What lives in Voyageurs

Animals people ask about
Black bear
Ursus americanus · Common
Gray wolf
Canis lupus · Common
Coyote
Canis latrans · Uncommon
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
Canada lynx
Lynx canadensis
Moose
Alces alces · Common
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Common
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos · Rare
Mountain lion
Puma concolor
Wolverine
Gulo gulo · Historical
Elk
Cervus elaphus · Historical
Caribou
Rangifer tarandus caribou · Historical
By group
Species counts
- Mammals
- 56
- 63 listed
- Birds
- 235
- 238 listed · 3 non-native
- Reptiles
- 5
- 6 listed
- Amphibians
- 10
- 15 listed
- Fish
- 58
- 58 listed · 4 non-native
Endangered Species Act
4 threatened or endangered species
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray wolf | Canis lupus | Common | Threatened | |
| Canada lynx | Lynx canadensis | Threatened | ||
| Northern bat | Myotis septentrionalis | Common | Endangered | |
| Piping plover | Charadrius melodus | Rare | Endangered |
Mammals
All 56 mammals recorded in Voyageurs
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | Abundant | ||
| Masked shrew | Sorex cinereus | Abundant | ||
| Northern short-tailed shrew | Blarina brevicauda | Abundant | ||
| Southern red-backed vole | Clethrionomys gapperi | Abundant | ||
| American beaver | Castor canadensis | Common | ||
| American black bear | Ursus americanus | Common | ||
| Eastern chipmunk | Tamias striatus | Common | ||
| Ermine | Mustela erminea | Common | ||
| Gray wolf | Canis lupus | Common | Threatened | |
| Ground hog | Marmota monax | Common | ||
| Little brown bat | Myotis lucifugus | Common | ||
| Meadow vole | Microtus pennsylvanicus | Common |
Show the other 44 mammals ↓The other 44
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mink | Mustela vison | Common | ||
| Moose | Alces alces | Common | ||
| Northern bat | Myotis septentrionalis | Common | Endangered | |
| Red fox | Vulpes vulpes | Common | ||
| Red squirrel | Tamiasciurus hudsonicus | Common | ||
| River otter | Lontra canadensis | Common | ||
| Snowshoe hare | Lepus americanus | Common | ||
| Striped skunk | Mephitis mephitis | Common | ||
| White-tailed deer | Odocoileus virginianus | Common | ||
| American marten | Martes americana | Uncommon | ||
| Coyote | Canis latrans | Uncommon | ||
| Fisher | Martes pennanti | Uncommon | ||
| Franklin's ground squirrel | Spermophilus franklinii | Uncommon | ||
| Least chipmunk | Tamias minimus | Uncommon | ||
| Meadow jumping mouse | Zapus hudsonius | Uncommon | ||
| Muskrat | Ondatra zibethicus | Uncommon | ||
| Northern flying squirrel | Glaucomys sabrinus sabrinus | Uncommon | ||
| Porcupine | Erethizon dorsatum | Uncommon | ||
| Raccoon | Procyon lotor | Uncommon | ||
| Silver-haired bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | Uncommon | ||
| Southern bog lemming | Synaptomys cooperi | Uncommon | ||
| Woodland jumping mouse | Napaeozapus insignis | Uncommon | ||
| Arctic shrew | Sorex arcticus | Rare | ||
| Northern water shrew | Sorex palustris | Rare | ||
| Rock vole | Microtus chrotorrhinus | Rare | ||
| Star-nosed mole | Condylura cristata | Rare | ||
| American badger | Taxidea taxus | Probably Present | ||
| Big brown bat | Eptesicus fuscus | Probably Present | ||
| Bobcat | Lynx rufus | Probably Present | ||
| Canada lynx | Lynx canadensis | Threatened | ||
| Eastern cottontail | Sylvilagus floridanus | Probably Present | ||
| Eastern gray squirrel | Sciurus carolinensis | Probably Present | ||
| Eastern heather vole | Phenacomys ungava | Probably Present | ||
| Eastern red bat | Lasiurus borealis | Probably Present | ||
| Hoary bat | Lasiurus cinereus | Probably Present | ||
| House mouse | Mus musculus | Probably Present | Non-native | |
| Least weasel | Mustela nivalis | Probably Present | ||
| Long-tailed weasel | Mustela frenata | Probably Present | ||
| Northern bog lemming | Synaptomys borealis | Probably Present | ||
| Norway rat | Rattus norvegicus | Probably Present | Non-native | |
| Pygmy shrew | Sorex hoyi | |||
| Smokey shrew | Sorex fumeus | Probably Present | ||
| Thirteen-lined ground squirrel | Spermophilus tridecemlineatus | Probably Present | ||
