Wildlife
What lives in Carlsbad Caverns
Last verified NPS species database
Every animal below comes from the National Park Service’s own species list for Carlsbad Caverns: 68 mammals, 362 birds, 43 reptiles, 8 amphibians and 5 fish recorded as present. Status words (present, unconfirmed, not in park) are the NPS’s, not ours.
Animals people ask about
Black bear
Ursus americanus
Coyote
Canis latrans
Mountain lion
Puma concolor
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
Elk
Cervus canadensis
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
Rattlesnakes
Crotalus atrox · any rattlesnake species
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Gray wolf
Canis lupus
Grizzly / brown bear
Ursus arctos · Historical
Bighorn sheep
Ovis canadensis · Historical
By group
Species counts
Present or probably present per the NPS list. “Listed” includes species the NPS has evaluated but marks unconfirmed or not in park.
- Mammals
- 68
- 92 listed · 3 non-native
- Birds
- 367
- 367 listed · 5 non-native
- Reptiles
- 43
- 62 listed
- Amphibians
- 8
- 15 listed · 1 non-native
- Fish
- 5
- 5 listed · 3 non-native
Endangered Species Act
2 threatened or endangered species
Federal listing status as recorded in the NPS species database.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Threatened | ||
| Southwestern Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii extimus | Endangered |
Mammals
All 68 mammals recorded in Carlsbad Caverns
Most abundant first, as the NPS rates them.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Badger | Taxidea taxus | |||
| American Black Bear | Ursus americanus | |||
| Aoudad | Ammotragus lervia | Non-native | ||
| Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat | Dipodomys spectabilis | |||
| Big Brown Bat | Eptesicus fuscus | |||
| Big Free-tailed Bat | Nyctinomops macrotis | |||
| Black-tailed Jackrabbit | Lepus californicus | |||
| Bobcat | Lynx rufus | |||
| Botta's Pocket Gopher | Thomomys bottae | |||
| Brazilian Free-tailed Bat | Tadarida brasiliensis | |||
| Brush Mouse | Peromyscus boylii | |||
| Cactus Mouse | Peromyscus eremicus |
Show the other 56 mammals ↓The other 56
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Myotis | Myotis californicus | |||
| Cave Myotis | Myotis velifer | |||
| Chihuahuan Desert Pocket Mouse | Chaetodipus eremicus | |||
| Collared Peccary | Pecari tajacu | |||
| Common Gray Fox | Urocyon cinereoargenteus | |||
| Coyote | Canis latrans | |||
| Crawford's Desert Shrew | Notiosorex crawfordi | |||
| Deer Mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | |||
| Desert Cottontail | Sylvilagus audubonii | |||
| Eastern Fox Squirrel | Sciurus niger | Non-native | ||
| Eastern Pipistrelle | Pipistrellus subflavus | |||
| Eastern Red Bat | Lasiurus borealis | |||
| Eastern White-Throated Woodrat | Neotoma leucodon | |||
| Fringed Myotis | Myotis thysanodes | |||
| Gray-footed Chipmunk | Neotamias canipes | |||
| Hispid Cotton Rat | Sigmodon hispidus | |||
| Hispid Pocket Mouse | Chaetodipus hispidus | |||
| Hoary Bat | Lasiurus cinereus | |||
| Kit Fox | Vulpes macrotis | |||
| Long-legged Myotis | Myotis volans | |||
| Long-tailed Weasel | Mustela frenata | |||
| Mearns' Grasshopper Mouse | Onychomys arenicola | |||
| Merriam's Kangaroo Rat | Dipodomys merriami | |||
| Mexican Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus mexicanus | |||
| Mexican Woodrat | Neotoma mexicana | |||
| Mountain Lion | Puma concolor | |||
| Mule Deer | Odocoileus hemionus | |||
| Nelson's Pocket Mouse | Chaetodipus nelsoni | |||
| North American Porcupine | Erethizon dorsatum | |||
| Northern Grasshopper Mouse | Onychomys leucogaster | |||
| Northern Raccoon | Procyon lotor | |||
| Northern Rock Mouse | Peromyscus nasutus | |||
| Pallid Bat | Antrozous pallidus | |||
| Plains Harvest Mouse | Reithrodontomys montanus | |||
| Pocketed Free-tailed Bat | Nyctinomops femorosaccus | |||
| Pronghorn | Antilocapra americana | |||
| Ringtail | Bassariscus astutus | |||
| Rock Squirrel | Spermophilus variegatus | |||
| Rocky Mountain Elk | Cervus canadensis | Non-native | ||
| Silky Pocket Mouse | Perognathus flavus | |||
| Silver-haired Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | |||
| Southern Plains Woodrat | Neotoma micropus | |||
| Spotted Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus spilosoma | |||
| Striped Skunk | Mephitis mephitis | |||
| Texas Antelope Squirrel | Ammospermophilus interpres | |||
| Townsend's Big-eared Bat | Corynorhinus townsendii | |||
| Western Harvest Mouse | Reithrodontomys megalotis | |||
| Western Pipistrelle | Pipistrellus hesperus | |||
| Western Small-footed Myotis | Myotis ciliolabrum | |||
| Western Spotted Skunk | Spilogale gracilis | |||
| Western White-throated Woodrat | Neotoma albigula | |||
