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Wildlife

What lives in Wrangell–St. Elias

Last verified NPS species database
Every animal below comes from the National Park Service’s own species list for Wrangell–St. Elias: 44 mammals, 191 birds, 0 reptiles, 2 amphibians and 88 fish recorded as present. Status words (present, unconfirmed, not in park) are the NPS’s, not ours.

Animals people ask about

Grizzly / brown bear

Ursus arctos

Present

Black bear

Ursus americanus

Present

Gray wolf

Canis lupus

Present

Coyote

Canis latrans

Present

Canada lynx

Lynx canadensis

Present

Wolverine

Gulo gulo

Present

Moose

Alces alces · Uncommon

Present

Bison

Bison bison

Present

Mountain goat

Oreamnos americanus

Present

Caribou

Rangifer tarandus caribou · Common · Adjacent

Present

Sea otter

Enhydra lutris · Adjacent

Present

Bald eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Common

Present

Golden eagle

Aquila chrysaetos · Common

Present

Mountain lion

Puma concolor · Adjacent

Unconfirmed

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
47
62 listed · 1 non-native
Birds
196
211 listed · 1 non-native
Reptiles
0
1 listed
Amphibians
2
2 listed
Fish
92
93 listed

Endangered Species Act

2 threatened or endangered species

Federal listing status as recorded in the NPS species database.
SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkAbundanceNotes
Wood bisonBison bison athabascaePresent · AdjacentUncommonThreatened
Barren-ground caribouRangifer tarandus groenlandicusPresentCommonEndangered

Mammals

All 47 mammals recorded in Wrangell–St. Elias

Most abundant first, as the NPS rates them.
SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkAbundanceNotes
Dall's sheepOvis dalliPresentAbundant—
American beaverCastor canadensisPresentCommon—
Barren-ground caribouRangifer tarandus groenlandicusPresentCommonEndangered
Harbor sealPhoca vitulinaPresent · AdjacentCommon—
Little brown batMyotis lucifugusPresentCommon—
Northern sea lionEumetopias jubatusPresent · AdjacentCommon—
Woodland caribouRangifer tarandus caribouPresent · AdjacentCommon—
Black tailed deerOdocoileus hemionusPresent · AdjacentUncommon—
MooseAlces alcesPresentUncommon—
Northern flying squirrelGlaucomys sabrinusPresentUncommon—
Ribbon SealHistriophoca fasciataPresent · AdjacentUncommon—
River otterLontra canadensisPresentUncommon—
Show the other 35 mammals ↓
SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkAbundanceNotes
Wood bisonBison bison athabascaePresent · AdjacentUncommonThreatened
American black bearUrsus americanusPresentUnknown—
American martenMartes americanaPresentUnknown—
Arctic ground squirrelSpermophilus parryiiPresentUnknown—
BisonBison bisonPresentUnknownNon-native
Brown bearUrsus arctosPresentUnknown—
Brown lemmingLemmus trimucronatusPresentUnknown—
Cinereus shrewSorex cinereusPresentUnknown—
Collared pikaOchotona collarisPresentUnknown—
Common muskratOndatra zibethicusPresentUnknown—
CoyoteCanis latransPresentUnknown—
Dusky shrewSorex monticolusPresentUnknown—
ErmineMustela ermineaProbably Present——
Gray wolfCanis lupusPresentUnknown—
Hoary marmotMarmota caligataPresentUnknown—
Long-tailed voleMicrotus longicaudusPresentUnknown—
LynxLynx canadensisPresentUnknown—
Meadow voleMicrotus pennsylvanicusPresentUnknown—
MinkMustela visonProbably Present——
Mountain goatOreamnos americanusPresentUnknown—
Northern bog lemmingSynaptomys borealisPresentUnknown—
Northern red-backed voleClethrionomys rutilusPresentUnknown—
PorcupineErethizon dorsatumPresentUnknown—
Pygmy shrewSorex hoyiPresentUnknown—
Red foxVulpes vulpesPresentUnknown—
Red squirrelTamiasciurus hudsonicusPresentUnknown—
Sea otterEnhydra lutrisPresent · Adjacent——
Singing voleMicrotus miurusPresentUnknown—
Snowshoe hareLepus americanusPresentUnknown—
Taiga voleMicrotus xanthognathusProbably Present · Adjacent——
Tiny shrewSorex yukonicusPresentUnknown—
Tundra shrewSorex tundrensisPresentUnknown—
Tundra voleMicrotus oeconomusPresentUnknown—
Water shrewSorex palustrisPresentUnknown—
WolverineGulo guloPresentUnknown—

