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Wildlife

What lives in New River Gorge

Last verified NPS species database
Every animal below comes from the National Park Service’s own species list for New River Gorge: 51 mammals, 192 birds, 20 reptiles, 29 amphibians and 48 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 · Uncommon

Present

Coyote

Canis latrans · Uncommon

Present

Bobcat

Lynx rufus · Uncommon

Present

Rattlesnakes

Crotalus horridus · Uncommon · any rattlesnake species

Present

Bald eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Uncommon

Present

Golden eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Present

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
51
56 listed · 3 non-native
Birds
192
196 listed · 4 non-native
Reptiles
22
23 listed
Amphibians
30
37 listed
Fish
54
61 listed · 18 non-native

Endangered Species Act

3 threatened or endangered species

Federal listing status as recorded in the NPS species database.
SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkAbundanceNotes
Virginia big-eared batCorynorhinus townsendii virginianusPresentUnknownEndangered
Northern long-eared batMyotis septentrionalisPresentUnknownEndangered
Indiana batMyotis sodalisPresentUnknownEndangered

Mammals

All 51 mammals recorded in New River Gorge

Most abundant first, as the NPS rates them.
SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkAbundanceNotes
Eastern chipmunkTamias striatusPresentAbundant—
Cinereus shrewSorex cinereusPresentCommon—
Eastern cottontailSylvilagus floridanusPresentCommon—
Eastern fox squirrelSciurus nigerPresentCommon—
Eastern gray squirrelSciurus carolinensisPresentCommon—
Field mouseMicrotus pennsylvanicusPresentCommon—
Gray foxUrocyon cinereoargenteusPresentCommon—
GroundhogMarmota monaxPresentCommon—
Hairy-tailed moleParascalops breweriPresentCommon—
North American deermousePeromyscus maniculatusPresentCommon—
Northern short-tailed shrewBlarina brevicaudaPresentCommon—
Pine voleMicrotus pinetorumPresentCommon—
Show the other 39 mammals ↓
SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkAbundanceNotes
RaccoonProcyon lotorPresentCommon—
Red foxVulpes vulpesPresentCommon—
Red squirrelTamiasciurus hudsonicusPresentCommon—
Southern flying squirrelGlaucomys volansPresentCommon—
Southern red-backed voleMyodes gapperiPresentCommon—
Striped skunkMephitis mephitisPresentCommon—
Virginia opossumDidelphis virginianaPresentCommon—
White-footed deermousePeromyscus leucopusPresentCommon—
White-tailed deerOdocoileus virginianusPresentCommon—
Woodland jumping mouseNapaeozapus insignisPresentCommon—
Allegheny woodratNeotoma magisterPresentUncommon—
American beaverCastor canadensisPresentUncommon—
American black bearUrsus americanusPresentUncommon—
American minkMustela visonPresentUncommon—
American pygmy shrewSorex hoyiPresentUncommon—
BobcatLynx rufusPresentUncommon—
Common muskratOndatra zibethicusPresentUncommon—
CoyoteCanis latransPresentUncommon—
Domestic dogCanis lupus familiarisPresentUncommonNon-native
Domestic/feral catFelis catusPresentUncommonNon-native
Eastern moleScalopus aquaticusPresentUncommon—
Golden mouseOchrotomys nuttalliPresentUncommon—
House mouseMus musculusPresentUncommonNon-native
Long-tailed shrewSorex disparPresentUncommon—
Long-tailed weaselMustela frenataPresentUncommon—
Smoky shrewSorex fumeusPresentUncommon—
Southern bog lemmingSynaptomys cooperiPresentUncommon—
FisherMartes pennantiPresentRare—
Big brown myotisEptesicus fuscusPresentUnknown—
Eastern red batLasiurus borealisPresentUnknown—
Eastern small-footed myotisMyotis leibiiPresentUnknown—
Indiana batMyotis sodalisPresentUnknownEndangered
Little brown myotisMyotis lucifugusPresentUnknown—
North American Hoary BatAeorestes cinereusPresentUnknown—
North American river otterLontra canadensisPresentUnknown—
Northern long-eared batMyotis septentrionalisPresentUnknownEndangered
Silver-haired batLasionycteris noctivagansPresentUnknown—
Tricolored batPerimyotis subflavusPresentUnknown—
Virginia big-eared batCorynorhinus townsendii virginianusPresentUnknownEndangered