| White-ankled Mouse | Peromyscus pectoralis | |||
| White-backed Hog-nosed Skunk | Conepatus leuconotus | |||
| White-footed Mouse | Peromyscus leucopus | |||
| Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher | Cratogeomys castanops | |||
| Yuma Myotis | Myotis yumanensis |
Birds
367 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
367 birds — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper's Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | ||
| Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | ||
| Western Grebe | Aechmophorus occidentalis | ||
| White-throated Swift | Aeronautes saxatalis | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Cassin's Sparrow | Aimophila cassinii | ||
| Rufous-crowned Sparrow | Aimophila ruficeps | ||
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | ||
| Baird's Sparrow | Ammodramus bairdii | ||
| Le Conte's Sparrow | Ammodramus leconteii | ||
| Grasshopper Sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum | ||
| Sage Sparrow | Amphispiza belli | ||
| Black-throated Sparrow | Amphispiza bilineata | ||
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | ||
| American Wigeon | Anas americana | ||
| Northern Shoveler | Anas clypeata | ||
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | ||
| Cinnamon Teal | Anas cyanoptera | ||
| Blue-winged Teal | Anas discors | ||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | ||
| Gadwall | Anas strepera | ||
| American Pipit | Anthus rubescens | ||
| Sprague's Pipit | Anthus spragueii | ||
| Western Scrub-Jay | Aphelocoma californica | ||
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ||
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Archilochus alexandri | ||
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | ||
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | ||
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | ||
| Burrowing Owl | Athene cunicularia | ||
| Verdin | Auriparus flaviceps | ||
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | ||
| Redhead | Aythya americana | ||
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | ||
| Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | ||
| Juniper Titmouse | Baeolophus ridgwayi | ||
| Upland Sandpiper | Bartramia longicauda | ||
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | ||
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | ||
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | ||
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | ||
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | ||
| Common Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | ||
| Zone-tailed Hawk | Buteo albonotatus | ||
| Short-tailed Hawk | Buteo brachyurus | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | ||
| Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | ||
| Gray Hawk | Buteo nitidus | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | ||
| Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | ||
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | ||
| Common Black-Hawk | Buteogallus anthracinus | ||
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | ||
| Lark Bunting | Calamospiza melanocorys | ||
| Mccown's Longspur | Calcarius mccownii | ||
| Chestnut-collared Longspur | Calcarius ornatus | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | ||
| Western Sandpiper | Calidris mauri | ||
| Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | ||
| Semipalmated Sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | ||
| Scaled Quail | Callipepla squamata | ||
| Lucifer Hummingbird | Calothorax lucifer | ||
| Anna's Hummingbird | Calypte anna | ||
| Costa's Hummingbird | Calypte costae | Probably Present | |
| Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet | Camptostoma imberbe | ||
| Cactus Wren | Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus | ||
| Whip-poor-will | Caprimulgus vociferus | ||
| Wilson's Warbler | Cardellina pusilla | ||
| Red-faced Warbler | Cardellina rubrifrons | ||
| Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | ||
| Pyrrhuloxia | Cardinalis sinuatus | ||
| Pine Siskin | Carduelis pinus | ||
| American Goldfinch | Carduelis tristis | ||
| Cassin's Finch | Carpodacus cassinii | ||
| Purple Finch | Carpodacus purpureus | ||
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush | Catharus minimus | ||
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ||
| Canyon Wren | Catherpes mexicanus | ||
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Belted Kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | ||
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Snow Goose | Chen caerulescens | ||
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | ||
| Lark Sparrow | Chondestes grammacus | ||
| Lesser Nighthawk | Chordeiles acutipennis | ||
