What lives in North Cascades

Animals people ask about
Grizzly / brown bear
Ursus arctos horribilis · Occasional
Black bear
Ursus americanus · Common
Gray wolf
Canis lupus · Occasional
Coyote
Canis latrans · Rare
Mountain lion
Puma concolor · Uncommon
Bobcat
Lynx rufus · Rare
Canada lynx
Lynx canadensis
Wolverine
Gulo gulo · Rare
Moose
Alces alces · Rare
Elk
Cervus elaphus · Rare
Bighorn sheep
Ovis canadensis
Mountain goat
Oreamnos americanus · Uncommon
Rattlesnakes
Crotalus viridis · Uncommon · any rattlesnake species
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Common
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos · Uncommon
By group
Species counts
- Mammals
- 70
- 81 listed
- Birds
- 225
- 231 listed · 5 non-native
- Reptiles
- 8
- 10 listed
- Amphibians
- 14
- 14 listed · 1 non-native
- Fish
- 32
- 34 listed · 5 non-native
Endangered Species Act
7 threatened or endangered species
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray wolf | Canis lupus | Occasional | Endangered | |
| Canada lynx | Lynx canadensis | Probably Present | Threatened | |
| Grizzly bear | Ursus arctos horribilis | Occasional | Threatened | |
| Marbled murrelet | Brachyramphus marmoratus | Rare | Threatened | |
| Northern spotted owl | Strix occidentalis caurina | Rare | Threatened | |
| Oregon spotted frog | Rana pretiosa | Threatened | ||
| Rainbow trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Common | Threatened |
Mammals
All 70 mammals recorded in North Cascades
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deermouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | Abundant | ||
| American black bear | Ursus americanus | Common | ||
| American pika | Ochotona princeps | Common | ||
| Big brown bat | Eptesicus fuscus | Common | ||
| Black-tailed deer | Odocoileus hemionus | Common | ||
| Douglas squirrel | Tamiasciurus douglasii | Common | ||
| Dusky shrew | Sorex monticolus | Common | ||
| Golden mantled ground squirrel | Callospermophilus lateralis | Common | ||
| Hoary marmot | Marmota caligata | Common | ||
| Keen's mouse | Peromyscus keeni | Common | ||
| Little brown myotis | Myotis lucifugus | Common | ||
| Pine marten | Martes americana | Common |
Show the other 58 mammals ↓The other 58
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shrew-mole | Neurotrichus gibbsii | Common | ||
| Silver-haired bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | Common | ||
| Townsend's chipmunk | Tamias townsendii | Common | ||
| Trowbridge's shrew | Sorex trowbridgii | Common | ||
| Vagrant shrew | Sorex vagrans | Common | ||
| Western spotted skunk | Spilogale gracilis | Common | ||
| Yuma myotis | Myotis yumanensis | Common | ||
| Bushy-tailed woodrat | Neotoma cinerea | Uncommon | ||
| California myotis | Myotis californicus | Uncommon | ||
| Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel | Spermophilus saturatus | Uncommon | ||
| Coast mole | Scapanus orarius | Uncommon | ||
| Cougar | Puma concolor | Uncommon | ||
| Creeping vole | Microtus oregoni | Uncommon | ||
| Mountain goat | Oreamnos americanus | Uncommon | ||
| North American beaver | Castor canadensis | Uncommon | ||
| North American river otter | Lontra canadensis | Uncommon | ||
| Pacific water shrew | Sorex bendirii | Uncommon | ||
| Porcupine | Erethizon dorsatum | Uncommon | ||
| Red squirrel | Tamiasciurus hudsonicus | Uncommon | ||
| Snowshoe hare | Lepus americanus | Uncommon | ||
| Southern red-backed vole | Clethrionomys gapperi | Uncommon | ||
| Striped skunk | Mephitis mephitis | Uncommon | ||
| Western gray squirrel | Sciurus griseus | Uncommon | ||
| Western long-eared bat | Myotis evotis | Uncommon | ||
| Yellow-pine chipmunk | Tamias amoenus | Uncommon | ||
| Gray wolf | Canis lupus | Occasional | Endangered | |
| Grizzly bear | Ursus arctos horribilis | Occasional | Threatened | |
| Bobcat | Lynx rufus | Rare | ||
| Columbian ground squirrel | Urocitellus columbianus | Rare | ||
| Coyote | Canis latrans | Rare | ||
| Elk | Cervus elaphus | Rare | ||
| Hoary bat | Lasiurus cinereus | Rare | ||
| Long-legged myotis | Myotis volans | Rare | ||
| Long-tailed vole | Microtus longicaudus | Rare | ||
| Moose | Alces alces | Rare | ||
| Mountain beaver | Aplodontia rufa | Rare | ||
| Northern flying squirrel | Glaucomys sabrinus | Rare | ||
| Wolverine | Gulo gulo | Rare | ||
| American mink | Mustela vison | |||
| Bighorn sheep | Ovis canadensis | |||
| Canada lynx | Lynx canadensis | Probably Present | Threatened | |
| Ermine | Mustela erminea | |||
| Fisher | Pekania pennanti | |||
| Least chipmunk | Tamias minimus | |||
| Long-tailed weasel | Mustela frenata | |||
| Masked shrew | Sorex cinereus | |||
| Muskrat | Ondatra zibethicus | |||
| North American water vole | Microtus richardsoni | |||
| Northern bog-lemming | Synaptomys borealis | |||
| Northern pocket gopher | Thomomys talpoides | |||
| Pacific jumping mouse | Zapus trinotatus | |||
| Raccoon | Procyon lotor | |||
| Red fox | Vulpes vulpes | |||
| Townsend's big-eared bat | Corynorhinus townsendii townsendii | Probably Present | ||
| Water shrew | Sorex palustris | |||
