Wildlife
What lives in Mesa Verde
Last verified NPS species database
Every animal below comes from the National Park Service’s own species list for Mesa Verde: 65 mammals, 210 birds, 16 reptiles, 3 amphibians and 0 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 · Common
Coyote
Canis latrans · Common
Mountain lion
Puma concolor · Common
Bobcat
Lynx rufus · Common
Canada lynx
Lynx canadensis
Moose
Alces alces
Elk
Cervus elaphus · Common
Rattlesnakes
Crotalus viridis · Common · any rattlesnake species
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Uncommon
California condor
Gymnogyps californianus · Occasional
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos · Common
Wolverine
Gulo gulo
Grizzly / brown bear
Ursus arctos · Historical
Gray wolf
Canis lupus · Historical
Bighorn sheep
Ovis canadensis · Historical
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana · False Report
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
- 72
- 86 listed · 2 non-native
- Birds
- 212
- 237 listed · 4 non-native
- Reptiles
- 16
- 21 listed
- Amphibians
- 4
- 8 listed
- Fish
- 0
- 0 listed
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada lynx | Lynx canadensis | Probably Present | Threatened · Non-native | |
| Mexican Spotted Owl | Strix occidentalis lucida | Rare | Threatened |
Mammals
All 72 mammals recorded in Mesa Verde
Most abundant first, as the NPS rates them.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audubon's Cottontail | Sylvilagus audubonii | Abundant | ||
| Deer Mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | Abundant | ||
| American Black Bear | Ursus americanus | Common | ||
| Black-tailed Jack Rabbit | Lepus californicus | Common | ||
| Bobcat | Lynx rufus | Common | ||
| Botta's Pocket Gopher | Thomomys bottae | Common | ||
| Catamount | Puma concolor | Common | ||
| Common Gray Fox | Urocyon cinereoargenteus | Common | ||
| Common raccoon | Procyon lotor | Common | Non-native | |
| Coyote | Canis latrans | Common | ||
| Domestic Horse | Equus caballus | Common | Non-native | |
| Elk | Cervus elaphus | Common |
Show the other 60 mammals ↓The other 60
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Least Chipmunk | Tamias minimus | Common | ||
| Mule Deer | Odocoileus hemionus | Common | ||
| Ringtail | Bassariscus astutus | Common | ||
| Rock Squirrel | Spermophilus variegatus | Common | ||
| Cross Fox | Vulpes vulpes | Uncommon | ||
| Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus lateralis | Uncommon | ||
| Long-tailed Weasel | Mustela frenata | Uncommon | ||
| Muskrat | Ondatra zibethicus | Uncommon | ||
| Striped Skunk | Mephitis mephitis | Uncommon | ||
| Western Spotted Skunk | Spilogale gracilis | Uncommon | ||
| Yellow-bellied Marmot | Marmota flaviventris | Uncommon | ||
| Abert's Squirrel | Sciurus aberti | Rare | ||
| American Badger | Taxidea taxus | Rare | ||
| American Mink | Mustela vison | Rare | ||
| Common porcupine | Erethizon dorsatum | Rare | ||
| Gunnison's Prairie Dog | Cynomys gunnisoni | Rare | ||
| Red Squirrel | Tamiasciurus hudsonicus | Rare | ||
| American beaver | Castor canadensis | |||
| Big Brown Bat | Eptesicus fuscus | |||
| Big Free-tailed Bat | Nyctinomops macrotis | Probably Present | ||
| Black Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | |||
| Brazilian Free-tailed Bat | Tadarida brasiliensis | |||
| Brush Deermouse | Peromyscus boylii | |||
| Bushy-tailed Woodrat | Neotoma cinerea | |||
| California Myotis | Myotis californicus | |||
| Canada lynx | Lynx canadensis | Probably Present | Threatened · Non-native | |
| Canyon Deermouse | Peromyscus crinitus | |||
| Cinereus Shrew | Sorex cinereus | |||
| Colorado Chipmunk | Neotamias rufus | |||
| Coronation Island vole | Microtus longicaudus | |||
| Crawford's Gray Shrew | Notiosorex crawfordi | |||
| Dusky Shrew | Sorex monticolus | |||
| Dwarf Shrew | Sorex nanus | |||
| Ermine | Mustela erminea | |||
| Eurasian Elk | Alces alces | Probably Present | Non-native | |
| Fringed Myotis | Myotis thysanodes | |||
| Hoary Bat | Lasiurus cinereus | |||
| Little Brown Bat | Myotis lucifugus | |||
| Long-eared Myotis | Myotis evotis | |||
| Long-legged Myotis | Myotis volans | |||
| Merriam's Shrew | Sorex merriami | |||
| Mexican Vole | Microtus mexicanus | |||
| Mexican Woodrat | Neotoma mexicana | |||
| Montane Vole | Microtus montanus | |||
| Mountain Cottontail | Sylvilagus nuttallii | |||
| Mule-eared bat | Corynorhinus townsendii | |||
| Northern Grasshopper Mouse | Onychomys leucogaster | Probably Present | ||
| Ord's Kangaroo Rat | Dipodomys ordii | Probably Present | ||
