Wildlife
What lives in Mount Rainier
Last verified NPS species database
Every animal below comes from the National Park Service’s own species list for Mount Rainier: 58 mammals, 148 birds, 5 reptiles, 14 amphibians and 15 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 · Rare
Bobcat
Lynx rufus · Uncommon
Elk
Cervus elaphus · Abundant
Mountain goat
Oreamnos americanus · Common
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus alascanus
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos canadensis · Uncommon
Grizzly / brown bear
Ursus arctos
Gray wolf
Canis lupus
Canada lynx
Lynx canadensis · Historical
Wolverine
Gulo gulo · 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
- 60
- 69 listed · 1 non-native
- Birds
- 158
- 187 listed · 3 non-native
- Reptiles
- 5
- 5 listed
- Amphibians
- 14
- 16 listed
- Fish
- 15
- 23 listed · 7 non-native
Endangered Species Act
6 threatened or endangered species
Federal listing status as recorded in the NPS species database.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marbled Murrelet | Brachyramphus marmoratus | Uncommon | Threatened | |
| Lagopus leucura rainierensis | Lagopus leucura rainierensis | Uncommon | Threatened | |
| Northern Spotted Owl | Strix occidentalis caurina | Uncommon | Threatened | |
| Coho salmon | Oncorhynchus kisutch | Threatened | ||
| Rainbow trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Threatened | ||
| Chinook salmon | Oncorhynchus tshawytscha | Threatened |
Mammals
All 60 mammals recorded in Mount Rainier
Most abundant first, as the NPS rates them.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | Abundant | ||
| Douglas's Squirrel | Tamiasciurus douglasii | Abundant | ||
| Odocoileus hemionus columbianus | Odocoileus hemionus columbianus | Abundant | ||
| Townsend's Chipmunk | Tamias townsendii | Abundant | ||
| Wapiti | Cervus elaphus | Abundant | ||
| Yellow-pine Chipmunk | Tamias amoenus | Abundant | ||
| Aplodontia rufa rainieri | Aplodontia rufa rainieri | Common | ||
| Black Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | Common | ||
| Black bear | Ursus americanus | Common | ||
| Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus saturatus | Common | ||
| Coyote | Canis latrans | Common | ||
| Dusky shrew | Sorex monticolus | Common |
Show the other 48 mammals ↓The other 48
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flying squirrel | Glaucomys sabrinus | Common | ||
| Heather vole | Phenacomys intermedius | Common | ||
| Hoary marmot | Marmota caligata | Common | ||
| Little Brown Bat | Myotis lucifugus | Common | ||
| Mountain goat | Oreamnos americanus | Common | ||
| Oregon meadow mouse | Microtus oregoni | Common | ||
| Pacific jumping mouse | Zapus trinotatus | Common | ||
| Pika | Ochotona princeps | Common | ||
| Raccoon | Procyon lotor | Common | ||
| Shrew mole | Neurotrichus gibbsii | Common | ||
| Snowshoe hare | Lepus americanus | Common | ||
| Trowbridge's shrew | Sorex trowbridgii | Common | ||
| Vulpes vulpes cascadensis | Vulpes vulpes cascadensis | Common | ||
| Wandering shrew | Sorex vagrans | Common | ||
| Big Brown Bat | Eptesicus fuscus | Uncommon | ||
| Bobcat | Lynx rufus | Uncommon | ||
| California Myotis | Myotis californicus | Uncommon | ||
| Ermine | Mustela erminea | Uncommon | ||
| Long-tailed meadow mouse | Microtus longicaudus | Uncommon | ||
| Long-tailed weasel | Mustela frenata | Uncommon | ||
| Marsh shrew | Sorex bendirii | Uncommon | ||
| Marten | Martes americana | Uncommon | ||
| Mountain water shrew | Sorex palustris | Uncommon | ||
| Mule deer | Odocoileus hemionus hemionus | Uncommon | ||
| Red-backed mouse | Clethrionomys gapperi | Uncommon | ||
| Water vole | Microtus richardsoni | Uncommon | ||
| Western Spotted Skunk | Spilogale gracilis | Uncommon | ||
| Beaver | Castor canadensis | Rare | ||
| Common Otter | Lontra canadensis | Rare | ||
| Cougar | Puma concolor | Rare | ||
| Fisher | Pekania pennanti | Rare | ||
| Hoary Bat | Lasiurus cinereus | Rare | ||
| Long-eared Myotis | Myotis evotis | Rare | ||
| Long-legged Myotis | Myotis volans | Rare | ||
| Mink | Neovison vison | Rare | ||
| Porcupine | Erethizon dorsatum | Rare | ||
| Striped Skunk | Mephitis mephitis | Rare | ||
| Townsend's big-eared bat | Plecotus townsendii | Rare | ||
| Virginia Opossum | Didelphis virginiana | Rare | Non-native | |
| Yuma Myotis | Myotis yumanensis | Rare | ||
| Black-tailed deer | Odocoileus hemionus | |||
| Bushy-tailed woodrat | Neotoma cinerea | |||
| Coast Mole | Scapanus orarius | |||
| Keen's Mouse | Peromyscus keeni | |||
| Masked shrew | Sorex cinereus | Probably Present | ||
| Northern pocket gopher | Thomomys talpoides | |||
| Townsend's meadow vole | Microtus townsendii | |||
| Townsend's mole | Scapanus townsendii | Probably Present |
Birds
158 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
158 birds — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper's Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | ||
| Western Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis atricapillus | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | ||
| Western Grebe | Aechmophorus occidentalis | ||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Aegolius acadicus | ||
| Boreal Owl | Aegolius funereus | Probably Present | |
| Red-winged blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus caurinus | ||
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | ||
| American Pintail | Anas acuta | ||
| American Wigeon | Anas americana | ||
| Northern Shoveler | Anas clypeata | Probably Present | |