Birds

196 birds — show the list ↓

SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkNotes
Northern goshawkAccipiter gentilisPresent—
Sharp-shinned hawkAccipiter striatusPresent—
Spotted SandpiperActitis maculariusPresent—
Boreal owlAegolius funereusPresent—
Red-winged blackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusPresent—
Northern pintailAnas acutaPresent—
American wigeonAnas americanaPresent—
Northern shovelerAnas clypeataPresent—
Green-winged tealAnas creccaPresent—
Blue-winged tealAnas discorsPresent—
Eurasian wigeonAnas penelopePresent—
MallardAnas platyrhynchosPresent—
GadwallAnas streperaPresent—
Greater white-fronted gooseAnser albifronsPresent—
American pipitAnthus rubescensPresent—
SurfbirdAphriza virgataPresent—
Golden eagleAquila chrysaetosPresent—
Great blue heronArdea herodiasPresent—
Black turnstoneArenaria melanocephalaPresent—
Short-eared owlAsio flammeusPresent—
Lesser scaupAythya affinisPresent—
RedheadAythya americanaPresent—
Ring-necked duckAythya collarisPresent—
Greater scaupAythya marilaPresent—
CanvasbackAythya valisineriaPresent—
Upland sandpiperBartramia longicaudaPresent—
Bohemian waxwingBombycilla garrulusPresent—
Ruffed grouseBonasa umbellusPresent—
Kittlitz's murreletBrachyramphus brevirostrisPresent—
Marbled murreletBrachyramphus marmoratusPresent—
BrantBranta berniclaPresent—
Canada gooseBranta canadensisPresent—
Great horned owlBubo virginianusPresent—
BuffleheadBucephala albeolaPresent—
Common goldeneyeBucephala clangulaPresent—
Barrow's goldeneyeBucephala islandicaPresent—
Red-tailed hawkButeo jamaicensisPresent—
Rough-legged hawkButeo lagopusPresent—
Swainson's hawkButeo swainsoniPresent—
Lapland longspurCalcarius lapponicusPresent—
Smith's longspurCalcarius pictusPresent—
SanderlingCalidris albaPresent—
DunlinCalidris alpinaPresent—
Baird's sandpiperCalidris bairdiiPresent—
Red knotCalidris canutusPresent—
Western sandpiperCalidris mauriPresent—
Pectoral sandpiperCalidris melanotosPresent—
Least sandpiperCalidris minutillaPresent—
Rock sandpiperCalidris ptilocnemisPresent—
Semipalmated sandpiperCalidris pusillaPresent—
Common redpollCarduelis flammeaPresent—
Hoary redpollCarduelis hornemanniPresent—
Pine siskinCarduelis pinusPresent—
Hermit thrushCatharus guttatusPresent—
Gray-cheeked thrushCatharus minimusPresent—
Swainson's thrushCatharus ustulatusPresent—
Pigeon guillemotCepphus columbaPresent—
Brown creeperCerthia americanaPresent—
Semipalmated ploverCharadrius semipalmatusPresent—
KilldeerCharadrius vociferusPresent—
Snow gooseChen caerulescensPresent—
American dipperCinclus mexicanusPresent—
Northern harrierCircus cyaneusPresent—
Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisPresent—
Northern flickerColaptes auratusPresent—
Olive-sided FlycatcherContopus cooperiPresent—
Western wood peweeContopus sordidulusPresent—
Northwestern crowCorvus caurinusPresent—
Common ravenCorvus coraxPresent—
Steller's jayCyanocitta stelleriPresent—
Trumpeter swanCygnus buccinatorPresent—
Tundra swanCygnus columbianusPresent—
Yellow-rumped warblerDendroica coronataPresent—
Yellow warblerDendroica petechiaPresent—
Blackpoll warblerDendroica striataPresent—
Townsend warblerDendroica townsendiPresent—
Alder flycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPresent—
Yellow-bellied flycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisProbably Present—
Hammond's flycatcherEmpidonax hammondiiPresent—
Horned larkEremophila alpestrisPresent—
Rusty blackbirdEuphagus carolinusPresent—
Spruce GrouseFalcipennis canadensisPresent—
MerlinFalco columbariusPresent—
Peregrin falconFalco peregrinusPresent—
GyrfalconFalco rusticolusPresent—
American kestrelFalco sparveriusPresent—
American cootFulica americanaPresent—
Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicataPresent—
Common snipeGallinago gallinagoPresent—
Yellow-billed loonGavia adamsiiPresent—
Common loonGavia immerPresent—
Pacific loonGavia pacificaPresent—
Red-throated loonGavia stellataPresent—
Sandhill craneGrus canadensisPresent—
Black oystercatcherHaematopus bachmaniPresent—
Bald eagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusPresent—
Barn swallowHirundo rusticaPresent—
Harlequin duckHistrionicus histrionicusPresent—
Caspian TernHydroprogne caspiaPresent—
Varied thrushIxoreus naeviusPresent—
Dark-eyed juncoJunco hyemalisPresent—
Willow ptarmiganLagopus lagopusPresent—
White-tailed PtarmiganLagopus leucuraPresent—