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ||
| American Dipper | Cinclus mexicanus | ||
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | ||
| Marsh Wren | Cistothorus palustris | ||
| Sedge Wren | Cistothorus platensis | ||
| Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Threatened | |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | ||
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | ||
| Northern Bobwhite | Colinus virginianus | ||
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | Non-native | |
| Inca Dove | Columbina inca | ||
| Common Ground-Dove | Columbina passerina | ||
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | Columbina talpacoti | ||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | ||
| Greater Pewee | Contopus pertinax | ||
| Western Wood-Pewee | Contopus sordidulus | ||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | Contopus virens | ||
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | Probably Present | |
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | ||
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | ||
| Chihuahuan Raven | Corvus cryptoleucus | ||
| Groove-billed Ani | Crotophaga sulcirostris | ||
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | ||
| Steller's Jay | Cyanocitta stelleri | ||
| Tundra Swan | Cygnus columbianus | ||
| Broad-billed Hummingbird | Cynanthus latirostris | ||
| Montezuma Quail | Cyrtonyx montezumae | ||
| Black-bellied Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna autumnalis | ||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Dendroica caerulescens | ||
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Dendroica castanea | ||
| Cerulean Warbler | Dendroica cerulea | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Dendroica coronata | ||
| Prairie Warbler | Dendroica discolor | ||
| Yellow-throated Warbler | Dendroica dominica | ||
| Blackburnian Warbler | Dendroica fusca | ||
| Grace's Warbler | Dendroica graciae | ||
| Magnolia Warbler | Dendroica magnolia | ||
| Black-throated Gray Warbler | Dendroica nigrescens | ||
| Hermit Warbler | Dendroica occidentalis | ||
| Palm Warbler | Dendroica palmarum | ||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | ||
| Pine Warbler | Dendroica pinus | ||
| Blackpoll Warbler | Dendroica striata | ||
| Cape May Warbler | Dendroica tigrina | ||
| Townsend's Warbler | Dendroica townsendi | ||
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Dendroica virens | ||
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | ||
| Ladder-backed Woodpecker | Dryobates scalaris | ||
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | ||
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | ||
| Tricolored Heron | Egretta tricolor | ||
| White-tailed Kite | Elanus leucurus | ||
| Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Empidonax difficilis | Probably Present | |
| Hammond's Flycatcher | Empidonax hammondii | ||
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | ||
| Dusky Flycatcher | Empidonax oberholseri | ||
| Cordilleran Flycatcher | Empidonax occidentalis | ||
| Southwestern Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii extimus | Endangered | |
| Gray Flycatcher | Empidonax wrightii | ||
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | ||
| White Ibis | Eudocimus albus | ||
| Magnificent Hummingbird | Eugenes fulgens | ||
| Rusty Blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | ||
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | ||
| Prairie Falcon | Falco mexicanus | ||
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | ||
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | ||
| American Coot | Fulica americana | ||
| Wilson's Snipe | Gallinago delicata | ||
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | ||
| Greater Roadrunner | Geococcyx californianus | ||
| MacGillivray's Warbler | Geothlypis tolmiei | ||
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Sandhill Crane | Grus canadensis | ||
| Pinyon Jay | Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus | ||
| House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | ||
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ||
| Worm-Eating Warbler | Helmitheros vermivorum | ||
| Black-necked Stilt | Himantopus mexicanus | ||
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | Icteria virens | ||
| Bullock's Oriole | Icterus bullockii | ||
| Hooded Oriole | Icterus cucullatus | ||
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | ||
| Scott's Oriole | Icterus parisorum | ||
| Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | ||
| Mississippi Kite | Ictinia mississippiensis | ||
| Least Bittern | Ixobrychus exilis | ||
| Varied Thrush | Ixoreus naevius | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | ||
| Blue-throated Hummingbird | Lampornis clemenciae | ||