| White-footed mouse | Peromyscus leucopus |
Birds
235 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
235 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 | ||
| Red-winged blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Wood duck | Aix sponsa | ||
| Le Conte's sparrow | Ammodramus leconteii | ||
| Northern pintail | Anas acuta | ||
| American wigeon | Anas americana | ||
| Northern shoveler | Anas clypeata | ||
| Green-winged teal | Anas crecca | ||
| Blue-winged teal | Anas discors | ||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | ||
| American black duck | Anas rubripes | ||
| Gadwall | Anas strepera | ||
| American pipit | Anthus rubescens | ||
| Golden eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ||
| Ruby-throated hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | ||
| Great blue heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Ruddy turnstone | Arenaria interpres | ||
| Short-eared owl | Asio flammeus | ||
| Long-eared owl | Asio otus | ||
| Lesser scaup | Aythya affinis | ||
| Ring-necked duck | Aythya collaris | ||
| Greater scaup | Aythya marila | ||
| Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | ||
| Upland plover | Bartramia longicauda | ||
| Cedar waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| Bohemian waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus | ||
| Ruffed grouse | Bonasa umbellus | ||
| American bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | ||
| 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 | ||
| Broad-winged hawk | Buteo platypterus | ||
| Lapland longspur | Calcarius lapponicus | ||
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | ||
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | ||
| Baird's sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | ||
| White-rumped sandpiper | Calidris fuscicollis | ||
| Western sandpiper | Calidris mauri | ||
| Pectoral sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | ||
| Least sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | ||
| Semipalmated sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | ||
| Whip-poor-will | Caprimulgus vociferus | ||
| Common redpoll | Carduelis flammea | ||
| Hoary redpoll | Carduelis hornemanni | ||
| Pine siskin | Carduelis pinus | ||
| American goldfinch | Carduelis tristis | ||
| Purple finch | Carpodacus purpureus | ||
| Turkey vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | ||
| Hermit thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Gray-cheeked thrush | Catharus minimus | ||
| Swainson's thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ||
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | ||
| Brown creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Belted kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | ||
| Chimney swift | Chaetura pelagica | ||
| Piping plover | Charadrius melodus | Endangered | |
| Semipalmated plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Snow goose | Chen caerulescens | ||
| Black tern | Chlidonias niger | ||
| Common nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ||
| Marsh hawk | Circus cyaneus | ||
| Marsh wren | Cistothorus palustris | ||
| Sedge wren | Cistothorus platensis | ||
| Long-tailed duck | Clangula hyemalis | ||
| Evening grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ||
| Yellow-billed cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | ||
| Black-billed cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | ||
| Common flicker | Colaptes auratus | ||
| Feral pigeon | Columba livia | Non-native | |
| Olive-sided flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | ||
| Eastern wood-pewee | Contopus virens | ||
| American crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | ||
| Common raven | Corvus corax | ||
| Yellow rail | Coturnicops noveboracensis | ||
| Blue jay | Cyanocitta cristata | ||
| Trumpeter swan | Cygnus buccinator | ||
| Tundra swan | Cygnus columbianus | ||
| Black-throated blue warbler | Dendroica caerulescens | ||
| Bay-breasted warbler | Dendroica castanea | ||
| Myrtle warbler | Dendroica coronata | ||
| Blackburnian warbler | Dendroica fusca | ||
| Magnolia warbler | Dendroica magnolia | ||
| Palm warbler | Dendroica palmarum | ||