| Western heather vole | Phenacomys intermedius | |||
| Western jumping mouse | Zapus princeps | |||
| Western small-footed bat | Myotis ciliolabrum | Probably Present |
Birds
225 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
225 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 | ||
| Clark's grebe | Aechmophorus clarkii | ||
| Western grebe | Aechmophorus occidentalis | ||
| Northern saw-whet owl | Aegolius acadicus | ||
| Boreal owl | Aegolius funereus | ||
| Red-winged blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Wood duck | Aix sponsa | ||
| Northern pintail | Anas acuta | ||
| American widgeon | Anas americana | ||
| Northern shoveler | Anas clypeata | ||
| Eurasian teal | Anas crecca | ||
| Cinnamon teal | Anas cyanoptera | ||
| Blue-winged teal | Anas discors | ||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | ||
| Gadwall | Anas strepera | ||
| Greater white-fronted goose | Anser albifrons | ||
| American pipit | Anthus rubescens | ||
| Golden eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ||
| Great blue heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Short-eared owl | Asio flammeus | ||
| 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 | ||
| American bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | ||
| Marbled murrelet | Brachyramphus marmoratus | Threatened | |
| Canada goose | Branta canadensis | ||
| Cackling goose | Branta hutchinsii | ||
| 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 | ||
| Ferruginous hawk | Buteo regalis | ||
| Swainson's hawk | Buteo swainsoni | ||
| Green heron | Butorides virescens | ||
| Lapland longspur | Calcarius lapponicus | ||
| Pectoral sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | ||
| California quail | Callipepla californica | Non-native | |
| Anna's hummingbird | Calypte anna | ||
| Common redpoll | Carduelis flammea | ||
| Pine siskin | Carduelis pinus | ||
| American goldfinch | Carduelis tristis | ||
| Cassin's finch | Carpodacus cassinii | ||
| House finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | ||
| Purple finch | Carpodacus purpureus | ||
| Turkey vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | ||
| Hermit thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Swainson's thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ||
| Canyon wren | Catherpes mexicanus | ||
| Brown creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Belted kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | ||
| Vaux's swift | Chaetura vauxi | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Common nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ||
| American dipper | Cinclus mexicanus | ||
| Northern harrier | Circus cyaneus | ||
| Marsh wren | Cistothorus palustris | ||
| Long-tailed duck | Clangula hyemalis | ||
| Evening grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ||
| Northern flicker | Colaptes auratus cafer | ||
| Rock pigeon | Columba livia | Non-native | |
| Olive-sided flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | ||
| Western wood-pewee | Contopus sordidulus | ||
| American crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | ||
| Common raven | Corvus corax | ||
| Steller's jay | Cyanocitta stelleri | ||
| Trumpeter swan | Cygnus buccinator | ||
| Tundra swan | Cygnus columbianus | ||
| Black swift | Cypseloides niger | ||
| Sooty grouse | Dendragapus fuliginosus | ||
| Audubon's warbler | Dendroica coronata auduboni | ||
| Black-throated gray warbler | Dendroica nigrescens | ||
| Hermit warbler | Dendroica occidentalis | ||
| Townsend's warbler | Dendroica townsendi | ||
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | ||
| Pileated woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus abieticola | ||
| Gray catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | ||
| Western flycatcher | Empidonax difficilis | ||
| Hammond's flycatcher | Empidonax hammondii | ||
| Least flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | ||
| Dusky flycatcher | Empidonax oberholseri | ||
| Willow flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | ||
| Horned lark | Eremophila alpestris | ||
| Brewer's blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | ||
| Spruce grouse | Falcipennis canadensis | ||
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | ||
| Prairie falcon | Falco mexicanus | ||
| Peregrine falcon | Falco peregrinus | ||
| American kestrel | Falco sparverius | ||
| Brambling | Fringilla montifringilla | ||
| American coot | Fulica americana | ||
| Wilson's snipe | Gallinago delicata | ||
| Common loon | Gavia immer | ||
| Pacific Loon | Gavia pacifica | ||
| Common yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Pygmy owl | Glaucidium gnoma | ||
| Sandhill crane | Grus canadensis | ||
| Bald eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ||
| Barn swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Harlequin duck | Histrionicus histrionicus | ||
| Bullock's oriole | Icterus bullockii | ||
| Varied thrush | Ixoreus naevius | ||
| Dark-eyed junco | Junco hyemalis | ||
| White-tailed ptarmigan | Lagopus leucura | ||