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | ||
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | ||
| Piratic Flycatcher | Legatus leucophaius | ||
| Lucy's Warbler | Leiothlypis luciae | ||
| Long-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | ||
| Swainson's Warbler | Limnothlypis swainsonii | ||
| Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | ||
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | ||
| Eastern Screech-Owl | Megascops asio | Probably Present | |
| Western Screech-Owl | Megascops kennicottii | ||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | ||
| Red-headed Woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | ||
| Acorn Woodpecker | Melanerpes formicivorus | ||
| Lewis's Woodpecker | Melanerpes lewis | ||
| Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | ||
| Swamp Sparrow | Melospiza georgiana | ||
| Lincoln's Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | ||
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | ||
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | ||
| Elf Owl | Micrathene whitneyi | ||
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | ||
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | ||
| Bronzed Cowbird | Molothrus aeneus | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | ||
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Myiarchus cinerascens | ||
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | ||
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | ||
| Painted Redstart | Myioborus pictus | ||
| Clark's Nutcracker | Nucifraga columbiana | ||
| Long-billed Curlew | Numenius americanus | ||
| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Nyctanassa violacea | ||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | ||
| Connecticut Warbler | Oporornis agilis | ||
| Kentucky Warbler | Oporornis formosus | ||
| Sage Thrasher | Oreoscoptes montanus | ||
| Flammulated Owl | Otus flammeolus | ||
| Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | ||
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | ||
| Harris's Hawk | Parabuteo unicinctus | ||
| Northern Parula | Parula americana | ||
| Tropical Parula | Parula pitiayumi | ||
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Non-native | |
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Fox Sparrow | Passerella iliaca | ||
| Lazuli Bunting | Passerina amoena | ||
| Blue Grosbeak | Passerina caerulea | ||
| Painted Bunting | Passerina ciris | ||
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | ||
| Varied Bunting | Passerina versicolor | ||
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | ||
| American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | ||
| Cave Swallow | Petrochelidon fulva | ||
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | ||
| Phainopepla | Phainopepla nitens | ||
| Double-crested Cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | ||
| Neotropic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax brasilianus | ||
| Common Poorwill | Phalaenoptilus nuttallii | ||
| Red-necked Phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | ||
| Ring-necked Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | Non-native | |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | ||
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | ||
| Black-billed Magpie | Pica hudsonia | ||
| Downy Woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker | Picoides villosus | ||
| Green-tailed Towhee | Pipilo chlorurus | ||
| Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | ||
| Canyon Towhee | Pipilo fuscus | ||
| Spotted Towhee | Pipilo maculatus | ||
| Hepatic Tanager | Piranga flava | ||
| Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | ||
| Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | ||
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | ||
| Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | ||
| White-faced Ibis | Plegadis chihi | ||
| Eared Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | ||
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | ||
| Mountain Chickadee | Poecile gambeli | ||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | ||
| Black-tailed Gnatcatcher | Polioptila melanura | ||
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| Sora | Porzana carolina | ||
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | ||
| Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | ||
| Bushtit | Psaltriparus minimus | ||
| Vermilion Flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus | ||
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | ||
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | ||
| Virginia Rail | Rallus limicola | ||
