When we first entered the park, we had to queue for a while to get in but after we got through it wasn't too busy. We made our way to the car path first and were amazed at the elk and deer that just stood in the middle of the road waiting for cars to drive up so they could poke their heads in the windows and grab the carrots held out by passengers! We were dutifully listening to the park's radio station and it told us not to feed the male elk as it was mating season and they could become aggressive quite easily. When we sighted out first male elk, we swiftly passed him and managed to avoid the car being scratched by his massive antlers.
Further along the car path we came across families of boar, including little babies waddling along in the grass close to their parents, picking up scraps of carrots and other goodies. We played the what-is-that-animal-in-French game and thanks to a French book called Mon Papa, Mon Maman et Moi, Austin knew all the baby animals!
Once we were through the busy elk car path we decided to have our picnic by the trout lake. The trees were just starting to change with the new season and the view from our picnic table was superb. Best way to eat ham and cheese sandwiches I reckon! After feeding the trout at the jetty, we went for a walk around the lake through the edge of the forest, Austin doing his usual collecting of leaves and sticks that take his fancy.
Back in the car and we made our way up to the boardwalk where you could see the wolves and black bears. The bears were obviously used to people feeding them from above despite the signs saying don't feed the bears. When they saw us they ambled over and one even whined until someone beside us threw some carrots their way.
After a quick stop at a playground, we got back in the car and headed along the car path to the deer park. Along the way we saw reindeer (aka caribou) and moose, and of course more elk. We parked the car in the prairie carpark, had a quick afternoon tea snack in a playground/picnic area with elk and deer roaming freely with the visitors, and walked through the fields up to the farmhouse where Austin had another play in a playground and enjoyed an icecream. On our way back Austin got to feed a little whitetail deer who looked exactly like bambi!
On our way out of the park we took the scenic route around Caribou Tundra and Deer Lake, where we saw arctic wolves and massive bison. The bison were all just standing in the middle of the road and they were so big we were afraid we wouldn't be able to get past without getting horned! Luckily the car in front paved the way and we managed to get through scratch-free.
Omega Park is a great place for families and visitors to Canada to go and see native animals in an almost native setting. The park is open all year round and apparently some of the animals actually roam the snow-covered fields even in the dead of winter. Austin's favourite part was getting to feed the elk and deer. I think being up close with those kinds of animals for kids is a great experience and one we'll definitely be doing again, only in Australia next time!
How to get there
http://parcomega.ca/en/