Wildlife
What lives in Rocky Mountain
Last verified NPS species database
Every animal below comes from the National Park Service’s own species list for Rocky Mountain: 61 mammals, 259 birds, 1 reptiles, 4 amphibians and 10 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
Bobcat
Lynx rufus · Common
Canada lynx
Lynx canadensis · Rare
Wolverine
Gulo gulo · Occasional
Moose
Alces alces · Uncommon
Elk
Cervus elaphus · Abundant
Bighorn sheep
Ovis canadensis · Common
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana · Occasional
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Uncommon
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos · Common
Rattlesnakes
Crotalus viridis · any rattlesnake species
Grizzly / brown bear
Ursus arctos · Historical
Gray wolf
Canis lupus · Historical
Mountain goat
Oreamnos americanus · Adjacent
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
- 65
- 75 listed · 2 non-native
- Birds
- 260
- 278 listed · 4 non-native
- Reptiles
- 2
- 3 listed
- Amphibians
- 4
- 5 listed
- Fish
- 10
- 12 listed · 4 non-native
Endangered Species Act
3 threatened or endangered species
Federal listing status as recorded in the NPS species database.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynx | Lynx canadensis | Rare | Threatened | |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Probably Present · Historical | Threatened | |
| Greenback cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias | Common | Threatened |
Mammals
All 65 mammals recorded in Rocky Mountain
Most abundant first, as the NPS rates them.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | Abundant | ||
| Wapiti | Cervus elaphus | Abundant | ||
| Bighorn sheep | Ovis canadensis | Common | ||
| Black bear | Ursus americanus | Common | ||
| Bobcat | Lynx rufus | Common | ||
| Chickaree | Tamiasciurus hudsonicus | Common | ||
| Coyote | Canis latrans | Common | ||
| Golden-mantled ground squirrel | Spermophilus lateralis | Common | ||
| Least chipmunk | Tamias minimus | Common | ||
| Long-tailed weasel | Mustela frenata | Common | ||
| Montane vole | Microtus montanus | Common | ||
| Mule deer | Odocoileus hemionus | Common |
Show the other 53 mammals ↓The other 53
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern pocket gopher | Thomomys talpoides | Common | ||
| Pika | Ochotona princeps | Common | ||
| Red fox | Vulpes vulpes | Common | ||
| Uinta chipmunk | Tamias umbrinus | Common | ||
| Western jumping mouse | Zapus princeps | Common | ||
| Wyoming ground squirrel | Spermophilus elegans | Common | ||
| Yellow-bellied marmot | Marmota flaviventris | Common | ||
| Abert's squirrel | Sciurus aberti | Uncommon | ||
| Badger | Taxidea taxus | Uncommon | ||
| Bushy-tailed woodrat | Neotoma cinerea | Uncommon | ||
| Ermine | Mustela erminea | Uncommon | ||
| Marten | Martes americana | Uncommon | ||
| Moose | Alces alces | Uncommon | ||
| Muskrat | Ondatra zibethicus | Uncommon | ||
| Nuttall's cottontail | Sylvilagus nuttallii | Uncommon | ||
| Porcupine | Erethizon dorsatum | Uncommon | ||
| River otter | Lontra canadensis | Uncommon | ||
| Pronghorn Antelope | Antilocapra americana | Occasional | ||
| White-tailed deer | Odocoileus virginianus | Occasional | ||
| Wolverine | Gulo gulo | Occasional | ||
| Beaver | Castor canadensis | Rare | ||
| Dwarf shrew | Sorex nanus | Rare | ||
| Fox Squirrel | Sciurus niger | Rare | Non-native | |
| Lynx | Lynx canadensis | Rare | Threatened | |
| Mink | Mustela vison | Rare | ||
| White-tailed jackrabbit | Lepus townsendii | Rare | ||
| Big brown bat | Eptesicus fuscus | |||
| Colorado chipmunk | Tamias quadrivittatus | Probably Present | ||
| Domesticated cattle | Bos taurus | Non-native | ||
| Fringed Myotis | Myotis thysanodes | |||
| Gray fox | Urocyon cinereoargenteus | Probably Present | ||
| Heather vole | Phenacomys intermedius | |||
| Hoary bat | Lasiurus cinereus | |||
| Little brown bat | Myotis lucifugus | |||
| Long-eared myotis | Myotis evotis | |||
| Long-legged myotis | Myotis volans | |||
| Long-tailed vole | Microtus longicaudus | |||
| Masked shrew | Sorex cinereus | |||
| Mexican woodrat | Neotoma mexicana | Probably Present | ||
| Montane shrew | Sorex monticolus | |||
| Mountain lion | Puma concolor | |||
| Mule-eared bat | Corynorhinus townsendii | |||
| Pygmy shrew | Sorex hoyi | |||
| Raccoon | Procyon lotor | |||
| Rock mouse | Peromyscus nasutus | |||
| Rock squirrel | Spermophilus variegatus | Probably Present | ||
| Silver-haired bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | |||
| Snowshoe hare | Lepus americanus | |||
| Southern red-backed vole | Clethrionomys gapperi | |||
| Striped skunk | Mephitis mephitis | |||
| Water shrew | Sorex palustris | |||
| Western small-footed myotis | Myotis ciliolabrum | |||
| Western spotted skunk | Spilogale gracilis |
Birds
260 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
260 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 macularia | ||
| Western Grebe | Aechmophorus occidentalis | ||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Aegolius acadicus | ||
| Boreal Owl | Aegolius funereus | ||
| White-throated Swift | Aeronautes saxatalis | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | ||
| Sage Sparrow | Amphispiza belli | ||
| Black-throated Sparrow | Amphispiza bilineata | ||
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | ||
| American Wigeon | Anas americana | ||
| Northern Shoveler | Anas clypeata | ||
| Green-winged 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 | ||
| Western Scrub-jay | Aphelocoma californica | ||
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ||
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Archilochus alexandri | ||
| Ruby-throated hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | ||
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | ||
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | ||
| Redhead | Aythya americana | ||
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | ||
| Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | ||
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| Bohemian Waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus | ||
| American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | ||
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | ||
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | ||
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | ||