Birds

192 birds — show the list ↓

SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkNotes
Cooper's hawkAccipiter cooperiiPresent—
Sharp-shinned hawkAccipiter striatusPresent—
Spotted sandpiperActitis maculariusPresent—
Northern saw-whet owlAegolius acadicusPresent—
Red-winged blackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusPresent—
Wood duckAix sponsaPresent—
Grasshopper sparrowAmmodramus savannarumPresent—
Northern pintailAnas acutaPresent—
American wigeonAnas americanaPresent—
Green-winged tealAnas creccaPresent—
Blue-winged tealAnas discorsPresent—
MallardAnas platyrhynchosPresent—
American black duckAnas rubripesPresent—
GadwallAnas streperaPresent—
Whip-poor-willAntrostomus vociferusPresent—
Golden eagleAquila chrysaetosPresent—
Ruby-throated hummingbirdArchilochus colubrisPresent—
Great blue heronArdea herodiasPresent—
Lesser scaupAythya affinisPresent—
RedheadAythya americanaPresent—
Ring-necked duckAythya collarisPresent—
CanvasbackAythya valisineriaPresent—
Tufted titmouseBaeolophus bicolorPresent—
Cedar waxwingBombycilla cedrorumPresent—
Ruffed grouseBonasa umbellusPresent—
Canada gooseBranta canadensisPresent—
Great horned owlBubo virginianusPresent—
BuffleheadBucephala albeolaPresent—
Common goldeneyeBucephala clangulaPresent—
Red-tailed hawkButeo jamaicensisPresent—
Rough-legged hawkButeo lagopusPresent—
Red-shouldered hawkButeo lineatusPresent—
Broad-winged hawkButeo platypterusPresent—
Green heronButorides virescensPresent—
Canada WarblerCardellina canadensisPresent—
Wilson's warblerCardellina pusillaPresent—
Northern cardinalCardinalis cardinalisPresent—
House finchCarpodacus mexicanusPresent—
Purple finchCarpodacus purpureusPresent—
Turkey vultureCathartes auraPresent—
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPresent—
Hermit thrushCatharus guttatusPresent—
Swainson's thrushCatharus ustulatusPresent—
Brown creeperCerthia americanaPresent—
Chimney swiftChaetura pelagicaPresent—
KilldeerCharadrius vociferusPresent—
Common nighthawkChordeiles minorPresent—
Bonaparte's gullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPresent—
Northern harrierCircus cyaneusPresent—
Marsh wrenCistothorus palustrisPresent—
Evening grosbeakCoccothraustes vespertinusPresent—
Yellow-billed cuckooCoccyzus americanusPresent—
Black-billed cuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPresent—
Northern flickerColaptes auratusPresent—
Rock doveColumba liviaPresentNon-native
Olive-sided flycatcherContopus cooperiPresent—
Eastern wood-peweeContopus virensPresent—
Black vultureCoragyps atratusPresent—
American crowCorvus brachyrhynchosPresent—
Common ravenCorvus coraxPresent—
Blue jayCyanocitta cristataPresent—
Mute swanCygnus olorPresentNon-native
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensPresent—
Pileated woodpeckerDryocopus pileatusPresent—
Gray catbirdDumetella carolinensisPresent—
Little blue heronEgretta caeruleaPresent—
Yellow-bellied flycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPresent—
Least flycatcherEmpidonax minimusPresent—
Willow flycatcherEmpidonax trailliiPresent—
Acadian flycatcherEmpidonax virescensPresent—
Horned larkEromophila alpestrisPresent—
Rusty blackbirdEuphagus carolinusPresent—
Peregrine falconFalco peregrinusPresent—
American kestrelFalco sparveriusPresent—
American cootFulica americanaPresent—
Wilson's snipeGallinago delicataPresent—
Common loonGavia immerPresent—
Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosaPresent—
Mourning warblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPresent—
Common yellowthroatGeothlypis trichasPresent—
Bald ealgleHaliaeetus leucocephalusPresent—
Worm-eating warblerHelmitheros vermivorumPresent—
Barn swallowHirundo rusticaPresent—
Wood thrushHylocichla mustelinaPresent—
Yellow-breasted chatIcteria virensPresent—
Baltimore orioleIcterus galbulaPresent—
Orchard orioleIcterus spuriusPresent—
Dark-eyed juncoJunco hyemalisPresent—
Herring gullLarus argentatusPresent—
Ring-billed gullLarus delawarensisPresent—
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPresent—
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusPresent—
Swainson's warblerLimnothlypis swainsoniiPresent—
Hooded merganserLophodytes cucullatusPresent—
Belted kingfisherMegaceryle alcyonPresent—
Eastern screech owlMegascops asioPresent—
Red-bellied woodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusPresent—
Red-headed woodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusPresent—