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaPresent—
Northern shrikeLanius excubitorPresent—
Herring gullLarus argentatusPresent—
Mew gullLarus canusPresent—
Glaucous-winged gullLarus glaucescensPresent—
Glaucous gullLarus hyperboreusPresent—
Bonaparte's gullLarus philadelphiaPresent—
Rosy finchLeucosticte arctoaProbably Present—
Gray-crowned Rosy-FinchLeucosticte tephrocotisPresent—
Short-billed dowitcherLimnodromus griseusPresent—
Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPresent—
Hudsonian godwitLimosa haemasticaPresent—
Red crossbillLoxia curvirostraPresent—
White-winged crossbillLoxia leucopteraPresent—
Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyonPresent—
Western Screech-OwlMegascops kennicottiiPresent—
White-winged scoterMelanitta fuscaPresent—
Black scoterMelanitta nigraPresent—
Surf scoterMelanitta perspicillataPresent—
Lincoln's sparrowMelospiza lincolniiPresent—
Song sparrowMelospiza melodiaPresent—
Common merganserMergus merganserPresent—
Red-breasted merganserMergus serratorPresent—
Townsend's solitaireMyadestes townsendiPresent—
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPresent—
Northern wheatearOenanthe oenanthePresent—
Aleutian TernOnychoprion aleuticusPresent—
OspreyPandion haliaetusPresent—
Savannah sparrowPasserculus sandwichensisPresent—
Fox sparrowPasserella iliacaPresent—
Gray jayPerisoreus canadensisPresent—
Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonotaPresent—
Double-crested cormorantPhalacrocorax auritusPresent—
Pelagic cormorantPhalacrocorax pelagicusPresent—
Red phalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPresent—
Red-necked phalaropePhalaropus lobatusPresent—
Arctic warblerPhylloscopus borealisPresent—
Black-billed MagpiePica hudsoniaPresent—
Black-backed woodpeckerPicoides arcticusPresent—
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisPresent—
Downy woodpeckerPicoides pubescensPresent—
Hairy woodpeckerPicoides villosusPresent—
Pine grosbeakPinicola enucleatorPresent—
Snow buntingPlectrophenax nivalisPresent—
American golden ploverPluvialis dominicaPresent—
Black-bellied ploverPluvialis squatarolaPresent—
Horned grebePodiceps auritusPresent—
Red-necked grebePodiceps grisegenaPresent—
Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillusPresent—
Gray-headed ChickadeePoecile cinctusPresent—
Boreal ChickadeePoecile hudsonicaPresent—
Chestnut-backed ChickadeePoecile rufescensPresent—
SoraPorzana carolinaPresent—
Cassin's aukletPtychoramphus aleuticusPresent—
Ruby-crowned kingletRegulus calendulaPresent—
Golden-crowned kingletRegulus satrapaPresent—
Bank swallowRiparia ripariaPresent—
Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactylaPresent—
Say's phoebeSayornis sayaPresent—
Northern waterthrushSeiurus noveboracensisPresent—
Rufous hummingbirdSelasphorus rufusPresent—
American redstartSetophaga ruticillaProbably Present—
Mountain bluebirdSialia currucoidesPresent—
Red-breasted nuthatchSitta canadensisPresent—
Red-breasted sapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberPresent—
Yellow-bellied sapsuckerSphyrapicus variusProbably Present—
American tree sparrowSpizella arboreaPresent—
Brewer's sparrowSpizella breweriPresent—
Chipping sparrowSpizella passerinaPresent—
Long-tailed jaegerStercorarius longicaudusPresent—
Parasitic jaegerStercorarius parasiticusPresent—
Pomarine jaegerStercorarius pomarinusPresent—
Arctic ternSterna paradisaeaPresent—
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoPresentNon-native
Great gray owlStrix nebulosaPresent—
Northern hawk owlSurnia ululaPresent—
Ancient murreletSynthliboramphus antiquusPresent—
Tree swallowTachycineta bicolorPresent—
Violet-green swallowTachycineta thalassinaPresent—
Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesPresent—
Wandering TattlerTringa incanaPresent—
Greater yellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPresent—
Solitary sandpiperTringa solitariaPresent—
Winter wrenTroglodytes troglodytesPresent—
American robinTurdus migratoriusPresent—
Sharp-tailed grouseTympanuchus phasianellusPresent—
Common murreUria aalgePresent—
Orange-crowned warblerVermivora celataPresent—
Tennessee warblerVermivora peregrinaPresent—
Warbling vireoVireo gilvusProbably Present—
Wilson's warblerWilsonia pusillaPresent—
Golden-crowned sparrowZonotrichia atricapillaPresent—
White-crowned sparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPresent—