| Pallid Bat | Antrozous pallidus | |||
| Piñon Deermouse | Peromyscus truei | |||
| Pinto Bat | Euderma maculatum | |||
| Plains Pocket Mouse | Perognathus flavescens | |||
| Silky Pocket Mouse | Perognathus flavus | Probably Present | ||
| Small-footed Myotis | Myotis ciliolabrum | |||
| Spotted Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus spilosoma | Probably Present | ||
| Western Harvest Mouse | Reithrodontomys megalotis | |||
| Western Pipistrelle | Pipistrellus hesperus | |||
| White-tailed Antelope Squirrel | Ammospermophilus leucurus | |||
| White-throated Woodrat | Neotoma albigula | |||
| Yuma Myotis | Myotis yumanensis |
Birds
212 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
212 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 | ||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Aegolius acadicus | ||
| White-throated Swift | Aeronautes saxatalis | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Rufous-crowned Sparrow | Aimophila ruficeps | ||
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | ||
| Sage Sparrow | Amphispiza belli | ||
| Black-throated Sparrow | Amphispiza bilineata | ||
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | ||
| American Wigeon | Anas americana | ||
| Common Teal | Anas crecca | ||
| Cinnamon Teal | Anas cyanoptera | ||
| Blue-winged Teal | Anas discors | ||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | ||
| American Pipit | Anthus rubescens | ||
| Western Scrub-Jay | Aphelocoma californica | ||
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ||
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Archilochus alexandri | ||
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | ||
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | ||
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | ||
| Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | Probably Present | |
| Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | ||
| Juniper Titmouse | Baeolophus ridgwayi | ||
| Rufous-capped Warbler | Basileuterus rufifrons | ||
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| Bohemian Waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus | ||
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | ||
| Snowy Owl | Bubo scandiacus | ||
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | ||
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | ||
| Roughleg | Buteo lagopus | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | ||
| Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | ||
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | ||
| Lapland Longspur | Calcarius lapponicus | ||
| Gambel's Quail | Callipepla gambelii | ||
| Scaled Quail | Callipepla squamata | ||
| Pine Siskin | Carduelis pinus | ||
| Lesser Goldfinch | Carduelis psaltria | ||
| American Goldfinch | Carduelis tristis | ||
| Cassin's Finch | Carpodacus cassinii | ||
| House Finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | ||
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Canyon Wren | Catherpes mexicanus | ||
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Belted Kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | ||
| Mountain Plover | Charadrius montanus | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Blue Goose | Chen caerulescens | ||
| Lark Sparrow | Chondestes grammacus | ||
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ||
| American Dipper | Cinclus mexicanus | ||
| Hen Harrier | Circus cyaneus | ||
| Marsh Wren | Cistothorus palustris | ||
| Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ||
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | ||
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | Non-native | |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | ||
| Western Wood Pewee | Contopus sordidulus | ||
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | ||
| Northern Raven | Corvus corax | ||
| Steller's Jay | Cyanocitta stelleri | ||
| American Black Swift | Cypseloides niger | ||
| Blue Grouse | Dendragapus obscurus | ||
| Dendroica coronata | Dendroica coronata | ||
| Dendroica graciae | Dendroica graciae | ||
| Dendroica magnolia | Dendroica magnolia | ||
| Dendroica nigrescens | Dendroica nigrescens | ||
| Dendroica petechia | Dendroica petechia | ||
| Dendroica townsendi | Dendroica townsendi | ||
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | ||
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | ||
| Hammond's Flycatcher | Empidonax hammondii | ||
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | ||
| American Dusky Flycatcher | Empidonax oberholseri | ||