Wild turkeyMeleagris gallopavoPresent—
Swamp sparrowMelospiza georgianaPresent—
Lincoln's sparrowMelospiza lincolniiPresent—
Song sparrowMelospiza melodiaPresent—
Common merganserMergus merganserPresent—
Red-breasted merganserMergus serratorPresent—
Northern mockingbirdMimus polyglottosPresent—
Black-and-white warblerMniotilta variaPresent—
Brown-headed cowbirdMolothrus aterPresent—
Great-crested flycatcherMyiarchus crinitusPresent—
Ruddy duckOxyura jamaicensisPresent—
OspreyPandion haliaetusPresent—
Louisiana WaterthrushParkesia motacillaPresent—
Northern waterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPresent—
House sparrowPasser domesticusPresentNon-native
Savannah sparrowPasserculus sandwichensisPresent—
Fox sparrowPasserella iliacaPresent—
Indigo buntingPasserina cyaneaPresent—
Cliff swallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonotaPresent—
Double-creasted cormorantPhalacrocorax auritusPresent—
Rose-breasted grosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPresent—
Eastern towheePipilo erythrophthalmusPresent—
Scarlet tanagerPiranga olivaceaPresent—
Summer tanagerPiranga rubraPresent—
Horned grebePodiceps auritusPresent—
Pied-billed grebePodilymbus podicepsPresent—
Black-capped chickadeePoecile atricapillusPresent—
Carolina chickadeePoecile carolinensisPresent—
Blue-gray gnatcatcherPolioptila caeruleaPresent—
Vesper sparrowPooecetes gramineusPresent—
Purple martinProgne subisPresent—
Common grackleQuiscalus quisculaPresent—
Ruby-crowned kingletRegulus calendulaPresent—
Golden-crowned kingletRegulus satrapaPresent—
Bank swallowRiparia ripariaPresent—
Eastern phoebeSayornis phoebePresent—
American woodcockScolopax minorPresent—
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPresent—
Northern ParulaSetophaga americanaPresent—
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPresent—
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPresent—
Cerulean WarblerSetophaga ceruleaPresent—
Hooded WarblerSetophaga citrinaPresent—
Myrtle WarblerSetophaga coronataPresent—
Prairie WarblerSetophaga discolorPresent—
Yellow-throated WarblerSetophaga dominicaPresent—
Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fuscaPresent—
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPresent—
Palm warblerSetophaga palmarumPresent—
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPresent—
Mangrove WarblerSetophaga petechiaPresent—
Pine WarblerSetophaga pinusPresent—
American redstartSetophaga ruticillaPresent—
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPresent—
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPresent—
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPresent—
Eastern bluebirdSialia sialisPresent—
Red-breasted nuthatchSitta canadensisPresent—
White-breasted nuthatchSitta carolinensisPresent—
Yellow-bellied sapsuckerSphyrapicus variusPresent—
Pine siskinSpinus pinusPresent—
American goldfinchSpinus tristisPresent—
DickcisselSpiza americanaPresent—
American tree sparrowSpizella arboreaPresent—
Chipping sparrowSpizella passerinaPresent—
Field sparrowSpizella pusillaPresent—
Northern rough-winged swallowStelgidopteryx serripennisPresent—
Common ternSterna hirundoPresent—
Barred owlStrix variaPresent—
Eastern meadowlarkSturnella magnaPresent—
European starlingSturnus vulgarisPresentNon-native
Tree swallowTachycineta bicolorPresent—
Carolin wrenThryothorus ludovicianusPresent—
Brown thrasherToxostoma rufumPresent—
Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesPresent—
Greater yellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPresent—
WilletTringa semipalmataPresent—
Solitary sandpiperTringa solitariaPresent—
House wrenTroglodytes aedonPresent—
Troglodytes hiemalisTroglodytes hiemalisPresent—
American robinTurdus migratoriusPresent—
Eastern kingbirdTyrannus tyrannusPresent—
Golden-winged warblerVermivora chrysopteraPresent—
Blue-winged WarblerVermivora cyanopteraPresent—
Golden-winged and blue-winged warbler hybridVermivora cyanoptera x chrysopteraPresent—
Yellow-throated vireoVireo flavifronsPresent—
Warbling vireoVireo gilvusPresent—
White-eyed vireoVireo griseusPresent—
Red-eyed vireoVireo olivaceusPresent—
Philadelphia vireoVireo philadelphicusPresent—
Blue-headed vireoVireo solitariusPresent—
Mourning doveZenaida macrouraPresent—
White-throated sparrowZonotrichia albicollisPresent—
White-crowned sparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPresent—