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | ||
| Cinnamon Teal | Anas cyanoptera | ||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | ||
| American Pipit | Anthus rubescens | ||
| Aquila chrysaetos canadensis | Aquila chrysaetos canadensis | ||
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | ||
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| Ruffed Grouse | Bonasa umbellus sabini | ||
| Marbled Murrelet | Brachyramphus marmoratus | Threatened | |
| 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 | ||
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | ||
| California Quail | Callipepla californica | Non-native | |
| Pine Siskin | Carduelis pinus | ||
| American Goldfinch | Carduelis tristis | ||
| Cassin's Finch | Carpodacus cassinii | ||
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus ustulatus | ||
| Canyon Wren | Catherpes mexicanus | ||
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Vaux's Swift | Chaetura vauxi | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Blue Goose | Chen caerulescens | Probably Present | |
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ||
| American Dipper | Cinclus mexicanus | ||
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | ||
| Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ||
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus cafer | ||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | ||
| Western Wood-Pewee | Contopus sordidulus | ||
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | ||
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | ||
| Steller's Jay | Cyanocitta stelleri | ||
| Black Swift | Cypseloides niger | ||
| Sooty Grouse | Dendragapus fuliginosus | ||
| Audobon's Warbler | Dendroica coronata auduboni | ||
| Black-throated Gray Warbler | Dendroica nigrescens | ||
| Hermit Warbler | Dendroica occidentalis | ||
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | ||
| Townsend's Warbler | Dendroica townsendi | ||
| Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | ||
| Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Empidonax difficilis difficilis | ||
| Hammond's Flycatcher | Empidonax hammondii | ||
| American Dusky Flycatcher | Empidonax oberholseri | ||
| Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii brewsteri | ||
| Eremophila alpestris alpina | Eremophila alpestris alpina | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | ||
| Merlin | Falco columbarius columbarius | ||
| Merlin | Falco columbarius suckleyi | Probably Present | |
| Prairie Falcon | Falco mexicanus | ||
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | ||
| American kestrel | Falco sparverius sparverius | ||
| Wilson's Snipe | Gallinago delicata | ||
| Common Loon | Gavia immer | ||
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Northern Pygmy Owl | Glaucidium gnoma grinnelli | ||
| Haliaeetus leucocephalus alascanus | Haliaeetus leucocephalus alascanus | ||
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Harlequin Duck | Histrionicus histrionicus | ||
| Varied Thrush | Ixoreus naevius naevius | ||
| Oregon Junco | Junco hyemalis oreganus | ||
| Lagopus leucura rainierensis | Lagopus leucura rainierensis | Threatened | |
| California Gull | Larus californicus | ||
| Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis | Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis | ||
| Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | ||
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | ||
| White-winged Crossbill | Loxia leucoptera | ||
| Belted kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | ||
| Megascops kennicottii kennicottii | Megascops kennicottii kennicottii | ||
| Lewis' Woodpecker | Melanerpes lewis | ||
| Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Probably Present | Non-native |
| Lincoln's Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | ||
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia morphna | ||
| American Merganser | Mergus merganser americanus | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | ||
| Clark's Nutcracker | Nucifraga columbiana | ||
| Oporornis tolmiei tolmiei | Oporornis tolmiei tolmiei | ||
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | ||
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Probably Present | Non-native |
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Fox Sparrow | Passerella iliaca | ||
| Patagioenas fasciata monilis | Patagioenas fasciata monilis | ||
| Gray Jay | Perisoreus canadensis obscurus | ||
| Red-necked Phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | Probably Present | |
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | ||
| Black-billed Magpie | Pica hudsonia | ||
| Black-backed Woodpecker | Picoides arcticus | ||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker | Picoides dorsalis fasciatus | ||
| Downy Woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker | Picoides villosus | ||
| Pine Grosbeak | Pinicola enucleator | ||
| Pipilo maculatus oregonus | Pipilo maculatus oregonus | ||
| Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | ||
| Snow-bunting | Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis | ||
| Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus occidentalis | ||
| Mountain Chickadee | Poecile gambeli baileyae | ||
| Chestnut-backed Chickadee | Poecile rufescens rufescens | ||
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| Bushtit | Psaltriparus minimus | ||
| Virginia Rail | Rallus limicola | ||
| Regulus calendula cineraceus | Regulus calendula cineraceus | ||
