Wildlife
What lives in Glacier
Last verified NPS species database
Every animal below comes from the National Park Service’s own species list for Glacier: 60 mammals, 242 birds, 3 reptiles, 6 amphibians and 26 fish recorded as present. Status words (present, unconfirmed, not in park) are the NPS’s, not ours.
Animals people ask about
Grizzly / brown bear
Ursus arctos horribilis · Uncommon
Black bear
Ursus americanus · Uncommon
Gray wolf
Canis lupus · Rare
Coyote
Canis latrans · Uncommon
Mountain lion
Puma concolor · Uncommon
Bobcat
Lynx rufus · Occasional
Canada lynx
Lynx canadensis · Rare
Wolverine
Gulo gulo · Rare
Moose
Alces alces · Common
Elk
Cervus elaphus · Abundant
Bighorn sheep
Ovis canadensis · Common
Mountain goat
Oreamnos americanus · Common
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Uncommon
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos · Uncommon
Bison
Bison bison · Historical
Caribou
Rangifer tarandus · 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
- 64
- 69 listed · 1 non-native
- Birds
- 242
- 277 listed · 3 non-native
- Reptiles
- 4
- 4 listed
- Amphibians
- 6
- 6 listed
- Fish
- 26
- 27 listed · 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynx | Lynx canadensis | Rare | Threatened | |
| Grizzly bear | Ursus arctos horribilis | Uncommon | Threatened |
Mammals
All 64 mammals recorded in Glacier
Most abundant first, as the NPS rates them.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chipmunk (red tailed) | Tamias ruficaudus | Abundant | ||
| Chipmunk (yellow pine) | Tamias amoenus | Abundant | ||
| Deer mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | Abundant | ||
| Elk | Cervus elaphus | Abundant | ||
| Meadow vole | Microtus pennsylvanicus | Abundant | ||
| Red squirrel | Tamiasciurus hudsonicus | Abundant | ||
| Big brown bat | Eptesicus fuscus | Common | ||
| Bighorn sheep | Ovis canadensis | Common | ||
| California Myotis | Myotis californicus | Common | ||
| Columbian ground squirrel | Spermophilus columbianus | Common | ||
| Golden-mantled ground squirrel | Spermophilus lateralis | Common | ||
| Hoary marmot | Marmota caligata | Common |
Show the other 52 mammals ↓The other 52
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masked shrew | Sorex cinereus | Common | ||
| Montane heather vole | Phenacomys intermedius | Common | ||
| Montane shrew | Sorex monticolus | Common | ||
| Moose | Alces alces | Common | ||
| Mountain goat | Oreamnos americanus | Common | ||
| Northern pocket gopher | Thomomys talpoides | Common | ||
| Pika | Ochotona princeps | Common | ||
| Porcupine | Erethizon dorsatum | Common | ||
| Red-backed vole | Clethrionomys gapperi | Common | ||
| Short-tailed weasel | Mustela erminea | Common | ||
| Snowshoe hare | Lepus americanus | Common | ||
| Vagrant shrew | Sorex vagrans | Common | ||
| White-tailed deer | Odocoileus virginianus | Common | ||
| Beaver | Castor canadensis | Uncommon | ||
| Black bear | Ursus americanus | Uncommon | ||
| Bushy-tailed wood rat | Neotoma cinerea | Uncommon | ||
| Coyote | Canis latrans | Uncommon | ||
| Grizzly bear | Ursus arctos horribilis | Uncommon | Threatened | |
| Long-tailed vole | Microtus longicaudus | Uncommon | ||
| Long-tailed weasel | Mustela frenata | Uncommon | ||
| Marten | Martes americana | Uncommon | ||
| Mink | Mustela vison | Uncommon | ||
| Mountain lion | Puma concolor | Uncommon | ||
| Mule deer | Odocoileus hemionus | Uncommon | ||
| Northern flying squirrel | Glaucomys sabrinus | Uncommon | ||
| Northern water shrew | Sorex palustris | Uncommon | ||
| Striped skunk | Mephitis mephitis | Uncommon | ||
| Water vole | Microtus richardsoni | Uncommon | ||
| Western jumping mouse | Zapus princeps | Uncommon | ||
| Bobcat | Lynx rufus | Occasional | ||
| Racoon | Procyon lotor | Occasional | Non-native | |
| Richardson's ground squirrel | Spermophilus richardsonii | Occasional | ||
| Thirteen-lined ground squirrel | Spermophilus tridecemlineatus | Occasional | ||
| White-tailed jackrabbit | Lepus townsendii | Occasional | ||
| Badger | Taxidea taxus | Rare | ||
| Fisher | Martes pennanti | Rare | ||
| Gray wolf | Canis lupus | Rare | ||
| Least weasel | Mustela nivalis | Rare | ||
| Lynx | Lynx canadensis | Rare | Threatened | |
| Muskrat | Ondatra zibethicus | Rare | ||
| Northern bog lemming | Synaptomys borealis | Rare | ||
| Red fox | Vulpes vulpes | Rare | ||
| River otter | Lutra canadensis | Rare | ||
| Wolverine | Gulo gulo | Rare | ||
| Yellow-bellied marmot | Marmota flaviventris | Rare | ||
| Hoary bat | Lasiurus cinereus | Probably Present | ||
| Least chipmunk | Eutamias minimus | Probably Present | ||
| Little brown bat | Myotis lucifugus | |||
| Long-eared bat | Myotis evotis | |||
| Long-legged bat | Myotis volans | Probably Present | ||
| Pygmy shrew | Sorex hoyi | Probably Present | ||
| Silver-haired bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans |
Birds