| Chestnut-sided warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | ||
| Yellow warbler | Dendroica petechia | ||
| Pine warbler | Dendroica pinus | ||
| Blackpoll warbler | Dendroica striata | ||
| Cape may warbler | Dendroica tigrina | ||
| Black-throated green warbler | Dendroica virens | ||
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | ||
| Pileated woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | ||
| Gray catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | ||
| Alder flycatcher | Empidonax alnorum | ||
| Yellow-bellied flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | ||
| Least flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | ||
| Horned lark | Eremophila alpestris | ||
| Rusty blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | ||
| Brewer's blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | ||
| Spruce grouse | Falcipennis canadensis | ||
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | ||
| Peregrine falcon | Falco peregrinus | ||
| Gyrfalcon | Falco rusticolus | ||
| American kestrel | Falco sparverius | ||
| American coot | Fulica americana | ||
| Common snipe | Gallinago gallinago | ||
| Common loon | Gavia immer | ||
| Red-throated loon | Gavia stellata | ||
| Common yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Sandhill crane | Grus canadensis | ||
| Bald eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ||
| Cliff swallow | Hirundo pyrrhonota | ||
| Barn swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Wood thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | ||
| Baltimore oriole | Icterus galbula | ||
| Dark-eyed junco | Junco hyemalis | ||
| Northern shrike | Lanius excubitor | ||
| Herring gull | Larus argentatus | ||
| Ring-billed gull | Larus delawarensis | ||
| Bonaparte's gull | Larus philadelphia | ||
| Franklin's gull | Larus pipixcan | ||
| Short-billed dowitcher | Limnodromus griseus | Probably Present | |
| Long-billed dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | ||
| Marbled godwit | Limosa fedoa | ||
| Hudsonian godwit | Limosa haemastica | ||
| Hooded merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | ||
| Red crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | ||
| White-winged crossbill | Loxia leucoptera | ||
| Red-headed woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | ||
| White-winged scoter | Melanitta fusca | ||
| Surf scoter | Melanitta perspicillata | ||
| 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 | ||
| Snowy owl | Nyctea scandiaca | ||
| Connecticut warbler | Oporornis agilis | ||
| Mourning warbler | Oporornis philadelphia | ||
| Ruddy duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | ||
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | ||
| Northern parula | Parula americana | ||
| House sparrow | Passer domesticus | Probably Present | Non-native |
| Savannah sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Fox sparrow | Passerella iliaca | ||
| Indigo bunting | Passerina cyanea | ||
| American white pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | ||
| Gray jay | Perisoreus canadensis | ||
| Double-crested cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | ||
| Wilson's phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | ||
| Rose-breasted grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | ||
| Black-billed magpie | Pica hudsonia | ||
| Black-backed woodpecker | Picoides arcticus | ||
| Downy woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | ||
| Northern three-toed woodpecker | Picoides tridactylus | ||
| Hairy woodpecker | Picoides villosus | ||
| Pine grosbeak | Pinicola enucleator | ||
| Eastern towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | ||
| Scarlet tanager | Piranga olivacea | ||
| Snow bunting | Plectrophenax nivalis | ||
| American golden plover | Pluvialis dominica | ||
| Horned grebe | Podiceps auritus | ||
| Red-necked grebe | Podiceps grisegena | ||
| Pied-billed grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | ||
| Black-capped chickadee | Poecile atricapilla | ||
| Boreal chickadee | Poecile hudsonica | ||
| Vesper sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| Sora | Porzana carolina | ||
| Purple martin | Progne subis | ||