| Sitka Kinglet | Regulus calendula grinnelli | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa olivaceus | ||
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | Probably Present | |
| Rufous Hummingbird | Selasphorus rufus | ||
| Mountain Bluebird | Sialia currucoides | ||
| Western bluebird | Sialia mexicana occidentalis | ||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | ||
| Pygmy nuthatch | Sitta pygmaea melanotis | ||
| Red-breasted Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus ruber | ||
| Chipping sparrow | Spizella passerina arizonae | ||
| Calliope Hummingbird | Stellula calliope | ||
| Caspian Tern | Sterna caspia | ||
| Northern Spotted Owl | Strix occidentalis caurina | Threatened | |
| Barred Owl | Strix varia | Non-native | |
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | ||
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ||
| Tachycineta thalassina lepida | Tachycineta thalassina lepida | ||
| Thryomanes bewickii calophonus | Thryomanes bewickii calophonus | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Western Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria cinnamomea | ||
| Troglodytes aedon parkmanii | Troglodytes aedon parkmanii | ||
| Pacific wren | Troglodytes pacificus pacificus | ||
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius caurinus | ||
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | Probably Present | |
| Orange-crowned Warbler | Vermivora celata lutescens | ||
| Vermivora ruficapilla ridgwayi | Vermivora ruficapilla ridgwayi | ||
| Cassin's Vireo | Vireo cassinii | ||
| Cassin's Vireo | Vireo gilvus swainsoni | ||
| Hutton's Vireo | Vireo huttoni | ||
| Wilson's Warbler | Wilsonia pusilla chryseola | ||
| Golden-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia atricapilla | Probably Present | |
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys pugetensis |
Reptiles
5 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
5 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Rubber Boa | Charina bottae | Uncommon | ||
| Northern Alligator Lizard | Elgaria coerulea principis | Uncommon | ||
| Terrestrial Garter Snake | Thamnophis elegans | Rare | ||
| Northwestern garter snake | Thamnophis ordinoides | Uncommon | ||
| Common Garter Snake | Thamnophis sirtalis | Uncommon |
Amphibians
14 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
14 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern salamander | Ambystoma gracile | Common | ||
| Long-toed salamander | Ambystoma macrodactylum | Common | ||
| Western Toad | Anaxyrus boreas | Rare | ||
| Tailed frog | Ascaphus truei | Common | ||
| Cope's Giant Salamander | Dicamptodon copei | |||
| Coastal Giant Salamander | Dicamptodon tenebrosus | Uncommon | ||
| Oregon Ensatina | Ensatina eschscholtzii oregonensis | Common | ||
| Larch Mountain Salamander | Plethodon larselli | Rare | ||
| Van Dyke's salamander | Plethodon vandykei | Rare | ||
| Western red-backed salamander | Plethodon vehiculum | Common | ||
| Pacific treefrog | Pseudacris regilla | Common | ||
| Red-legged frog | Rana aurora | Uncommon | ||
| Cascades frog | Rana cascadae | Common | ||
| Roughskin newt | Taricha granulosa | Uncommon |
Fish
15 fish — show the list ↓
Fish
15 fish — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prickly sculpin | Cottus asper | Rare | Non-native | |
| Shorthead sculpin | Cottus confusus | Common | ||
| Torrent sculpin | Cottus rhotheus | Rare | Non-native | |
| Alaskan stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | Non-native | ||
| Yellowstone cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri | Non-native | ||
| Coastal cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii | |||
| Westslope cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi | Non-native | ||
| Pink Salmon | Oncorhynchus gorbuscha | Occasional | ||
| Coho salmon | Oncorhynchus kisutch | Threatened | ||
| Rainbow trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Threatened | ||
| Blueback salmon | Oncorhynchus nerka | Non-native | ||
| Chinook salmon | Oncorhynchus tshawytscha | Threatened | ||
| Mountain whitefish | Prosopium williamsoni | |||
| Bull trout | Salvelinus confluentus | Rare | ||
| Brook trout | Salvelinus fontinalis | 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 Mount Rainier.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — Mount Rainier (MORA) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.Mount Rainier National Park — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
FAQ
Mount Rainier wildlife questions
- Are there bears in Mount Rainier?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Mount Rainier records black bear as present, listed as common.
- Are there grizzly bears in Mount Rainier?
- Unconfirmed. Grizzly / brown bear appear on the park's NPS species list as "unconfirmed" — reported but not verified in the park.
- Are there wolves in Mount Rainier?
- 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 Mount Rainier?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Mount Rainier records mountain lion as present, listed as rare.
- Are there rattlesnakes in Mount Rainier?
- The NPS species list for Mount Rainier does not include rattlesnakes, so there is no record of them in the park.
- How many animal species live in Mount Rainier?
- The NPS species database lists 58 mammal, 148 bird, 5 reptile, 14 amphibian and 15 fish species as present or probably present in Mount Rainier, including 6 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.
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