • Wildlife offenses

Examples of wildlife sightings which are NOT wildlife emergencies

  • An injured or dying animal which is not threatening public safety
  • A sighting of a potentially dangerous animal (i.e. bear, lynx, wolverine, cougar, etc) on the side of the highway or in the bush
  • A bison sighting on the highway
  • A dead animal which is not threatening public safety
  • A sighting of unusual wildlife

Wildlife sighting and observation

Knowing where wildlife are is good for awareness and research purposes. That is why we encourage residents to report their sightings.

These contacts are NOT for sightings of animals in situations where public safety could be threatened. That is a Wildlife Emergency. See the previous section for the right contacts for your region.

Examples of wildlife sightings which are NOT wildlife emergencies

  • A sighting of a fox, rodent, or other non-threatening animal (caribou, moose, etc)
  • A sighting of a potentially dangerous animal (i.e. bear, lynx, wolverine, cougar, etc) on the side of the highway or in the bush
  • A bison sighting on the highway
  • A dead animal which is not threatening public safety
  • An injured animal which is not threatening public safety
  • A sighting of unusual wildlife or other species

Big game vehicle collision

Report in person or call: 1-866-762-2437

If you accidentally kill or seriously wound any big game (e.g. moose, bison, caribou, muskox) with a vehicle, you must report the incident to a Renewable Resource Officer at a local or regional Environment and Climate Change (ECC) office within 24 hours. You must provide the name of the person who killed or seriously wounded the wildlife, an explanation of the incident, the time, date and location of the incident, the species and quantity involved, and any other information requested by an Officer.

Bison in the Bison Control Area

All regions: 1-866-629-6438

Bison in the greater Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP) meta-population, including all subpopulations within WBNP and the Slave River Lowlands may be infected with bovine tuberculosis or brucellosis, or both. Anyone who sees a bison within the BCA is asked to report the sighting as soon as possible, as bison are capable of travelling long distances. The success of this program depends greatly on the public's cooperation and support.

Wildlife violation

All regions: 1-866-762-2437

Violations of renewable resource legislation are serious offences. Violators, such as poachers, deplete wildlife populations and destroy natural habitat. Any information you have concerning a suspected violation is greatly appreciated. If you see something suspicious or illegal, please call and provide as much detail about the situation as possible, including date, time, location, vehicle licence plate, air registration letters or boat registration number and the nature of the incident. This toll-free line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Information provided is passed on to a Renewable Resource Officer.

Report your harvest

In addition to hunting licences and wildlife tags, there are mandatory reporting requirements for certain big game species in the Northwest Territories (NWT). If you plan to harvest any of the following species, please confirm reporting requirements with your local or regional ECC office:

  • Polar bear
  • Grizzly bear
  • Muskox
  • Wood bison
  • Barren-ground caribou (some herds)
  • Peary caribou

It is also mandatory to report any wildlife killed in defense of life or property. Wildlife harvested under Section 56 of the NWT Wildlife Act must be reported to a Renewable Resource Officer as soon as possible. A person may not keep any part of wildlife killed in self-defense.

Bison Hunt Report Form

Resident hunters with a tag to hunt wood bison in Unit U (Slave River Lowlands herd) must complete a Resident Hunter Mandatory Bison Hunt Report Form whether or not a bison was harvested.

Muskox Hunt Report Form

Resident hunters with a tag to hunt muskox in Zone U and Zone S must complete a Resident Hunter Mandatory Muskox Hunt Report Form whether or not a muskox was harvested.

NWT Resident Hunter Harvest Surveys

Each fall, resident hunters are asked to provide information about their hunting activities and harvest. Information from the survey helps support effective wildlife management in the NWT.

Updated: Jan 23, 2026