Wildlife
What lives in White Sands
Last verified NPS species database
Every animal below comes from the National Park Service’s own species list for White Sands: 38 mammals, 160 birds, 28 reptiles, 7 amphibians and 1 fish recorded as present. Status words (present, unconfirmed, not in park) are the NPS’s, not ours.
Animals people ask about
Coyote
Canis latrans
Mountain lion
Puma concolor
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana · Rare
Rattlesnakes
Crotalus atrox · any rattlesnake species
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos · Rare
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
- 52
- 53 listed · 1 non-native
- Birds
- 160
- 164 listed · 1 non-native
- Reptiles
- 32
- 33 listed
- Amphibians
- 7
- 7 listed
- Fish
- 1
- 1 listed
Endangered Species Act
1 threatened or endangered species
Federal listing status as recorded in the NPS species database.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Massasauga | Sistrurus catenatus | Threatened |
Mammals
All 52 mammals recorded in White Sands
Most abundant first, as the NPS rates them.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemsbok | Oryx gazella | Rare | Non-native | |
| Pronghorn | Antilocapra americana | Rare | ||
| American Badger | Taxidea taxus | |||
| Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat | Dipodomys spectabilis | Probably Present | ||
| Big Brown Bat | Eptesicus fuscus | Probably Present | ||
| Big Free-tailed Bat | Nyctinomops macrotis | Probably Present | ||
| Black-tailed Jackrabbit | Lepus californicus | |||
| Bobcat | Lynx rufus | |||
| Botta's Pocket Gopher | Thomomys bottae | |||
| Cactus Mouse | Peromyscus eremicus | |||
| California Myotis | Myotis californicus | Probably Present | ||
| Cave Myotis | Myotis velifer | Probably Present |
Show the other 40 mammals ↓The other 40
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Gray Fox | Urocyon cinereoargenteus | |||
| Coyote | Canis latrans | |||
| Crawford's Desert Shrew | Notiosorex crawfordi | |||
| Deer Mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | |||
| Desert Cottontail | Sylvilagus audubonii | |||
| Desert Pocket Gopher | Geomys arenarius | |||
| Eastern White-throated Woodrat | Neotoma leucodon | |||
| Fringed Myotis | Myotis thysanodes | Probably Present | ||
| Hispid Cotton Rat | Sigmodon hispidus | |||
| Hispid Pocket Mouse | Chaetodipus hispidus | Probably Present | ||
| Hoary Bat | Lasiurus cinereus | Probably Present | ||
| House Mouse | Mus musculus | Probably Present | ||
| Kit Fox | Vulpes macrotis | |||
| Long-tailed Weasel | Mustela frenata | |||
| Mearns's Grasshopper Mouse | Onychomys arenicola | |||
| Merriam's Kangaroo Rat | Dipodomys merriami | |||
| Mexican Free-tailed bat | Tadarida brasiliensis | |||
| Mountain Lion | Puma concolor | |||
| Mule Deer | Odocoileus hemionus | |||
| North American Porcupine | Erethizon dorsatum | |||
| Northern Grasshopper Mouse | Onychomys leucogaster | |||
| Northern Raccoon | Procyon lotor | |||
| Ord's Kangaroo Rat | Dipodomys ordii | |||
| Pallid Bat | Antrozous pallidus | |||
| Plains Pocket Mouse | Perognathus flavescens | |||
| Ringtail | Bassariscus astutus | |||
| Silky Pocket Mouse | Perognathus flavus | |||
| Silver-haired Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | Probably Present | ||
| Sonoran Desert Pocket Mouse | Chaetodipus penicillatus | |||
| Southern Plains Woodrat | Neotoma micropus | |||
| Spotted Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus spilosoma | |||
| Striped Skunk | Mephitis mephitis | |||
| Townsend's Big-eared Bat | Corynorhinus townsendii | Probably Present | ||
| Western Harvest Mouse | Reithrodontomys megalotis | |||
| Western Pipistrelle | Pipistrellus hesperus | Probably Present | ||
| Western Small-footed Myotis | Myotis ciliolabrum | Probably Present | ||
| Western Spotted Skunk | Spilogale gracilis | Probably Present | ||
| White-backed Hog-nosed Skunk | Conepatus leuconotus | |||
| White-footed Mouse | Peromyscus leucopus | |||
| Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher | Cratogeomys castanops |
Birds
160 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
160 birds — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper's Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | ||
| White-throated Swift | Aeronautes saxatalis | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Sage Sparrow | Amphispiza belli | ||
| Black-throated Sparrow | Amphispiza bilineata | ||
| American Pipit | Anthus rubescens | ||
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ||
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Archilochus alexandri | ||
| Burrowing Owl | Athene cunicularia | ||
| Verdin | Auriparus flaviceps | ||
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | ||
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | ||
| Western Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | ||
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | ||
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | ||
| Lark Bunting | Calamospiza melanocorys | ||