Amphibians

2 amphibians — show the list ↓

SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkAbundanceNotes
Boreal toadBufo boreasPresentCommon—
Wood frogRana sylvaticaPresentCommon—

Fish

92 fish — show the list ↓

SpeciesScientific nameStatus in parkAbundanceNotes
Pacific sand lanceAmmodytes hexapterusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Stout eelblennyAnisarchus mediusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Penpoint gunnelApodichthys flavidusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Padded sculpinArtedius fenestralisPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Scalyhead sculpinArtedius harringtoniPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Arrowtooth flounderAtheresthes stomiasPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
TubesnoutAulorhynchus flavidusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Longnose suckerCatostomus catostomusPresentCommon—
Warty poacherChesnonia verrucosaPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Pacific sanddabCitharichthys sordidusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Speckled sanddabCitharichthys stigmaeusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Sharpnose sculpinClinocottus acuticepsPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Pacific herringClupea pallasii marisalbiPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Humpback whitefishCoregonus pidschianPresentCommon—
Coastrange sculpinCottus aleuticusPresentUnknown—
Slimy sculpinCottus cognatusPresentCommon—
Lake chubCouesius plumbeusPresentUnknown—
Shiner perchCymatogaster aggregataPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Spinyhead sculpinDasycottus setigerPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Buffalo sculpinEnophrys bisonPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Northern pikeEsox luciusPresentUnknown—
Pacific spiny lumpsuckerEumicrotremus orbisPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Pacific codGadus macrocephalusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Threespine sticklebackGasterosteus aculeatusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Red Irish lordHemilepidotus hemilepidotusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Brown Irish lordHemilepidotus spinosusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Bigmouth sculpinHemitripterus boliniPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Kelp greenlingHexagrammos decagrammusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Rock greenlingHexagrammos lagocephalusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Masked greenlingHexagrammos octogrammusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Whitespotted greenlingHexagrammos stelleriPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Flathead soleHippoglossoides elassodonPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Pacific halibutHippoglossus stenolepisPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Pond smeltHypomesus olidusProbably Present——
Surf SmeltHypomesus pretiosusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Northern sculpinIcelinus borealisPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Butter soleIsopsetta isolepisPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Pacific lampreyLampetra tridentataPresentCommon—
LepidopsettaLepidopsettaPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Daubed shannyLeptoclinus maculatusPresentUnknown—
Pacific staghorn sculpinLeptocottus armatusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Yellowfin soleLimanda asperaPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Sea snailsLiparisPresent——
Tidepool snailfishLiparis floraePresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Showy snailfishLiparis pulchellusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
BurbotLota lotaPresentCommon—
Longsnout pricklebackLumpenella longirostrisPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Daubed shannyLumpenus maculatusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Snake pricklebackLumpenus sagittaPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Shortfin eelpoutLycodes brevipesPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Wattled eelpoutLycodes palearisPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Slender soleLyopsetta exilisPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