Reptiles

22 reptiles — show the list ↓

SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkAbundanceNotes
Northern copperheadAgkistrodon contortrix mokasenPresentCommon—
Eastern wormsnakeCarphophis amoenus amoenusPresentRare—
Eastern snapping turtleChelydra serpentina serpentinaPresentCommon—
Midland painted turtleChrysemys picta marginataPresentUncommon—
Northern black racerColuber constrictor constrictorPresentUncommon—
Timber rattlesnakeCrotalus horridusPresentUncommon—
Northern ring-necked snakeDiadophis punctatus edwardsiiPresentCommon—
Wood turtleGlyptemys insculptaProbably Present——
Northern map turtleGraptemys geographicaProbably Present——
Eastern milksnakeLampropeltis triangulum triangulumPresentUncommon—
Common watersnakeNerodia sipedon sipedonPresentCommon—
Northern rough greensnakeOpheodrys aestivus aestivusPresentRare—
Eastern ratsnakePantherophis alleghaniensisPresentCommon—
Common five-lined skinkPlestiodon fasciatusPresentCommon—
Broad-headed skinkPlestiodon laticepsPresentUncommon—
Eastern river cooterPseudemys concinna concinnaPresentRare—
Queen snakeRegina septemvittataPresentUncommon—
Eastern fence-lizardSceloporus undulatusPresentCommon—
Eastern musk turtleSternotherus odoratusPresentUncommon—
Northern red-bellied snakeStoreria occipitomaculata occipitomaculataPresentUncommon—
Eastern box turtleTerrapene carolina carolinaPresentCommon—
Eastern gartersnakeThamnophis sirtalis sirtalisPresentCommon—

Amphibians

30 amphibians — show the list ↓

SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkAbundanceNotes
Jefferson salamanderAmbystoma jeffersonianumPresentUncommon—
Spotted salamanderAmbystoma maculatumPresentCommon—
American ToadAnaxyrus americanusPresentCommon—
Fowler's toadAnaxyrus fowleriPresentUncommon—
Green salamanderAneides aeneusPresentCommon—
Northern dusky salamanderDesmognathus fuscusPresentCommon—
Seal salamanderDesmognathus monticolaPresentAbundant—
Allegheny Mountain dusky salamanderDesmognathus ochrophaeusPresentAbundant—
Black-bellied salamanderDesmognathus quadramaculatusPresentCommon—
Southern two-lined salamanderEurycea cirrigeraPresentCommon—
Long-tailed salamanderEurycea longicauda longicaudaPresentUncommon—
Cave salamanderEurycea lucifugaPresentUncommon—
Northern spring salamanderGyrinophilus porphyriticus porphyriticusPresentCommon—
Four-toed salamanderHemidactylium scutatumPresentUncommon—
Cope's gray treefrogHyla chrysoscelisPresentCommon—
American bullfrogLithobates catesbeianusPresentUncommon—
Northern green frogLithobates clamitans melanotaPresentAbundant—
Pickerel frogLithobates palustrisPresentUncommon—
Wood frogLithobates sylvaticusPresentCommon—
Common mudpuppyNecturus maculosus maculosusProbably Present——
Red eftNotophthalmus viridescens viridescensPresentAbundant—
Eastern red-backed salamanderPlethodon cinereusPresentCommon—
Northern slimy salamanderPlethodon glutinosusPresentCommon—
Cumberland Plateau salamanderPlethodon kentuckiPresentCommon—
Southern ravine salamanderPlethodon richmondiPresentRare—
Wehrle's salamanderPlethodon wehrleiPresentUncommon—
Mountain chorus frogPseudacris brachyphonaPresentCommon—
Spring peeperPseudacris cruciferPresentAbundant—
Midland mud salamanderPseudotriton montanus diastictusPresentRare—
Northern red salamanderPseudotriton ruber ruberPresentUncommon—