| Barrow's Goldeneye | Bucephala islandica | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | ||
| Harlan's Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis harlani | ||
| Krider's Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis kriderii | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | ||
| Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | ||
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | ||
| Lark Bunting | Calamospiza melanocorys | ||
| McCown's Longspur | Calcarius mccownii | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | ||
| Western Sandpiper | Calidris mauri | ||
| Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | ||
| Common Redpoll | Carduelis flammea | ||
| 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 | ||
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | ||
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ||
| Canyon Wren | Catherpes mexicanus | ||
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | ||
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Belted Kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | ||
| Lark Sparrow | Chondestes grammacus | ||
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ||
| American Dipper | Cinclus mexicanus | ||
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | ||
| Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Probably Present · Historical | Threatened |
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | ||
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Columba fasciata | ||
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | Non-native | |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus borealis | ||
| Western Wood-Pewee | Contopus sordidulus | ||
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | ||
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | ||
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | ||
| Steller's Jay | Cyanocitta stelleri | ||
| Black Swift | Cypseloides niger | ||
| Dusky Grouse | Dendragapus obscurus | ||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Dendroica caerulescens | ||
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Dendroica castanea | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Dendroica coronata | ||
| Audubon's Warbler | Dendroica coronata auduboni | ||
| Myrtle Warbler | Dendroica coronata coronata | ||
| Blackburnian Warbler | Dendroica fusca | ||
| Grace's Warbler | Dendroica graciae | ||
| Magnolia Warbler | Dendroica magnolia | ||
| Black-throated Gray Warbler | Dendroica nigrescens | ||
| Palm Warbler | Dendroica palmarum | ||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | ||
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | ||
| Cape May Warbler | Dendroica tigrina | ||
| Townsend's Warbler | Dendroica townsendi | ||
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Dendroica virens | ||
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | ||
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | ||
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | ||
| Hammond's Flycatcher | Empidonax hammondii | ||
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | ||
| Dusky Flycatcher | Empidonax oberholseri | ||
| Cordilleran Flycatcher | Empidonax occidentalis | ||
| Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | ||
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | ||
| Rusty Blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | ||
| 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 gallinago | ||
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | ||
| Common Loon | Gavia immer | ||
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Northern Pygmy-Owl | Glaucidium gnoma | ||
| Sandhill Crane | Grus canadensis | ||
| Pinyon Jay | Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus | ||
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ||
| Worm-eating Warbler | Helmitheros vermivorus | ||
| Cliff Swallow | Hirundo pyrrhonota | ||
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | Icteria virens | ||
| Bullock's Oriole | Icterus bullockii | ||
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | ||
| Least Bittern | Ixobrychus exilis | ||
| Varied Thrush | Ixoreus naevius | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | ||
| Gray-headed Junco | Junco hyemalis caniceps | ||
| Pink-sided Junco | Junco hyemalis mearnsi | ||
| Oregon Junco | Junco hyemalis shufeldti | ||
| White-tailed Ptarmigan | Lagopus leucurus | ||
| Northern Shrike | Lanius excubitor | ||
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | ||
| Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | ||
| California Gull | Larus californicus | ||
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | ||
| Bonaparte's Gull | Larus philadelphia | ||
| Franklin's Gull | Larus pipixcan | ||
| Black Rosy-Finch | Leucosticte atrata | ||
| Brown-capped Rosy-Finch | Leucosticte australis | ||
| Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch | Leucosticte tephrocotis | ||
| Marbled Godwit | Limosa fedoa | ||
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | ||
| White-winged Crossbill | Loxia leucoptera | ||
| Red-headed Woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | ||
| Lewis’s Woodpecker | Melanerpes lewis | ||
| Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Non-native | |
| Lincoln's Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | ||
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | ||
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | ||
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | ||
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | ||
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Myiarchus cinerascens | ||
| Clark's Nutcracker | Nucifraga columbiana | ||
| Long-billed Curlew | Numenius americanus | ||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | ||
| Macgillivray's Warbler | Oporornis tolmiei | ||
| Sage Thrasher | Oreoscoptes montanus | ||
| Eastern Screech-owl | Otus asio | ||
| Flammulated Owl | Otus flammeolus | ||
| Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | ||
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | ||
| Northern Parula | Parula americana | ||
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Non-native | |
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Fox Sparrow | Passerella iliaca | ||
| Lazuli Bunting | Passerina amoena | ||
| American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | ||