| Common grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | ||
| Virginia rail | Rallus limicola | ||
| Ruby-crowned kinglet | Regulus calendula | ||
| Golden-crowned kinglet | Regulus satrapa | ||
| Bank swallow | Riparia riparia | ||
| Eastern phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | ||
| American woodcock | Scolopax minor | ||
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapillus | ||
| Northern waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | ||
| American redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | ||
| Eastern bluebird | Sialia sialis | ||
| Red-breasted nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | ||
| White-breasted nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | ||
| Yellow-bellied sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | ||
| American tree sparrow | Spizella arborea | ||
| Clay-colored sparrow | Spizella pallida | ||
| Chipping sparrow | Spizella passerina | ||
| Northern rough-winged swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Caspian tern | Sterna caspia | ||
| Common tern | Sterna hirundo | ||
| Eurasian collared dove | Streptopelia decaocto | Non-native | |
| Great gray owl | Strix nebulosa | ||
| Barred owl | Strix varia | ||
| Eastern meadowlark | Sturnella magna | ||
| Western meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | ||
| European starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Northern hawk owl | Surnia ulula | ||
| Tree swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ||
| Brown thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | ||
| Lesser yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | ||
| Greater yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Solitary sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ||
| House wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Winter wren | Troglodytes troglodytes | ||
| American robin | Turdus migratorius | ||
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Tympanuchus phasianellus | ||
| Eastern kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ||
| Orange-crowned warbler | Vermivora celata | ||
| Golden-winged warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | ||
| Tennessee warbler | Vermivora peregrina | ||
| Nashville warbler | Vermivora ruficapilla | ||
| Warbling vireo | Vireo gilvus | ||
| Red-eyed vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ||
| Philadelphia vireo | Vireo philadelphicus | ||
| Blue-headed vireo | Vireo solitarius | ||
| Canada warbler | Wilsonia canadensis | ||
| Wilson's warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | ||
| Yellow-headed blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | ||
| Mourning dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| White-throated sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | ||
| White-crowned sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | ||
| Harris' sparrow | Zonotrichia querula |
Reptiles
5 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
5 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common snapping turtle | Chelydra serpentina serpentina | |||
| Western painted turtle | Chrysemys picta bellii | |||
| Northern red-bellied snake | Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata | |||
| Red-sided garter snake | Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis | Probably Present | ||
| Common garter snake | Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis |
Amphibians
10 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
10 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-spotted salamander | Ambystoma laterale | |||
| Eastern American toad | Bufo americanus americanus | |||
| Gray treefrog | Hyla versicolor | |||
| Central newt | Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis | |||
| Northern spring peeper | Pseudacris crucifer crucifer | |||
| Boreal chorus frog | Pseudacris maculata | |||
| Northern green frog | Rana clamitans melanota | |||
| Northern leopard frog | Rana pipiens | |||
| Mink frog | Rana septentrionalis | |||
| Wood frog | Rana sylvatica |
Fish
58 fish — show the list ↓
Fish
58 fish — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake sturgeon | Acipenser fulvescens | Occasional | ||