CapelinMallotus villosusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Pacific tomcodMicrogadus proximusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Dover soleMicrostomus pacificusPresentUnknown—
Great sculpinMyoxocephalus polyacanthocephalusPresentUnknown—
Shorthorn sculpinMyoxocephalus scorpiusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Frog sculpinMyoxocephalus stelleriPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Sailfin sculpinNautichthys oculofasciatusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Tidepool sculpinOligocottus maculosusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Cutthroat troutOncorhynchus clarkiiProbably Present · Adjacent——
Pink salmonOncorhynchus gorbuschaPresent · AdjacentCommon—
Chum salmonOncorhynchus ketaPresent · AdjacentCommon—
Coho salmonOncorhynchus kisutchPresent · AdjacentCommon—
Rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykissPresent · AdjacentCommon—
KokaneeOncorhynchus nerkaPresent · AdjacentCommon—
Chinook salmonOncorhynchus tshawytschaPresent · AdjacentCommon—
LingcodOphiodon elongatusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Rainbow smeltOsmerus mordaxProbably Present——
Tubenose poacherPallasina barbataPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
English soleParophrys vetulusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Crescent gunnelPholis laetaPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Starry flounderPlatichthys stellatusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Sturgeon poacherPodothecus accipenserinusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Pygmy whitefishProsopium coulteriPresentUnknown—
Round whitefishProsopium cylindraceumPresentCommon—
Sand solePsettichthys melanostictusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Spineless sculpinsPsychrolutesPresentUnknown—
Soft sculpinPsychrolutes sigalutesProbably Present · Adjacent——
Big skateRaja binoculataPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Dolly vardenSalvelinus malmaPresent · AdjacentCommon—
Lake troutSalvelinus namaycushPresentCommon—
Copper rockfishSebastes caurinusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Dusky rockfishSebastes ciliatusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Quillback rockfishSebastes maligerPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Night SmeltSpirinchus starksiPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Longfin SmeltSpirinchus thaleichthysPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Bay pipefishSyngnathus leptorhynchusPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
EulachonThaleichthys pacificusPresent · Adjacent——
Alaska pollockTheragra chalcogrammaPresent · AdjacentUnknown—
Arctic graylingThymallus arcticusPresentCommon—
Pacific sandfishTrichodon trichodonPresent · AdjacentUnknown—

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 Wrangell–St. Elias.

FAQ

Wrangell–St. Elias wildlife questions

Are there bears in Wrangell–St. Elias?
Yes. The NPS species list for Wrangell–St. Elias records black bear as present.
Are there grizzly bears in Wrangell–St. Elias?
Yes. The NPS species list for Wrangell–St. Elias records grizzly / brown bear as present.
Are there wolves in Wrangell–St. Elias?
Yes. The NPS species list for Wrangell–St. Elias records gray wolf as present.
Are there mountain lions in Wrangell–St. Elias?
Unconfirmed. Mountain lion appear on the park's NPS species list as "unconfirmed" — reported but not verified in the park (NPS tag: Adjacent).
Are there rattlesnakes in Wrangell–St. Elias?
The NPS species list for Wrangell–St. Elias does not include rattlesnakes, so there is no record of them in the park.
How many animal species live in Wrangell–St. Elias?
The NPS species database lists 44 mammal, 191 bird, 0 reptile, 2 amphibian and 88 fish species as present or probably present in Wrangell–St. Elias, including 2 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.

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