| Gray Jay | Perisoreus canadensis | ||
| Common Poorwill | Phalaenoptilus nuttallii | ||
| Red-necked Phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | ||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | ||
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | ||
| Black-billed Magpie | Pica pica | ||
| Downy Woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | ||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker | Picoides tridactylus | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker | Picoides villosus | ||
| Pine Grosbeak | Pinicola enucleator | ||
| Green-tailed Towhee | Pipilo chlorurus | ||
| Spotted Towhee | Pipilo maculatus | ||
| Hepatic Tanager | Piranga flava | ||
| Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | ||
| Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | ||
| White-faced Ibis | Plegadis chihi | ||
| Horned Grebe | Podiceps auritus | ||
| Eared Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | ||
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | ||
| Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | ||
| Mountain Chickadee | Poecile gambeli | ||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | ||
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| Sora | Porzana carolina | ||
| Bushtit | Psaltriparus minimus | ||
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | ||
| Virginia Rail | Rallus limicola | ||
| American Avocet | Recurvirostra americana | ||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Regulus calendula | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | ||
| Rock Wren | Salpinctes obsoletus | ||
| Say's Phoebe | Sayornis saya | ||
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapillus | ||
| Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | ||
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Selasphorus platycercus | ||
| Rufous Hummingbird | Selasphorus rufus | ||
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | ||
| Mountain Bluebird | Sialia currucoides | ||
| Western Bluebird | Sialia mexicana | ||
| Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | ||
| 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 | ||
| Clay-colored Sparrow | Spizella pallida | ||
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Calliope Hummingbird | Stellula calliope | ||
| Forster's Tern | Sterna forsteri | ||
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | ||
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ||
| Violet-green Swallow | Tachycineta thalassina | ||
| Bewick's Wren | Thryomanes bewickii | ||
| Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ||
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Troglodytes pacificus | Troglodytes pacificus | ||
| Winter Wren | Troglodytes troglodytes | ||
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | ||
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ||
| Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler | Vermivora celata | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | ||
| Tennessee Warbler | Vermivora peregrina | ||
| Nashville Warbler | Vermivora ruficapilla | ||
| Virginia's Warbler | Vermivora virginiae | ||
| Cassin's Vireo | Vireo cassinii | ||
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | ||
| White-eyed Vireo | Vireo griseus | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ||
| Plumbeous Vireo | Vireo plumbeus | ||
| Hooded Warbler | Wilsonia citrina | ||
| Wilson's Warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | ||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | ||
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | ||
| Harris’s Sparrow | Zonotrichia querula |
Reptiles
2 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
2 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern fence lizard | Sceloporus undulatus | Probably Present | ||
| Western terrestrial garter snake | Thamnophis elegans |
Amphibians
4 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
4 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger salamander | Ambystoma tigrinum | Common | ||
| Boreal Toad | Bufo boreas boreas | Rare | ||
| Boreal chrous frog | Pseudacris maculata | Common | ||
| Wood frog | Rana sylvatica | Uncommon |
Fish
10 fish — show the list ↓
Fish
10 fish — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western longnose sucker | Catostomus catostomus | Uncommon | ||
| Western white sucker | Catostomus commersoni | Uncommon | ||
| Mottled sculpin | Cottus bairdii | Uncommon | ||
| Cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii | Common | ||
| Yellowstone cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Colorado river cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus | Uncommon | ||
| Greenback cutthroat trout | Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias | Common | Threatened | |
| Rainbow trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Brown trout | Salmo trutta | Uncommon | Non-native | |
| Brook trout | Salvelinus fontinalis | Common | 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 Rocky Mountain.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — Rocky Mountain (ROMO) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.Rocky Mountain National Park — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
FAQ
Rocky Mountain wildlife questions
- Are there bears in Rocky Mountain?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Rocky Mountain records black bear as present, listed as common.
- Are there grizzly bears in Rocky Mountain?
- No. The NPS species list marks grizzly / brown bear as "not in park" for Rocky Mountain (NPS tag: Historical).
- Are there wolves in Rocky Mountain?
- No. The NPS species list marks gray wolf as "not in park" for Rocky Mountain (NPS tag: Historical).
- Are there mountain lions in Rocky Mountain?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Rocky Mountain records mountain lion as present.
- Are there rattlesnakes in Rocky Mountain?
- Unconfirmed. Rattlesnakes appear on the park's NPS species list as "unconfirmed" — reported but not verified in the park.
- How many animal species live in Rocky Mountain?
- The NPS species database lists 61 mammal, 259 bird, 1 reptile, 4 amphibian and 10 fish species as present or probably present in Rocky Mountain, including 3 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.
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