People have asked about the safety of the animals in High Park during the traditional and prescribed burn. The prescribed burn in High Park is a low-intensity fire as is appropriate for savannahs and woodlands. Flames stay very low and…
Discover the natural wonders of Toronto's High Park
Mammals, birds, Herps, Fish and INSECTS
Wildlife of Toronto's High Park
High Park supports a wide variety of wildlife including chipmunks and bats, ducks, hawks and herons, fish and frogs, and numerous insects including butterflies and bees. Although it is situated in the heart of Canada’s largest city, High Park's size, diverse habitats and proximity to Lake Ontario and the Humber Valley make it attractive to both resident breeding species and migrants. A few opportunistic species have taken advantage of habitat changes and disturbances caused by human activities and recreational demands. Other mostly native species are already responding positively to ongoing restoration efforts.
Blue Jay and Grey Squirrel. Photo: JM
High Park's Wildlife by Numbers
267 species
of birds known to occur in High Park; well over 150 species are regularly seen and more than 50 species breed in the park
18 species
of mammals known to occur in High Park
9 species
of herps - amphibians and reptiles; turtles, snakes, frogs and toads, salamanders
12 species
of fish
74 species
of butterflies have been found in High Park in recent years, and many of these are known to breed here; a variety of other insects such as dragonflies and bees populates High Park as well
over 1000 species
of moths have been found in High Park in recent years, from tiny micros to showy underwings
Articles, Galleries and Guides
Biodiversity Booklet Series
Includes: Birds, Butterflies, Spiders, Fishes, Mammals, Bees, Reptiles and Amphibians, Mushrooms, and Trees, Shrubs and Vines of Toronto. Free copies may be available at your local Toronto Public Library branch. To find out more about these free guidebooks or to download a pdf version, visit the City of Toronto's Biodiversity website.
What's New?
Traditional and Prescribed Burn
A traditional and prescribed burn will take place in High Park on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. This burn is part of an ongoing practice to manage and care for the land, specifically aimed at restoring the Black Oak Savannah ecosystem.…
Traditional and Prescribed Burn Spring 2024
The City of Toronto in collaboration with Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle (ILSC) is once again preparing for the annual traditional and prescribed burn program this spring in High Park. Here is the advanced burn notice. The map on the notice…