242 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
242 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 macularia | ||
| Western Grebe | Aechmophorus occidentalis | ||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Aegolius acadicus | ||
| Boreal Owl | Aegolius funereus | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | ||
| Le Conte's Sparrow | Ammospiza leconteii | ||
| 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 | ||
| Eurasian Wigeon | Anas penelope | ||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | ||
| Gadwall | Anas strepera | ||
| American Pipit | Anthus rubescens | ||
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ||
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Archilochus alexandri | ||
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | ||
| Burrowing Owl | Athene cunicularia | ||
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | ||
| Redhead | Aythya americana | ||
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | ||
| Greater Scaup | Aythya marila | ||
| Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | ||
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| Bohemian Waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus | ||
| Ruffed Grouse | Bonasa umbellus | ||
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | ||
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | ||
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | ||
| Common Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | ||
| Barrow's Goldeneye | Bucephala islandica | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | ||
| Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | ||
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | ||
| Lapland Longspur | Calcarius lapponicus | ||
| Mccown's Longspur | Calcarius mccownii | ||
| Chestnut-collared Longspur | Calcarius ornatus | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | ||
| Western Sandpiper | Calidris mauri | ||
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | ||
| Common Redpoll | Carduelis flammea | ||
| Pine Siskin | Carduelis pinus | ||
| American Goldfinch | Carduelis tristis | ||
| Cassin's Finch | Carpodacus cassinii | ||
| House Finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | ||
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | ||
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ||
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | ||
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Belted Kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | ||
| Vaux's Swift | Chaetura vauxi | ||
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Snow Goose | Chen caerulescens | ||
| Ross' Goose | Chen rossii | ||
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | ||
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ||
| American Dipper | Cinclus mexicanus | ||
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | ||
| Long-tailed Duck (Oldsquaw) | Clangula hyemalis | ||
| Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ||
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | ||
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Columba fasciata | ||
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | Non-native | |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus borealis | ||
| Western Wood-Pewee | Contopus sordidulus | ||
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | ||
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | ||
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | ||
| Steller's Jay | Cyanocitta stelleri | ||
| Trumpeter Swan | Cygnus buccinator | ||
| Tundra Swan | Cygnus columbianus | ||
| Black Swift | Cypseloides niger | ||
| Spruce Grouse | Dendragapus canadensis | ||
| Dusky Grouse | Dendragapus obscurus | ||
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Dendroica castanea | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Dendroica coronata | ||
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | ||
| Cape May Warbler | Dendroica tigrina | ||
| Townsend's Warbler | Dendroica townsendi | ||
| Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | ||
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | ||
| Cordilleran Flycatcher | Empidonax difficilis | ||
| Hammond's Flycatcher | Empidonax hammondii | ||
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | ||
| Dusky Flycatcher | Empidonax oberholseri | ||
| Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | ||
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | ||
| Rusty Blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | ||
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | ||
| Prairie Falcon | Falco mexicanus | ||
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | ||
| Gyrfalcon | Falco rusticolus | ||
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | ||
| American Coot | Fulica americana | ||
| Common Snipe | Gallinago gallinago | ||
| Yellow-billed Loon | Gavia adamsii | ||