| American Avocet | Recurvirostra americana | ||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Regulus calendula | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | ||
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | ||
| Rock Wren | Salpinctes obsoletus | ||
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | ||
| Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | ||
| Say's Phoebe | Sayornis saya | ||
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | ||
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | ||
| Louisiana Waterthrush | Seiurus motacilla | ||
| Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | ||
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Selasphorus platycercus | ||
| Rufous Hummingbird | Selasphorus rufus | ||
| Yellow Warbler | Setophaga petechia | ||
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | ||
| Mountain Bluebird | Sialia currucoides | ||
| Western Bluebird | Sialia mexicana | ||
| Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | ||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | ||
| Pygmy Nuthatch | Sitta pygmaea | ||
| Red-naped Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus nuchalis | ||
| Williamson's Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus thyroideus | ||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | ||
| Lesser Goldfinch | Spinus psaltria | ||
| Dickcissel | Spiza americana | ||
| American Tree Sparrow | Spizella arborea | ||
| Black-chinned Sparrow | Spizella atrogularis | ||
| Brewer's Sparrow | Spizella breweri | ||
| Clay-colored Sparrow | Spizella pallida | ||
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | ||
| Field Sparrow | Spizella pusilla | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Calliope Hummingbird | Stellula calliope | ||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | Non-native | |
| Ringed Turtle-Dove | Streptopelia risoria | Probably Present | Non-native |
| Spotted Owl | Strix occidentalis | ||
| Eastern Meadowlark | Sturnella magna | ||
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | ||
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ||
| Violet-green Swallow | Tachycineta thalassina | ||
| Bewick's Wren | Thryomanes bewickii | ||
| Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | ||
| Crissal Thrasher | Toxostoma crissale | ||
| Curve-billed Thrasher | Toxostoma curvirostre | ||
| Long-billed Thrasher | Toxostoma longirostre | ||
| Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Willet | Tringa semipalmata | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ||
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Winter Wren | Troglodytes troglodytes | ||
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | ||
| Lesser Prairie-Chicken | Tympanuchus pallidicinctus | ||
| Thick-billed Kingbird | Tyrannus crassirostris | ||
| Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | Tyrannus forficatus | ||
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ||
| Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | ||
| Cassin's Kingbird | Tyrannus vociferans | ||
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler | Vermivora celata | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | ||
| Tennessee Warbler | Vermivora peregrina | ||
| Blue-winged Warbler | Vermivora pinus | ||
| Nashville Warbler | Vermivora ruficapilla | ||
| Virginia's Warbler | Vermivora virginiae | ||
| Black-capped Vireo | Vireo atricapilla | ||
| Bell's Vireo | Vireo bellii | ||
| Cassin's Vireo | Vireo cassinii | ||
| Yellow-throated Vireo | Vireo flavifrons | ||
| Yellow-green Vireo | Vireo flavoviridis | ||
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | ||
| White-eyed Vireo | Vireo griseus | ||
| Hutton's Vireo | Vireo huttoni | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ||
| Philadelphia Vireo | Vireo philadelphicus | ||
| Plumbeous Vireo | Vireo plumbeus | ||
| Blue-headed Vireo | Vireo solitarius | ||
| Gray Vireo | Vireo vicinior | ||
| Canada Warbler | Wilsonia canadensis | ||
| Hooded Warbler | Wilsonia citrina | ||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | ||
| White-winged Dove | Zenaida asiatica | ||
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | ||
| Golden-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia atricapilla | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | ||
| Harris's Sparrow | Zonotrichia querula |
Reptiles
43 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
43 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail | Aspidoscelis exsanguis | Common | ||
| Texas Spotted Whiptail | Aspidoscelis gularis | |||
| Trans-Pecos Striped Whiptail | Aspidoscelis inornata | |||
| Common Checkered Whiptail | Aspidoscelis tesselata | Common | ||
| Trans-Pecos Ratsnake | Bogertophis subocularis | |||
| Texas Banded Gecko | Coleonyx brevis | |||
| Chihuahuan Greater Earless Lizard | Cophosaurus texanus | |||
| Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake | Crotalus atrox | |||
| Mottled Rock Rattlesnake | Crotalus lepidus lepidus | |||
| Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnake | Crotalus molossus | |||
| Eastern Collared Lizard | Crotaphytus collaris | |||
| Ring-necked Snake | Diadophis punctatus | |||
| Great Plains Ratsnake | Elaphe emoryi | |||
| Variable Skink | Eumeces multivirgatus | |||
| Great Plains Skink | Eumeces obsoletus | |||
| Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snake | Gyalopion canum | |||
| Mexican Hog-nosed Snake | Heterodon nasicus | |||
| Texas Nightsnake | Hypsiglena torquata | |||
| Yellow Mud Turtle | Kinosternon flavescens | |||
| Gray-banded Kingsnake | Lampropeltis alterna | |||
| Desert Kingsnake | Lampropeltis getula | |||
| New Mexico Threadsnake | Leptotyphlops dissectus | |||
| Western Coachwhip | Masticophis flagellum | |||
| Striped Whipsnake | Masticophis taeniatus | |||
| Blotched Watersnake | Nerodia erythrogaster transversa | |||
| Texas Horned Lizard | Phrynosoma cornutum | |||
| Round-tailed Horned Lizard | Phrynosoma modestum | |||
| Sonoran Gophersnake | Pituophis catenifer | |||
| Rio Grande Cooter | Pseudemys gorzugi | |||
| Texas Long-nosed Snake | Rhinocheilus lecontei | |||
| Mountain Patch-nosed Snake | Salvadora grahamiae | |||
| Big Bend Patch-nosed Snake | Salvadora hexalepis | |||
| Southwestern Fence Lizard | Sceloporus cowlesi | Common | ||
| Northern Crevice Spiny Lizard | Sceloporus poinsettii | |||
| Variable Groundsnake | Sonora semiannulata | |||
| Smith's Black-headed Snake | Tantilla hobartsmithi | |||
| Plains Black-headed Snake | Tantilla nigriceps | |||
| Ornate Box Turtle | Terrapene ornata | |||
| Western Black-necked Gartersnake | Thamnophis cyrtopsis | |||
| Marcy's Checkered Gartersnake | Thamnophis marcianus | |||
| Red-eared Slider | Trachemys scripta | |||
| Big Bend Tree Lizard | Urosaurus ornatus | |||
| Common Side-blotched Lizard | Uta stansburiana |
Amphibians
8 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
8 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Plains Toad | Bufo cognatus | |||
| Western Green Toad | Bufo debilis | |||
| Red-spotted Toad | Bufo punctatus | |||
| Texas Toad | Bufo speciosus | |||
| Rio Grande Leopard Frog | Rana berlandieri | |||
| American Bullfrog | Rana catesbeiana | Common | Non-native | |
| Couch's Spadefoot | Scaphiopus couchii | |||
| Mexican Spadefoot | Spea multiplicata |
Fish
5 fish — show the list ↓
Fish
5 fish — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roundnose minnow | Dionda episcopa | Common | ||
| Greenthroat darter | Etheostoma lepidum | Uncommon | ||
| Western mosquitofish | Gambusia affinis | Non-native | ||
| Green sunfish | Lepomis cyanellus | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Largemouth bass | Micropterus salmoides | Uncommon | Non-native |
Where this comes from
NPSpecies is the National Park Service’s database of the species documented in each park. We show its vertebrate lists as published: a species is “present” when the park has confirmed it, “unconfirmed” when reports exist without verification, and “not in park” when the NPS has ruled it out (often tagged “historical” for animals that once lived there). Lists lag reality by months or years and seeing an animal is never guaranteed. Plants, insects and other invertebrates are not included here. Browse the full NPSpecies list for Carlsbad Caverns.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — Carlsbad Caverns (CAVE) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.Carlsbad Caverns National Park — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
FAQ
Carlsbad Caverns wildlife questions
- Are there bears in Carlsbad Caverns?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Carlsbad Caverns records black bear as present.
- Are there grizzly bears in Carlsbad Caverns?
- No. The NPS species list marks grizzly / brown bear as "not in park" for Carlsbad Caverns (NPS tag: Historical).
- Are there wolves in Carlsbad Caverns?
- Unconfirmed. Gray wolf appear on the park's NPS species list as "unconfirmed" — reported but not verified in the park.
- Are there mountain lions in Carlsbad Caverns?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Carlsbad Caverns records mountain lion as present.
- Are there rattlesnakes in Carlsbad Caverns?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Carlsbad Caverns records rattlesnakes as present.
- How many animal species live in Carlsbad Caverns?
- The NPS species database lists 68 mammal, 362 bird, 43 reptile, 8 amphibian and 5 fish species as present or probably present in Carlsbad Caverns, including 2 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.
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