What lives in New River Gorge

Animals people ask about
Black bear
Ursus americanus · Uncommon
Coyote
Canis latrans · Uncommon
Bobcat
Lynx rufus · Uncommon
Rattlesnakes
Crotalus horridus · Uncommon · any rattlesnake species
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Uncommon
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
By group
Species counts
- 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
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia big-eared bat | Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus | Endangered | ||
| Northern long-eared bat | Myotis septentrionalis | Endangered | ||
| Indiana bat | Myotis sodalis | Endangered |
Mammals
All 51 mammals recorded in New River Gorge
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern chipmunk | Tamias striatus | Abundant | ||
| Cinereus shrew | Sorex cinereus | Common | ||
| Eastern cottontail | Sylvilagus floridanus | Common | ||
| Eastern fox squirrel | Sciurus niger | Common | ||
| Eastern gray squirrel | Sciurus carolinensis | Common | ||
| Field mouse | Microtus pennsylvanicus | Common | ||
| Gray fox | Urocyon cinereoargenteus | Common | ||
| Groundhog | Marmota monax | Common | ||
| Hairy-tailed mole | Parascalops breweri | Common | ||
| North American deermouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | Common | ||
| Northern short-tailed shrew | Blarina brevicauda | Common | ||
| Pine vole | Microtus pinetorum | Common |
Show the other 39 mammals ↓The other 39
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Procyon lotor | Common | ||
| Red fox | Vulpes vulpes | Common | ||
| Red squirrel | Tamiasciurus hudsonicus | Common | ||
| Southern flying squirrel | Glaucomys volans | Common | ||
| Southern red-backed vole | Myodes gapperi | Common | ||
| Striped skunk | Mephitis mephitis | Common | ||
| Virginia opossum | Didelphis virginiana | Common | ||
| White-footed deermouse | Peromyscus leucopus | Common | ||
| White-tailed deer | Odocoileus virginianus | Common | ||
| Woodland jumping mouse | Napaeozapus insignis | Common | ||
| Allegheny woodrat | Neotoma magister | Uncommon | ||
| American beaver | Castor canadensis | Uncommon | ||
| American black bear | Ursus americanus | Uncommon | ||
| American mink | Mustela vison | Uncommon | ||
| American pygmy shrew | Sorex hoyi | Uncommon | ||
| Bobcat | Lynx rufus | Uncommon | ||
| Common muskrat | Ondatra zibethicus | Uncommon | ||
| Coyote | Canis latrans | Uncommon | ||
| Domestic dog | Canis lupus familiaris | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Domestic/feral cat | Felis catus | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Eastern mole | Scalopus aquaticus | Uncommon | ||
| Golden mouse | Ochrotomys nuttalli | Uncommon | ||
| House mouse | Mus musculus | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Long-tailed shrew | Sorex dispar | Uncommon | ||
| Long-tailed weasel | Mustela frenata | Uncommon | ||
| Smoky shrew | Sorex fumeus | Uncommon | ||
| Southern bog lemming | Synaptomys cooperi | Uncommon | ||
| Fisher | Martes pennanti | Rare | ||
| Big brown myotis | Eptesicus fuscus | |||
| Eastern red bat | Lasiurus borealis | |||
| Eastern small-footed myotis | Myotis leibii | |||
| Indiana bat | Myotis sodalis | Endangered | ||
| Little brown myotis | Myotis lucifugus | |||
| North American Hoary Bat | Aeorestes cinereus | |||
| North American river otter | Lontra canadensis | |||
| Northern long-eared bat | Myotis septentrionalis | Endangered | ||
| Silver-haired bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | |||
| Tricolored bat | Perimyotis subflavus | |||
| Virginia big-eared bat | Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus | Endangered |
Birds
192 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
192 birds — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper's hawk | Accipiter cooperii | ||
| Sharp-shinned hawk | Accipiter striatus | ||
| Spotted sandpiper | Actitis macularius | ||
| Northern saw-whet owl | Aegolius acadicus | ||
| Red-winged blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Wood duck | Aix sponsa | ||
| Grasshopper sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum | ||
| Northern pintail | Anas acuta | ||
| American wigeon | Anas americana | ||
| Green-winged teal | Anas crecca | ||
| Blue-winged teal | Anas discors | ||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | ||
| American black duck | Anas rubripes | ||
| Gadwall | Anas strepera | ||
| Whip-poor-will | Antrostomus vociferus | ||
| Golden eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ||
| Ruby-throated hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | ||
| Great blue heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Lesser scaup | Aythya affinis | ||
| Redhead | Aythya americana | ||
| Ring-necked duck | Aythya collaris | ||
| Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | ||
| Tufted titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | ||
| Cedar waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| Ruffed grouse | Bonasa umbellus | ||
| Canada goose | Branta canadensis | ||
| Great horned owl | Bubo virginianus | ||
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | ||
| Common goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | ||
| Red-tailed hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | ||
| Rough-legged hawk | Buteo lagopus | ||