| Common Loon | Gavia immer | ||
| Pacific Loon | Gavia pacifica | ||
| Red-throated Loon | Gavia stellata | ||
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Northern Pygmy Owl | Glaucidium gnoma | ||
| Sandhill Crane | Grus canadensis | ||
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ||
| Cliff Swallow | Hirundo pyrrhonota | ||
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Harlequin Duck | Histrionicus histrionicus | ||
| Varied Thrush | Ixoreus naevius | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | ||
| White-tailed Ptarmigan | Lagopus leucurus | ||
| Northern Shrike | Lanius excubitor | ||
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | ||
| Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | ||
| California Gull | Larus californicus | ||
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | ||
| Glaucous-winged Gull | Larus glaucescens | ||
| Glaucous Gull | Larus hyperboreus | ||
| Bonaparte's Gull | Larus philadelphia | ||
| Franklin's Gull | Larus pipixcan | ||
| Rosy-Finch | Leucosticte arctoa | ||
| Long-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | ||
| Marbled Godwit | Limosa fedoa | ||
| Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | ||
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | ||
| White-winged Crossbill | Loxia leucoptera | ||
| Lewis’s Woodpecker | Melanerpes lewis | ||
| White-winged Scoter | Melanitta fusca | ||
| Surf Scoter | Melanitta perspicillata | ||
| Lincoln's Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | ||
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | ||
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | ||
| Red-breasted Merganser | Mergus serrator | ||
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | ||
| Clark's Nutcracker | Nucifraga columbiana | ||
| Long-billed Curlew | Numenius americanus | ||
| Snowy Owl | Nyctea scandiaca | ||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | ||
| Macgillivray's Warbler | Oporornis tolmiei | ||
| Sage Thrasher | Oreoscoptes montanus | ||
| Western Screech-Owl | Otus kennicottii | ||
| Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | ||
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | ||
| Northern Parula | Parula americana | ||
| Black-capped Chickadee | Parus atricapillus | ||
| Mountain Chickadee | Parus gambeli | ||
| Boreal Chickadee | Parus hudsonicus | ||
| Chestnut-backed Chickadee | Parus rufescens | ||
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Fox Sparrow | Passerella iliaca | ||
| Lazuli Bunting | Passerina amoena | ||
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | ||
| American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | ||
| Gray Jay | Perisoreus canadensis | ||
| Double-crested Cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | ||
| 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 pica | ||
| Black-backed Woodpecker | Picoides arcticus | ||
| Downy Woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | ||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker | Picoides tridactylus | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker | Picoides villosus | ||
| Pine Grosbeak | Pinicola enucleator | ||
| Rufous-sided Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | ||
| Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | ||
| Snow Bunting | Plectrophenax nivalis | ||
| Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | ||
| Horned Grebe | Podiceps auritus | ||
| Red-necked Grebe | Podiceps grisegena | ||
| Eared Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | ||
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | ||
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| Sora | Porzana carolina | ||
| American Avocet | Recurvirostra americana | ||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Regulus calendula | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | ||
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | ||
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | ||
| Rock Wren | Salpinctes obsoletus | ||
| Say's Phoebe | Sayornis saya | ||
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapillus | ||
| Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | ||
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Selasphorus platycercus | ||
| Rufous Hummingbird | Selasphorus rufus | ||
| American Redstarat | Setophaga ruticilla | ||
| Mountain Bluebird | Sialia currucoides | ||
| Western Bluebird | Sialia mexicana | ||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | ||
| Red-naped Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus nuchalis | ||
| Williamson's Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus thyroideus | ||
| American Tree Sparrow | Spizella arborea | ||
| Brewer's Sparrow | Spizella breweri | ||
| Clay-colored Sparrow | Spizella pallida | ||
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Calliope Hummingbird | Stellula calliope | ||