| Cordilleran Flycatcher | Empidonax occidentalis | ||
| Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | ||
| American Grey Flycatcher | Empidonax wrightii | ||
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | ||
| 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 | ||
| Greater Roadrunner | Geococcyx californianus | ||
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Mountain Pygmy Owl | Glaucidium gnoma | ||
| Sandhill Crane | Grus canadensis | ||
| California Condor | Gymnogyps californianus | ||
| Pinyon Jay | Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus | ||
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ||
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | Icteria virens | ||
| Bullock's oriole | Icterus bullockii | ||
| Scott's Oriole | Icterus parisorum | ||
| Mississippi Kite | Ictinia mississippiensis | ||
| Varied Thrush | Ixoreus naevius | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | ||
| Great Grey Shrike | Lanius excubitor | ||
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | ||
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | ||
| Brown-capped Rosy Finch | Leucosticte australis | ||
| Gray-crowned Rosy Finch | Leucosticte tephrocotis | ||
| Marbled Godwit | Limosa fedoa | ||
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | ||
| Western Screech-Owl | Megascops kennicottii | ||
| Lewis' Woodpecker | Melanerpes lewis | ||
| Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | ||
| Lincoln's Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | ||
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | ||
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | ||
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | Non-native | |
| Townsend's Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | ||
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Myiarchus cinerascens | ||
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | ||
| Brown-crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus tyrannulus | ||
| Clark's Nutcracker | Nucifraga columbiana | ||
| Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | ||
| Oporornis tolmiei | Oporornis tolmiei | ||
| Sage Thrasher | Oreoscoptes montanus | ||
| Flammulated Owl | Otus flammeolus | ||
| Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | ||
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | ||
| Harris's Hawk | Parabuteo unicinctus | ||
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Non-native | |
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Lazuli Bunting | Passerina amoena | ||
| Blue Grosbeak | Passerina caerulea | ||
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | ||
| Varied Bunting | Passerina versicolor | ||
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | ||
| American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | ||
| Canada Jay | Perisoreus canadensis | ||
| American Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | ||
| Phainopepla | Phainopepla nitens | ||
| Common Poorwill | Phalaenoptilus nuttallii | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | ||
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | ||
| Black-billed Magpie | Pica hudsonia | ||
| American Three-toed woodpecker | Picoides dorsalis | ||
| Downy Woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker | Picoides villosus | ||
| Pine Grosbeak | Pinicola enucleator | ||
| Green-tailed Towhee | Pipilo chlorurus | ||
| Brown Towhee | Pipilo fuscus | ||
| Spotted Towhee | Pipilo maculatus | ||
| Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | ||
| White-faced ibis | Plegadis chihi | ||
| Black-necked Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | Probably Present | |
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | ||
| Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | ||
| Mountain Chickadee | Poecile gambeli | ||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | ||
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| American Bushtit | Psaltriparus minimus | ||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Regulus calendula | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | ||
| Sand Martin | Riparia riparia | ||
| Rock Wren | Salpinctes obsoletus | ||
| Say's Phoebe | Sayornis saya | ||
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Selasphorus platycercus | ||
| Rufous Hummingbird | Selasphorus rufus | ||
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | ||
| Mountain Bluebird | Sialia currucoides | ||
| Western Bluebird | Sialia mexicana | ||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | ||