| Red-shouldered hawk | Buteo lineatus | ||
| Broad-winged hawk | Buteo platypterus | ||
| Green heron | Butorides virescens | ||
| Canada Warbler | Cardellina canadensis | ||
| Wilson's warbler | Cardellina pusilla | ||
| Northern cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | ||
| House finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | ||
| Purple finch | Carpodacus purpureus | ||
| Turkey vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | ||
| Hermit thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Swainson's thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ||
| Brown creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Chimney swift | Chaetura pelagica | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Common nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ||
| Bonaparte's gull | Chroicocephalus philadelphia | ||
| Northern harrier | Circus cyaneus | ||
| Marsh wren | Cistothorus palustris | ||
| Evening grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ||
| Yellow-billed cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | ||
| Black-billed cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | ||
| Northern flicker | Colaptes auratus | ||
| Rock dove | Columba livia | Non-native | |
| Olive-sided flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | ||
| Eastern wood-pewee | Contopus virens | ||
| Black vulture | Coragyps atratus | ||
| American crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | ||
| Common raven | Corvus corax | ||
| Blue jay | Cyanocitta cristata | ||
| Mute swan | Cygnus olor | Non-native | |
| Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | ||
| Pileated woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | ||
| Gray catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | ||
| Little blue heron | Egretta caerulea | ||
| Yellow-bellied flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | ||
| Least flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | ||
| Willow flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | ||
| Acadian flycatcher | Empidonax virescens | ||
| Horned lark | Eromophila alpestris | ||
| Rusty blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | ||
| Peregrine falcon | Falco peregrinus | ||
| American kestrel | Falco sparverius | ||
| American coot | Fulica americana | ||
| Wilson's snipe | Gallinago delicata | ||
| Common loon | Gavia immer | ||
| Kentucky Warbler | Geothlypis formosa | ||
| Mourning warbler | Geothlypis philadelphia | ||
| Common yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Bald ealgle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ||
| Worm-eating warbler | Helmitheros vermivorum | ||
| Barn swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Wood thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | ||
| Yellow-breasted chat | Icteria virens | ||
| Baltimore oriole | Icterus galbula | ||
| Orchard oriole | Icterus spurius | ||
| Dark-eyed junco | Junco hyemalis | ||
| Herring gull | Larus argentatus | ||
| Ring-billed gull | Larus delawarensis | ||
| Tennessee Warbler | Leiothlypis peregrina | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker | Leuconotopicus villosus | ||
| Swainson's warbler | Limnothlypis swainsonii | ||
| Hooded merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | ||
| Belted kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | ||
| Eastern screech owl | Megascops asio | ||
| Red-bellied woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | ||
| Red-headed woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | ||
| Wild turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | ||
| Swamp sparrow | Melospiza georgiana | ||
| Lincoln's sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | ||
| Song sparrow | Melospiza melodia | ||
| Common merganser | Mergus merganser | ||
| Red-breasted merganser | Mergus serrator | ||
| Northern mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | ||
| Black-and-white warbler | Mniotilta varia | ||
| Brown-headed cowbird | Molothrus ater | ||
| Great-crested flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | ||
| Ruddy duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | ||
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | ||
| Louisiana Waterthrush | Parkesia motacilla | ||
| Northern waterthrush | Parkesia noveboracensis | ||
| House sparrow | Passer domesticus | Non-native | |
| Savannah sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Fox sparrow | Passerella iliaca | ||
| Indigo bunting | Passerina cyanea | ||
| Cliff swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | ||
| Double-creasted cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | ||
| Rose-breasted grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | ||
| Eastern towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | ||
| Scarlet tanager | Piranga olivacea | ||
| Summer tanager | Piranga rubra | ||
| Horned grebe | Podiceps auritus | ||
| Pied-billed grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | ||
| Black-capped chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | ||
| Carolina chickadee | Poecile carolinensis | ||
| Blue-gray gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | ||
| Vesper sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| Purple martin | Progne subis | ||