| Northern shrike | Lanius excubitor | ||
| Short-billed gull | Larus brachyrhynchus | ||
| California gull | Larus californicus | ||
| Ring-billed gull | Larus delawarensis | ||
| Glaucous-winged gull | Larus glaucescens | ||
| Bonaparte's gull | Larus philadelphia | ||
| Gray-crowned rosy finch | Leucosticte tephrocotis | ||
| Hooded merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | ||
| Red crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | ||
| White-winged crossbill | Loxia leucoptera | ||
| Western screech owl | Megascops kennicottii | ||
| Lewis' woodpecker | Melanerpes lewis | ||
| White-winged scoter | Melanitta fusca | ||
| 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 | ||
| MacGillivray's warbler | Oporornis tolmiei | ||
| Ruddy duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | ||
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | ||
| European house sparrow | Passer domesticus | Non-native | |
| Savannah sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Fox sparrow | Passerella iliaca | ||
| Lazuli bunting | Passerina amoena | ||
| Indigo bunting | Passerina cyanea | ||
| Band-tailed pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | ||
| White pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | ||
| Gray jay | Perisoreus canadensis | ||
| Cliff swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | ||
| Red-necked phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | ||
| Rose-breasted grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | ||
| Black-headed grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | ||
| Black-billed magpie | Pica hudsonia | ||
| White-headed woodpecker | Picoides albolarvatus | ||
| Black-backed woodpecker | Picoides arcticus | ||
| Western American three-toed woodpecker | Picoides dorsalis fasciatus | ||
| Downy woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | ||
| Hairy woodpecker | Picoides villosus | ||
| Pine grosbeak | Pinicola enucleator | ||
| Spotted towhee | Pipilo maculatus | ||
| Western tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | ||
| Horned grebe | Podiceps auritus | ||
| Red-necked grebe | Podiceps grisegena | ||
| Eared grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | ||
| Pied-billed grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | ||
| Black-capped chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | ||
| Mountain chickadee | Poecile gambeli | ||
| Boreal chickadee | Poecile hudsonicus | ||
| Chestnut-backed chickadee | Poecile rufescens | ||
| Vesper sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| Sora | Porzana carolina | ||
| Bushtit | Psaltriparus minimus | ||
| Great-tailed grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | ||
| Virginia rail | Rallus limicola | ||
| Ruby-crowned kinglet | Regulus calendula | ||
| Golden-crowned kinglet | Regulus satrapa | ||
| Bank swallow | Riparia riparia | ||
| Rock wren | Salpinctes obsoletus | ||
| Say's phoebe | Sayornis saya | ||
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapillus | ||
| Northern waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | ||
| Rufous hummingbird | Selasphorus rufus | ||
| Northern yellow warbler | Setophaga aestiva | ||
| American redstart | 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 | ||
| Red-breasted sapsucker | Sphyrapicus ruber | ||
| Williamson's sapsucker | Sphyrapicus thyroideus | ||
| American tree sparrow | Spizella arborea | ||
| Clay-colored sparrow | Spizella pallida | ||
| Chipping sparrow | Spizella passerina | ||
| Northern rough-winged swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Calliope hummingbird | Stellula calliope | ||
| Pomarine jaeger | Stercorarius pomarinus | ||
| Caspian tern | Sterna caspia | ||
| Common tern | Sterna hirundo | ||
| Eurasian collared dove | Streptopelia decaocto | Non-native | |
| Northern spotted owl | Strix occidentalis caurina | Threatened | |
| Barred owl | Strix varia | ||
| Western meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | ||
| European starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Tree swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ||
| Violet-green swallow | Tachycineta thalassina | ||
| Bewick's wren | Thryomanes bewickii | ||
| Lesser yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | ||
| Greater yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Solitary sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ||
| House wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Pacific wren | Troglodytes pacificus | ||
| American robin | Turdus migratorius | ||
| Eastern kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ||
| Western kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | ||
| Orange-crowned warbler | Vermivora celata | ||
| Nashville warbler | Vermivora ruficapilla | ||
| Cassin's vireo | Vireo cassinii | ||
| Warbling vireo | Vireo gilvus | ||
| Hutton's Vireo | Vireo huttoni | ||
| Red-eyed vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ||
| Wilson's warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | ||