| Pygmy Nuthatch | Sitta pygmaea | ||
| Red-naped Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus nuchalis | ||
| Williamson's Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus thyroideus | ||
| American Tree Sparrow | Spizella arborea | ||
| Brewer's Sparrow | Spizella breweri | ||
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | ||
| Field Sparrow | Spizella pusilla | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Calliope Hummingbird | Stellula calliope | ||
| Mexican Spotted Owl | Strix occidentalis lucida | Threatened | |
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | ||
| Common Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ||
| Violet-green Swallow | Tachycineta thalassina | ||
| Bewick's Wren | Thryomanes bewickii | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ||
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Winter Wren | Troglodytes troglodytes | ||
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | ||
| Tyrannus savana | Tyrannus savana | ||
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ||
| Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | ||
| Cassin's Kingbird | Tyrannus vociferans | ||
| Vermivora celata | Vermivora celata | ||
| Vermivora luciae | Vermivora luciae | ||
| Vermivora ruficapilla | Vermivora ruficapilla | ||
| Vermivora virginiae | Vermivora virginiae | ||
| Bell's Vireo | Vireo bellii | ||
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | ||
| Plumbeous Vireo | Vireo plumbeus | ||
| Gray Vireo | Vireo vicinior | ||
| Wilsonia pusilla | Wilsonia pusilla | ||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | ||
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys |
Reptiles
16 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
16 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plateau Striped Whiptail | Cnemidophorus velox | Common | ||
| Prairie Rattlesnake | Crotalus viridis | Common | ||
| Collared Lizard | Crotaphytus collaris | Common | ||
| Many-lined Skink | Eumeces multivirgatus | Rare | ||
| Common Earless Lizard | Holbrookia maculata | Rare | ||
| Night Snake | Hypsiglena torquata | Uncommon | ||
| Eastern Milk Snake | Lampropeltis triangulum | Rare | ||
| Striped Whipsnake | Masticophis taeniatus | Common | ||
| Smooth Green Snake | Opheodrys vernalis | Rare | ||
| Greater Short-horned Lizard | Phrynosoma hernandesi | Common | ||
| Bullsnake | Pituophis catenifer | Common | ||
| Sagebrush Lizard | Sceloporus graciosus | Abundant | ||
| Eastern Fence Lizard | Sceloporus undulatus | Abundant | ||
| Terrestrial Garter Snake | Thamnophis elegans | Common | ||
| Ornate Tree Lizard | Urosaurus ornatus | Common | ||
| Common Side-blotched Lizard | Uta stansburiana | Uncommon |
Amphibians
4 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
4 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Tiger Salamander | Ambystoma tigrinum | Uncommon | ||
| Red-spotted Toad | Bufo punctatus | Uncommon | ||
| Woodhouse's Toad | Bufo woodhousii | Uncommon | ||
| Mexican Spadefoot | Spea multiplicata | Probably Present |
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 Mesa Verde.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — Mesa Verde (MEVE) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.Mesa Verde National Park — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
FAQ
Mesa Verde wildlife questions
- Are there bears in Mesa Verde?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Mesa Verde records black bear as present, listed as common.
- Are there grizzly bears in Mesa Verde?
- No. The NPS species list marks grizzly / brown bear as "not in park" for Mesa Verde (NPS tag: Historical).
- Are there wolves in Mesa Verde?
- No. The NPS species list marks gray wolf as "not in park" for Mesa Verde (NPS tag: Historical).
- Are there mountain lions in Mesa Verde?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Mesa Verde records mountain lion as present, listed as common.
- Are there rattlesnakes in Mesa Verde?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Mesa Verde records rattlesnakes as present, listed as common.
- How many animal species live in Mesa Verde?
- The NPS species database lists 65 mammal, 210 bird, 16 reptile, 3 amphibian and 0 fish species as present or probably present in Mesa Verde, including 2 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.
Park'd · free on iPhone & Android
Keep a record of every park you visit.
Park'd stores your trips, photos and notes by park — the places you saw a bear, the trail you want to come back to.