| Chestnut-collared Longspur | Calcarius ornatus | ||
| Western Sandpiper | Calidris mauri | ||
| Gambel's Quail | Callipepla gambelii | ||
| Scaled Quail | Callipepla squamata | ||
| Cactus Wren | Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus | ||
| Pyrrhuloxia | Cardinalis sinuatus | ||
| Pine Siskin | Carduelis pinus | ||
| American Goldfinch | Carduelis tristis | ||
| Cassin's Finch | Carpodacus cassinii | ||
| House Finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | ||
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush | Catharus minimus | ||
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ||
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Snowy Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Lark Sparrow | Chondestes grammacus | ||
| Lesser Nighthawk | Chordeiles acutipennis | ||
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | ||
| Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ||
| Northern Flicker (red-shafted) | Colaptes auratus | ||
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | ||
| Inca Dove | Columbina inca | ||
| Western Wood-Pewee | Contopus sordidulus | ||
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | ||
| Chihuahuan Raven | Corvus cryptoleucus | ||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Dendroica caerulescens | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) | Dendroica coronata | ||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | ||
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | ||
| Townsend's Warbler | Dendroica townsendi | ||
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | ||
| Dusky Flycatcher | Empidonax oberholseri | ||
| Cordilleran Flycatcher | Empidonax occidentalis | ||
| Gray Flycatcher | Empidonax wrightii | ||
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | ||
| Prairie Falcon | Falco mexicanus | ||
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | ||
| Greater Roadrunner | Geococcyx californianus | ||
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Sandhill Crane | Grus canadensis | ||
| Worm-eating Warbler | Helmitheros vermivorum | ||
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | Icteria virens | ||
| Bullock's Oriole | Icterus bullockii | ||
| Hooded Oriole | Icterus cucullatus | ||
| Scott's Oriole | Icterus parisorum | ||
| Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | ||
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | ||
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | ||
| Franklin's Gull | Larus pipixcan | ||
| Long-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | ||
| Marbled Godwit | Limosa fedoa | ||
| Acorn Woodpecker | Melanerpes formicivorus | ||
| Lincoln's Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | ||
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | ||
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | ||
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | ||
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | ||
| Bronzed Cowbird | Molothrus aeneus | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | ||
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Myiarchus cinerascens | ||
| Kentucky Warbler | Oporornis formosus | ||
| MacGillivray's Warbler | Oporornis tolmiei | ||
| Sage Thrasher | Oreoscoptes montanus | ||
| Northern Parula | Parula americana | ||
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | ||
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Lazuli Bunting | Passerina amoena | ||
| Blue Grosbeak | Passerina caerulea | ||
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | ||
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | ||
| Cassin's Sparrow | Peucaea cassinii | ||
| Phainopepla | Phainopepla nitens | ||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | ||
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | ||
| Ladder-backed Woodpecker | Picoides scalaris | ||
| Green-tailed Towhee | Pipilo chlorurus | ||
| Spotted Towhee | Pipilo maculatus | ||
| Hepatic Tanager | Piranga flava | ||
| Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | ||
| Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | ||
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | ||
| Mountain Chickadee | Poecile gambeli | ||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | ||
| Black-tailed Gnatcatcher | Polioptila melanura | ||
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| Sora | Porzana carolina | ||
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | ||
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | ||
| American Avocet | Recurvirostra americana | ||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Regulus calendula | ||
| Rock Wren | Salpinctes obsoletus | ||
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | ||
| Say's Phoebe | Sayornis saya | ||
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | ||
| 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 | ||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | ||
| Red-naped Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus nuchalis | ||
| Lesser Goldfinch | Spinus psaltria | ||