| Yellow-headed blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | ||
| Mourning dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| Golden-crowned sparrow | Zonotrichia atricapilla | ||
| White-crowned sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys |
Reptiles
8 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
8 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubber boa | Charina bottae | Uncommon | ||
| Western yellowbelly racer | Coluber constrictor | Occasional | ||
| Western rattlesnake | Crotalus viridis | Uncommon | ||
| Northern alligator lizard | Elgaria coerulea | Rare | ||
| Western skink | Plestiodon skiltonianus skiltonianus | |||
| Western fence lizard | Sceloporus occidentalis | |||
| Western terrestrial garter snake | Thamnophis elegans | Uncommon | ||
| Common garter snake | Thamnophis sirtalis | Common |
Amphibians
14 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
14 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern salamander | Ambystoma gracile | Uncommon | ||
| Long-toed salamander | Ambystoma macrodactylum | Common | ||
| Western toad | Anaxyrus boreas | Common | ||
| Coastal tailed frog | Ascaphus truei | Uncommon | ||
| Pacific giant salamander | Dicamptodon tenebrosus | Rare | ||
| Ensatina | Ensatina eschscholtzii | Uncommon | ||
| American Bullfrog | Lithobates catesbeianus | Non-native | ||
| Western red-backed salamander | Plethodon vehiculum | Rare | ||
| Pacific chorus frog | Pseudacris regilla | Uncommon | ||
| Northern red-legged frog | Rana aurora | Common | ||
| Cascades frog | Rana cascadae | Uncommon | ||
| Columbia spotted frog | Rana luteiventris | Uncommon | ||
| Oregon spotted frog | Rana pretiosa | Threatened | ||
| Rough-skinned newt | Taricha granulosa | Uncommon |
Fish
32 fish — show the list ↓
Fish
32 fish — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longnose Sucker | Catostomus catostomus | Uncommon | ||
| Largescale Sucker | Catostomus macrocheilus | Uncommon | ||
| Coastrange sculpin | Cottus aleuticus | Uncommon | ||
| Prickly sculpin | Cottus asper | Uncommon | ||
| Slimy sculpin | Cottus cognatus | Uncommon | ||
| Shorthead sculpin | Cottus confusus | Probably Present | ||
| Torrent sculpin | Cottus rhotheus | Probably Present | ||
| Threespine stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | |||
| Western brook lamprey | Lampetra richardsoni | Common | ||
| Lingcod | Lota lota | Uncommon | ||
| Largemouth Bass | Micropterus salmoides | Non-native | ||
| Peamouth | Mylocheilus caurinus | Common | ||
| Golden trout | Oncorhynchus aguabonita | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Yellowstone cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri | Non-native | ||
| Cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii | Common | ||
| Coastal cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii | Common | ||
| Westslope cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi | Common | ||
| Humpy | Oncorhynchus gorbuscha | Common | ||
| Chum | Oncorhynchus keta | Abundant | ||
| Coho salmon | Oncorhynchus kisutch | Common | ||
| Rainbow trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Common | Threatened | |
| Sockeye salmon | Oncorhynchus nerka | Abundant | ||
| Chinook salmon | Oncorhynchus tshawytscha | Rare | ||
| Pygmy whitefish | Prosopium coulterii | Rare | ||
| Mountain whitefish | Prosopium williamsoni | Common | ||
| Northern pikeminnow | Ptychocheilus oregonensis | Common | ||
| Longnose Dace | Rhinichthys cataractae | Uncommon | ||
| Redside Shiner | Richardsonius balteatus | Uncommon | ||
| Bull trout | Salvelinus confluentus | Rare | ||
| Brook trout | Salvelinus fontinalis | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Dolly Varden | Salvelinus malma | Common | ||
| Lake trout | Salvelinus namaycush | Uncommon | 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 North Cascades.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — North Cascades (NOCA) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.North Cascades National Park — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
FAQ
North Cascades wildlife questions
- Are there bears in North Cascades?
- Yes. The NPS species list for North Cascades records black bear as present, listed as common.
- Are there grizzly bears in North Cascades?
- Yes. The NPS species list for North Cascades records grizzly / brown bear as present, listed as occasional.
- Are there wolves in North Cascades?
- Yes. The NPS species list for North Cascades records gray wolf as present, listed as occasional.
- Are there mountain lions in North Cascades?
- Yes. The NPS species list for North Cascades records mountain lion as present, listed as uncommon.
- Are there rattlesnakes in North Cascades?
- Yes. The NPS species list for North Cascades records rattlesnakes as present, listed as uncommon.
- How many animal species live in North Cascades?
- The NPS species database lists 67 mammal, 225 bird, 8 reptile, 14 amphibian and 30 fish species as present or probably present in North Cascades, including 7 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.