| Common grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | ||
| Ruby-crowned kinglet | Regulus calendula | ||
| Golden-crowned kinglet | Regulus satrapa | ||
| Bank swallow | Riparia riparia | ||
| Eastern phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | ||
| American woodcock | Scolopax minor | ||
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | ||
| Northern Parula | Setophaga americana | ||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Setophaga caerulescens | ||
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Setophaga castanea | ||
| Cerulean Warbler | Setophaga cerulea | ||
| Hooded Warbler | Setophaga citrina | ||
| Myrtle Warbler | Setophaga coronata | ||
| Prairie Warbler | Setophaga discolor | ||
| Yellow-throated Warbler | Setophaga dominica | ||
| Blackburnian Warbler | Setophaga fusca | ||
| Magnolia Warbler | Setophaga magnolia | ||
| Palm warbler | Setophaga palmarum | ||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Setophaga pensylvanica | ||
| Mangrove Warbler | Setophaga petechia | ||
| Pine Warbler | Setophaga pinus | ||
| American redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | ||
| Blackpoll Warbler | Setophaga striata | ||
| Cape May Warbler | Setophaga tigrina | ||
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Setophaga virens | ||
| Eastern bluebird | Sialia sialis | ||
| Red-breasted nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | ||
| White-breasted nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | ||
| Yellow-bellied sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | ||
| Pine siskin | Spinus pinus | ||
| American goldfinch | Spinus tristis | ||
| Dickcissel | Spiza americana | ||
| American tree sparrow | Spizella arborea | ||
| Chipping sparrow | Spizella passerina | ||
| Field sparrow | Spizella pusilla | ||
| Northern rough-winged swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Common tern | Sterna hirundo | ||
| Barred owl | Strix varia | ||
| Eastern meadowlark | Sturnella magna | ||
| European starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Tree swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ||
| Carolin wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | ||
| Brown thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | ||
| Lesser yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | ||
| Greater yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Willet | Tringa semipalmata | ||
| Solitary sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ||
| House wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Troglodytes hiemalis | Troglodytes hiemalis | ||
| American robin | Turdus migratorius | ||
| Eastern kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ||
| Golden-winged warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | ||
| Blue-winged Warbler | Vermivora cyanoptera | ||
| Golden-winged and blue-winged warbler hybrid | Vermivora cyanoptera x chrysoptera | ||
| Yellow-throated vireo | Vireo flavifrons | ||
| Warbling vireo | Vireo gilvus | ||
| White-eyed vireo | Vireo griseus | ||
| Red-eyed vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ||
| Philadelphia vireo | Vireo philadelphicus | ||
| Blue-headed vireo | Vireo solitarius | ||
| Mourning dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| White-throated sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | ||
| White-crowned sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys |
Reptiles
22 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
22 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern copperhead | Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen | Common | ||
| Eastern wormsnake | Carphophis amoenus amoenus | Rare | ||
| Eastern snapping turtle | Chelydra serpentina serpentina | Common | ||
| Midland painted turtle | Chrysemys picta marginata | Uncommon | ||
| Northern black racer | Coluber constrictor constrictor | Uncommon | ||
| Timber rattlesnake | Crotalus horridus | Uncommon | ||
| Northern ring-necked snake | Diadophis punctatus edwardsii | Common | ||
| Wood turtle | Glyptemys insculpta | Probably Present | ||
| Northern map turtle | Graptemys geographica | Probably Present | ||
| Eastern milksnake | Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum | Uncommon | ||
| Common watersnake | Nerodia sipedon sipedon | Common | ||
| Northern rough greensnake | Opheodrys aestivus aestivus | Rare | ||
| Eastern ratsnake | Pantherophis alleghaniensis | Common | ||
| Common five-lined skink | Plestiodon fasciatus | Common | ||
| Broad-headed skink | Plestiodon laticeps | Uncommon | ||
| Eastern river cooter | Pseudemys concinna concinna | Rare | ||
| Queen snake | Regina septemvittata | Uncommon | ||
| Eastern fence-lizard | Sceloporus undulatus | Common | ||
| Eastern musk turtle | Sternotherus odoratus | Uncommon | ||
| Northern red-bellied snake | Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata | Uncommon | ||
| Eastern box turtle | Terrapene carolina carolina | Common | ||
| Eastern gartersnake | Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis | Common |
Amphibians
30 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
30 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson salamander | Ambystoma jeffersonianum | Uncommon | ||
| Spotted salamander | Ambystoma maculatum | Common | ||
| American Toad | Anaxyrus americanus | Common | ||