| Dickcissel | Spiza americana | ||
| Brewer's Sparrow | Spizella breweri | ||
| Clay-colored Sparrow | Spizella pallida | ||
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | ||
| Eastern Meadowlark | Sturnella magna | ||
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | ||
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Violet-green Swallow | Tachycineta thalassina | ||
| Bewick's Wren | Thryomanes bewickii | ||
| Crissal Thrasher | Toxostoma crissale | ||
| Curve-billed Thrasher | Toxostoma curvirostre | ||
| Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | ||
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | ||
| Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | ||
| Cassin's Kingbird | Tyrannus vociferans | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler | Vermivora celata | ||
| Lucy's Warbler | Vermivora luciae | ||
| Nashville Warbler | Vermivora ruficapilla | ||
| Virginia's Warbler | Vermivora virginiae | ||
| Bell's Vireo | Vireo bellii | ||
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ||
| Hooded Warbler | Wilsonia citrina | ||
| Wilson's Warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | ||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | ||
| White-winged Dove | Zenaida asiatica | ||
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | ||
| Harris's Sparrow | Zonotrichia querula |
Reptiles
32 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
32 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painted Desert Glossy Snake | Arizona elegans | |||
| Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail | Aspidoscelis exsanguis | Probably Present | ||
| Little White Whiptail | Aspidoscelis gypsi | |||
| Plains Striped Whiptail | Aspidoscelis inornata | |||
| Western Marbled Whiptail | Aspidoscelis marmorata | |||
| New Mexico Whiptail | Aspidoscelis neomexicana | |||
| Chihuahuan Greater Earless Lizard | Cophosaurus texanus | |||
| Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake | Crotalus atrox | |||
| Green Prairie Rattlesnake | Crotalus viridis | |||
| Eastern Collared Lizard | Crotaphytus collaris | |||
| Long-nosed Leopard Lizard | Gambelia wislizenii | |||
| Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snake | Gyalopion canum | |||
| Western Hog-nosed Snake | Heterodon nasicus | |||
| Bleached Earless Lizard | Holbrookia maculata | |||
| Texas Nightsnake | Hypsiglena torquata | |||
| Desert Kingsnake | Lampropeltis getula | |||
| Trans-Pecos Threadsnake | Leptotyphlops humilis | |||
| Western Coachwhip | Masticophis flagellum | |||
| Desert Striped Whipsnake | Masticophis taeniatus | Probably Present | ||
| Texas Horned Lizard | Phrynosoma cornutum | |||
| Round-tailed Horned Lizard | Phrynosoma modestum | |||
| Sonoran Gophersnake | Pituophis catenifer | |||
| Texas Long-nosed Snake | Rhinocheilus lecontei | |||
| Big Bend Patch-nosed Snake | Salvadora hexalepis | Probably Present | ||
| Southwestern Fence Lizard | Sceloporus cowlesi | |||
| Twin-spotted Spiny Lizard | Sceloporus magister | |||
| Desert Massasauga | Sistrurus catenatus | Threatened | ||
| Variable Groundsnake | Sonora semiannulata | |||
| Plains Black-headed Snake | Tantilla nigriceps | |||
| Desert Box Turtle | Terrapene ornata | |||
| Western Black-necked Gartersnake | Thamnophis cyrtopsis | Probably Present | ||
| Common Side-blotched Lizard | Uta stansburiana |
Amphibians
7 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
7 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barred Tiger Salamander | Ambystoma tigrinum | |||
| Great Plains Toad | Bufo cognatus | |||
| Western Green Toad | Bufo debilis | |||
| Red-spotted Toad | Bufo punctatus | |||
| Couch's Spadefoot | Scaphiopus couchii | |||
| Plains Spadefoot | Spea bombifrons | |||
| Mexican Spadefoot | Spea multiplicata |
Fish
1 fish — show the list ↓
Fish
1 fish — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Sands pupfish | Cyprinodon tularosa |
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 White Sands.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — White Sands (WHSA) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.White Sands National Park — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
FAQ
White Sands wildlife questions
- Are there bears in White Sands?
- The NPS species list for White Sands does not include black bear, so there is no record of them in the park.
- Are there wolves in White Sands?
- The NPS species list for White Sands does not include gray wolf, so there is no record of them in the park.
- Are there mountain lions in White Sands?
- Yes. The NPS species list for White Sands records mountain lion as present.
- Are there rattlesnakes in White Sands?
- Yes. The NPS species list for White Sands records rattlesnakes as present.
- How many animal species live in White Sands?
- The NPS species database lists 38 mammal, 160 bird, 28 reptile, 7 amphibian and 1 fish species as present or probably present in White Sands, including 1 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.
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