| Rock bass | Ambloplites rupestris | Abundant | ||
| Black bullhead | Ameiurus melas | Occasional | ||
| Brown bullhead | Ameiurus nebulosus | Occasional | ||
| Longnose sucker | Catostomus catostomus | Uncommon | ||
| White sucker | Catostomus commersoni | Abundant | ||
| Lake herring | Coregonus artedii | Abundant | ||
| Lake whitefish | Coregonus clupeaformis | Common | ||
| Mottled sculpin | Cottus bairdii | Occasional | ||
| Slimy sculpin | Cottus cognatus | Common | ||
| Lake chub | Couesius plumbeus | Probably Present | ||
| Brook stickleback | Culaea inconstans | Common | ||
| Northern pike | Esox lucius | Abundant | ||
| Muskellunge | Esox masquinongy | Occasional | ||
| Iowa darter | Etheostoma exile | Abundant | ||
| Johnny darter | Etheostoma nigrum | Abundant | ||
| Mooneye | Hiodon tergisus | Rare | ||
| Brassy minnow | Hybognathus hankinsoni | Rare | ||
| Northern brook lamprey | Ichthyomyzon fossor | Probably Present | ||
| Silver lamprey | Ichthyomyzon unicuspis | Occasional | ||
| Green sunfish | Lepomis cyanellus | Probably Present | ||
| Pumpkinseed | Lepomis gibbosus | Abundant | ||
| Bluegill | Lepomis macrochirus | Occasional | Non-native | |
| Longear sunfish | Lepomis megalotis | Uncommon | ||
| Burbot | Lota lota | Abundant | ||
| Common shiner | Luxilus cornutus | Abundant | ||
| Pearl dace | Margariscus margarita | Occasional | ||
| Smallmouth bass | Micropterus dolomieu | Abundant | Non-native | |
| Largemouth bass | Micropterus salmoides | Common | Non-native | |
| Silver redhorse | Moxostoma anisurum | Uncommon | ||
| Shorthead redhorse | Moxostoma macrolepidotum | Abundant | ||
| Hornyhead chub | Nocomis biguttatus | Occasional | ||
| Golden shiner | Notemigonus crysoleucas | Abundant | ||
| Emerald shiner | Notropis atherinoides | Abundant | ||
| Blackchin shiner | Notropis heterodon | Rare | ||
| Blacknose shiner | Notropis heterolepis | Common | ||
| Spottail shiner | Notropis hudsonius | Abundant | ||
| Mimic shiner | Notropis volucellus | Uncommon | ||
| Tadpole madtom | Noturus gyrinus | Rare | ||
| Rainbow smelt | Osmerus mordax | Abundant | Non-native | |
| Yellow perch | Perca flavescens | Abundant | ||
| Logperch | Percina caprodes | Abundant | ||
| Blackside darter | Percina maculata | Probably Present | ||
| River darter | Percina shumardi | Rare | ||
| Trout-perch | Percopsis omiscomaycus | Abundant | ||
| Northern redbelly dace | Phoxinus eos | Abundant | ||
| Finescale dace | Phoxinus neogaeus | Abundant | ||
| Bluntnose minnow | Pimephales notatus | Common | ||
| Fathead minnow | Pimephales promelas | Common | ||
| Black crappie | Pomoxis nigromaculatus | Common | ||
| Ninespine stickleback | Pungitius pungitius | Common | ||
| Blacknose dace | Rhinichthys atratulus | Common | ||
| Longnose dace | Rhinichthys cataractae | Occasional | ||
| Lake trout | Salvelinus namaycush | Common | ||
| Creek chub | Semotilus atromaculatus | |||
| Sauger | Stizostedion canadense | Abundant | ||
| Walleye | Stizostedion vitreum | Abundant | ||
| Central mudminnow | Umbra limi | Common |
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 Voyageurs.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — Voyageurs (VOYA) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.Voyageurs National Park — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
FAQ
Voyageurs wildlife questions
- Are there bears in Voyageurs?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Voyageurs records black bear as present, listed as common.
- Are there wolves in Voyageurs?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Voyageurs records gray wolf as present, listed as common.
- Are there mountain lions in Voyageurs?
- Unconfirmed. Mountain lion appear on the park's NPS species list as "unconfirmed" — reported but not verified in the park.
- Are there rattlesnakes in Voyageurs?
- The NPS species list for Voyageurs does not include rattlesnakes, so there is no record of them in the park.
- How many animal species live in Voyageurs?
- The NPS species database lists 41 mammal, 233 bird, 4 reptile, 10 amphibian and 54 fish species as present or probably present in Voyageurs, including 4 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.