| Caspian Tern | Sterna caspia | ||
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | ||
| Great Gray Owl | Strix nebulosa | ||
| Barred Owl | Strix varia | ||
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | ||
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Northern Hawk Owl | Surnia ulula | ||
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ||
| Violet-green Swallow | Tachycineta thalassina | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ||
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Winter Wren | Troglodytes troglodytes | ||
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | ||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse | Tympanuchus phasianellus | ||
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ||
| Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler | Vermivora celata | ||
| Tennessee Warbler | Vermivora peregrina | ||
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ||
| Cassin's Vireo | Vireo solitarius | ||
| Wilson's Warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | ||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | ||
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | ||
| Harris’s Sparrow | Zonotrichia querula |
Reptiles
4 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
4 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Rubber Boa | Charina bottae | Probably Present | ||
| Eastern Painted Turtle | Chrysemys picta | Rare | ||
| Terrestrial Garter Snake | Thamnophis elegans | Common | ||
| Common Garter Snake | Thamnophis sirtalis | Uncommon |
Amphibians
6 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
6 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-toed Salamander | Ambystoma macrodactylum | Common | ||
| Inland tailed frog | Ascaphus montanus | Uncommon | ||
| Western Toad | Bufo boreas | Uncommon | ||
| Boreal Chorus Frog | Pseudacris maculata | Rare | ||
| Northern Pacific Treefrog | Pseudacris regilla | Rare | ||
| Columbia Spotted Frog | Rana luteiventris | Common |
Fish
26 fish — show the list ↓
Fish
26 fish — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longnose sucker | Catostomus catostomus | Common | ||
| White sucker | Catostomus commersoni | Common | ||
| Largescale sucker | Catostomus macrocheilus | Common | ||
| Lake whitefish | Coregonus clupeaformis | Common | ||
| Mottled sculpin | Cottus bairdii | Uncommon | ||
| Slimy sculpin | Cottus cognatus | Common | ||
| Shorthead sculpin | Cottus confusus | |||
| Spoonhead sculpin | Cottus ricei | |||
| Northern pike | Esox lucius | Rare | ||
| Burbot | Lota lota | Common | ||
| Peamouth | Mylocheilus caurinus | Common | ||
| Yellowstone cutthroat Trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri | Common | Non-native | |
| Westslope cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi | Common | ||
| Rainbow trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Common | Non-native | |
| Sockeye salmon | Oncorhynchus nerka | Common | Non-native | |
| Trout-perch | Percopsis omiscomaycus | Rare | ||
| Fathead minnow | Pimephales promelas | Rare | ||
| Pygmy whitefish | Prosopium coulteri | Rare | ||
| Mountain whitefish | Prosopium williamsoni | Common | ||
| Northern squawfish | Ptychocheilus oregonensis | Common | ||
| Longnose dace | Rhinichthys cataractae | Common | ||
| Redside shiner | Richardsonius balteatus | Common | ||
| Bull trout | Salvelinus confluentus | Common | ||
| Brook trout | Salvelinus fontinalis | Common | Non-native | |
| Lake trout | Salvelinus namaycush | Common | ||
| Arctic grayling | Thymallus arcticus | Common | 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 Glacier.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — Glacier (GLAC) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.Glacier National Park — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
FAQ
Glacier wildlife questions
- Are there bears in Glacier?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Glacier records black bear as present, listed as uncommon.
- Are there grizzly bears in Glacier?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Glacier records grizzly / brown bear as present, listed as uncommon.
- Are there wolves in Glacier?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Glacier records gray wolf as present, listed as rare.
- Are there mountain lions in Glacier?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Glacier records mountain lion as present, listed as uncommon.
- Are there rattlesnakes in Glacier?
- The NPS species list for Glacier does not include rattlesnakes, so there is no record of them in the park.
- How many animal species live in Glacier?
- The NPS species database lists 60 mammal, 242 bird, 3 reptile, 6 amphibian and 26 fish species as present or probably present in Glacier, including 2 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.
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