| Fowler's toad | Anaxyrus fowleri | Uncommon | ||
| Green salamander | Aneides aeneus | Common | ||
| Northern dusky salamander | Desmognathus fuscus | Common | ||
| Seal salamander | Desmognathus monticola | Abundant | ||
| Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander | Desmognathus ochrophaeus | Abundant | ||
| Black-bellied salamander | Desmognathus quadramaculatus | Common | ||
| Southern two-lined salamander | Eurycea cirrigera | Common | ||
| Long-tailed salamander | Eurycea longicauda longicauda | Uncommon | ||
| Cave salamander | Eurycea lucifuga | Uncommon | ||
| Northern spring salamander | Gyrinophilus porphyriticus porphyriticus | Common | ||
| Four-toed salamander | Hemidactylium scutatum | Uncommon | ||
| Cope's gray treefrog | Hyla chrysoscelis | Common | ||
| American bullfrog | Lithobates catesbeianus | Uncommon | ||
| Northern green frog | Lithobates clamitans melanota | Abundant | ||
| Pickerel frog | Lithobates palustris | Uncommon | ||
| Wood frog | Lithobates sylvaticus | Common | ||
| Common mudpuppy | Necturus maculosus maculosus | Probably Present | ||
| Red eft | Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens | Abundant | ||
| Eastern red-backed salamander | Plethodon cinereus | Common | ||
| Northern slimy salamander | Plethodon glutinosus | Common | ||
| Cumberland Plateau salamander | Plethodon kentucki | Common | ||
| Southern ravine salamander | Plethodon richmondi | Rare | ||
| Wehrle's salamander | Plethodon wehrlei | Uncommon | ||
| Mountain chorus frog | Pseudacris brachyphona | Common | ||
| Spring peeper | Pseudacris crucifer | Abundant | ||
| Midland mud salamander | Pseudotriton montanus diastictus | Rare | ||
| Northern red salamander | Pseudotriton ruber ruber | Uncommon |
Fish
54 fish — show the list ↓
Fish
54 fish — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock bass | Ambloplites rupestris | Abundant | Non-native | |
| Yellow bullhead | Ameiurus natalis | Rare | ||
| Central stoneroller | Campostoma anomalum | Abundant | ||
| White Sucker | Catostomus commersonii | Rare | ||
| Mountain Redbelly Dace | Chrosomus oreas | Rare | ||
| Rosyside Dace | Clinostomus funduloides | Uncommon | ||
| Mottled sculpin | Cottus bairdii | |||
| Whitetail shiner | Cyprinella galactura | Common | ||
| Spotfin shiner | Cyprinella spiloptera | Common | ||
| Common carp | Cyprinus carpio | Common | Non-native | |
| Gizzard shad | Dorosoma cepedianum | Occasional | Non-native | |
| Greenside darter | Etheostoma blennioides | Common | ||
| Rainbow darter | Etheostoma caeruleum | Common | Non-native | |
| Fantail darter | Etheostoma flabellare | Uncommon | ||
| Variegate darter | Etheostoma variatum | Common | Non-native | |
| Northern Hog Sucker | Hypentelium nigricans | Common | ||
| Channel catfish | Ictalurus punctatus | Uncommon | ||
| Brook silverside | Labidesthes sicculus | Rare | Non-native | |
| Redbreast sunfish | Lepomis auritus | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Green sunfish | Lepomis cyanellus | Uncommon | ||
| Pumpkinseed | Lepomis gibbosus | Rare | Non-native | |
| Bluegill | Lepomis macrochirus | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Longear sunfish | Lepomis megalotis | Common | Non-native | |
| White shiner | Luxilus albeolus | |||
| Striped shiner | Luxilus chrysocephalus | Probably Present | Non-native | |
| Smallmouth bass | Micropterus dolomieu | Abundant | Non-native | |
| Spotted bass | Micropterus punctulatus | Rare | Non-native | |
| Largemouth bass | Micropterus salmoides | Rare | Non-native | |
| Bluehead Chub | Nocomis leptocephalus | |||
| Bigmouth chub | Nocomis platyrhynchus | Abundant | ||
| Golden shiner | Notemigonus crysoleucas | Probably Present | ||
| Spottail shiner | Notropis hudsonius | Common | ||
| Silver shiner | Notropis photogenis | Probably Present | ||
| Rosyface shiner | Notropis rubellus | Uncommon | ||
| Sand shiner | Notropis stramineus | Probably Present | ||
| Telescope shiner | Notropis telescopus | Common | ||
| Mimic shiner | Notropis volucellus | Occasional | ||
| Rainbow trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Yellow perch | Perca flavescens | Probably Present | ||
| Logperch | Percina caprodes | Common | ||
| Blackside darter | Percina maculata | Probably Present | ||
| Sharpnose darter | Percina oxyrhynchus | Common | ||
| Roanoke darter | Percina roanoka | Common | ||
| Bluntnose minnow | Pimephales notatus | Uncommon | ||
| Fathead minnow | Pimephales promelas | Occasional | Non-native | |
| White crappie | Pomoxis annularis | Occasional | Non-native | |
| Black crappie | Pomoxis nigromaculatus | Occasional | Non-native | |
| Flathead catfish | Pylodictis olivaris | Common | ||
| Blacknose dace | Rhinichthys atratulus | Common | ||
| Longnose dace | Rhinichthys cataractae | Rare | ||
| Brown trout | Salmo trutta | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Brook trout | Salvelinus fontinalis | Rare | ||
| Walleye | Sander vitreus | Uncommon | ||
| Creek chub | Semotilus atromaculatus | Uncommon |
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.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — New River Gorge (NERI) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.New River Gorge National Park & Preserve — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
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.