Fish

54 fish — show the list ↓

SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkAbundanceNotes
Rock bassAmbloplites rupestrisPresentAbundantNon-native
Yellow bullheadAmeiurus natalisPresentRare—
Central stonerollerCampostoma anomalumPresentAbundant—
White SuckerCatostomus commersoniiPresentRare—
Mountain Redbelly DaceChrosomus oreasPresentRare—
Rosyside DaceClinostomus funduloidesPresentUncommon—
Mottled sculpinCottus bairdiiPresentUnknown—
Whitetail shinerCyprinella galacturaPresentCommon—
Spotfin shinerCyprinella spilopteraPresentCommon—
Common carpCyprinus carpioPresentCommonNon-native
Gizzard shadDorosoma cepedianumPresentOccasionalNon-native
Greenside darterEtheostoma blennioidesPresentCommon—
Rainbow darterEtheostoma caeruleumPresentCommonNon-native
Fantail darterEtheostoma flabellarePresentUncommon—
Variegate darterEtheostoma variatumPresentCommonNon-native
Northern Hog SuckerHypentelium nigricansPresentCommon—
Channel catfishIctalurus punctatusPresentUncommon—
Brook silversideLabidesthes sicculusPresentRareNon-native
Redbreast sunfishLepomis auritusPresentUncommonNon-native
Green sunfishLepomis cyanellusPresentUncommon—
PumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusPresentRareNon-native
BluegillLepomis macrochirusPresentUncommonNon-native
Longear sunfishLepomis megalotisPresentCommonNon-native
White shinerLuxilus albeolusPresent——
Striped shinerLuxilus chrysocephalusProbably Present—Non-native
Smallmouth bassMicropterus dolomieuPresentAbundantNon-native
Spotted bassMicropterus punctulatusPresentRareNon-native
Largemouth bassMicropterus salmoidesPresentRareNon-native
Bluehead ChubNocomis leptocephalusPresent——
Bigmouth chubNocomis platyrhynchusPresentAbundant—
Golden shinerNotemigonus crysoleucasProbably Present——
Spottail shinerNotropis hudsoniusPresentCommon—
Silver shinerNotropis photogenisProbably Present——
Rosyface shinerNotropis rubellusPresentUncommon—
Sand shinerNotropis stramineusProbably Present——
Telescope shinerNotropis telescopusPresentCommon—
Mimic shinerNotropis volucellusPresentOccasional—
Rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykissPresentUncommonNon-native
Yellow perchPerca flavescensProbably Present——
LogperchPercina caprodesPresentCommon—
Blackside darterPercina maculataProbably Present——
Sharpnose darterPercina oxyrhynchusPresentCommon—
Roanoke darterPercina roanokaPresentCommon—
Bluntnose minnowPimephales notatusPresentUncommon—
Fathead minnowPimephales promelasPresentOccasionalNon-native
White crappiePomoxis annularisPresentOccasionalNon-native
Black crappiePomoxis nigromaculatusPresentOccasionalNon-native
Flathead catfishPylodictis olivarisPresentCommon—
Blacknose daceRhinichthys atratulusPresentCommon—
Longnose daceRhinichthys cataractaePresentRare—
Brown troutSalmo truttaPresentUncommonNon-native
Brook troutSalvelinus fontinalisPresentRare—
WalleyeSander vitreusPresentUncommon—
Creek chubSemotilus atromaculatusPresentUncommon—

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 New River Gorge.

FAQ

New River Gorge wildlife questions

Are there bears in New River Gorge?
Yes. The NPS species list for New River Gorge records black bear as present, listed as uncommon.
Are there wolves in New River Gorge?
The NPS species list for New River Gorge does not include gray wolf, so there is no record of them in the park.
Are there mountain lions in New River Gorge?
The NPS species list for New River Gorge does not include mountain lion, so there is no record of them in the park.
Are there rattlesnakes in New River Gorge?
Yes. The NPS species list for New River Gorge records rattlesnakes as present, listed as uncommon.
How many animal species live in New River Gorge?
The NPS species database lists 51 mammal, 192 bird, 20 reptile, 29 amphibian and 48 fish species as present or probably present in New River Gorge, including 3 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.

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