Wildlife of Yellowstone | Yellowstone National Park Animals

Yellowstone National Park Animals | Wildlife of Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park is not only a land of geothermal wonders, canyons, and rivers, but also one of the richest ecosystems in the world for wildlife. Its vast wilderness and protected habitats make it a sanctuary for countless species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. The park lies at the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the largest nearly intact temperate-zone ecosystems on Earth, and it serves as a refuge for animals that have disappeared from much of their historic range. To truly understand Yellowstone, one must also explore the incredible variety of life that thrives within its borders.

List of Yellowstone National Park Animals

Category	Species
Mammals	American Bison Elk Bighorn Sheep Moose Mountain Goats Mule Deer Pronghorn Antelope White-tailed Deer  Grizzly Bears Black Bears Gray Wolves Wolverines Coyotes Mountain Lions  Canada Lynx Red Foxes River Otters American Martens American Pikas North American Porcupines
Birds - Raptors	Bald Eagle Golden Eagle Osprey Peregrine Falcon Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Swainson's Hawk
Birds - Owls	Great Horned Owl Barn Owl Northern Saw-whet Owl Long-eared Owl
Birds - Songbirds	Mountain Bluebird Yellow-rumped Warbler Western Tanager Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow House Wren
Birds - Shorebirds	Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Spotted Sandpiper Wilson’s Snipe
Birds - Waterfowl	Mallard Northern Pintail American Black Duck Common Goldeneye Canada Goose Common Merganser Trumpeter Swan
Birds - Other Notable	Common Loon Double-crested Cormorant American White Pelican American Dipper Water Ouzel, Raven Sandhill Crane Rock Wren Clark’s Nutcracker Black-capped Chickadee White-headed Woodpecker
Fish - Native	Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Westslope Cutthroat Trout Arctic Grayling Mountain Whitefish Rocky Mountain Sculpin Utah Chub Redside Shiner Longnose Dace Speckled Dace Mountain Sucker Longnose Sucker Utah Sucker
Fish - Nonnative	Lake Trout Rainbow Trout Cutthroat x Rainbow Trout Hybrids Eastern Brook Trout Brown Trout Lake Chub
Reptiles	Bullsnake Prairie Rattlesnake Rubber Boa Common Garter Snake Terrestrial Garter Snake Sagebrush Lizard
Amphibians	Western Tiger Salamander Boreal Chorus Frog Western Toad Columbia Spotted Frog Plains Spadefoot Toad
Invertebrates	Various species of insects, spiders, and aquatic invertebrates

Mammals

Yellowstone is home to some of the most iconic mammals in North America, drawing millions of visitors each year hoping to catch a glimpse of these wild creatures.

The American Bison is perhaps the most famous resident of Yellowstone. This massive animal, often weighing over a ton, is North America’s largest land mammal and a living symbol of the American West. Yellowstone hosts the largest free-roaming bison herd in the United States, with thousands of individuals. These animals roam the valleys, grasslands, and forests of the park, and visitors often see them grazing in Hayden Valley or Lamar Valley.

Elk are another common sight in Yellowstone. The park supports one of the largest elk herds in North America, and their presence is vital to the ecosystem. In autumn, visitors can witness the dramatic elk rut, when males, or bulls, bugle and fight to establish dominance and win mates.

Bighorn Sheep are most commonly found in the rugged cliffs and mountains of Yellowstone. With their curling horns and incredible climbing ability, these animals are perfectly adapted to steep terrain, where they avoid predators like wolves and cougars.

Moose inhabit wetland areas and are frequently seen browsing on willows and aquatic plants. They are the largest members of the deer family and, despite their size, are surprisingly good swimmers.

Mountain Goats, though not native to Yellowstone, have colonized parts of the northern range. They thrive in alpine regions, navigating cliffs with ease and feeding on grasses and shrubs at high elevations.

Mule Deer and White-tailed Deer both inhabit the park, though mule deer are more common in open habitats, while white-tailed deer prefer wooded areas. These graceful animals are prey for many of Yellowstone’s carnivores.

Pronghorn Antelope are the fastest land animals in North America, capable of running at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. They roam the open sagebrush flats of Yellowstone and are an iconic part of its landscape.

Grizzly Bears and Black Bears both inhabit Yellowstone. The grizzly, with its muscular hump and powerful frame, is one of the park’s top predators and scavengers. Grizzlies dig for roots, hunt, and scavenge carcasses, while black bears, smaller and less aggressive, thrive in forested areas.

Gray Wolves were famously reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995 after being eradicated earlier in the 20th century. Their return has restored balance to the ecosystem, controlling elk populations and benefiting many other species. Lamar Valley has become one of the best places in the world to see wild wolves.

Wolverines are among Yellowstone’s rarest mammals. Solitary and elusive, these powerful carnivores require vast territories and thrive in remote, snowy areas.

Coyotes are widespread throughout the park and are often seen hunting small mammals in open fields. Intelligent and adaptable, they play an important role in controlling rodent populations.

Mountain Lions, or cougars, are rarely seen due to their stealthy nature, but they inhabit Yellowstone’s forests and prey on elk and deer.

Canada Lynx, another elusive predator, inhabit Yellowstone’s higher elevations. They are specialized hunters of snowshoe hares and are considered a threatened species.

Red Foxes are often spotted darting across meadows or hunting rodents. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in Yellowstone’s varied environments.

River Otters live in Yellowstone’s rivers and lakes, delighting visitors with their playful swimming and fishing behavior.

American Martens, small members of the weasel family, inhabit forested areas where they feed on rodents, birds, and insects.

American Pikas, tiny relatives of rabbits, live in rocky talus slopes at high elevations. They are known for gathering and storing grasses to survive long winters.

North American Porcupines are slow-moving herbivores that feed on bark, leaves, and twigs. Their sharp quills make them well-protected from most predators.

Birds

Yellowstone is also a paradise for birdwatchers, with more than 300 species recorded in the park.

Among the raptors, Bald Eagles are a symbol of America’s wilderness and often seen near rivers and lakes where they hunt fish. Golden Eagles, powerful hunters of the open skies, soar above mountains and valleys. Ospreys nest on riversides, diving dramatically to catch fish. Peregrine Falcons, the fastest birds in the world, nest on cliffs and prey on smaller birds. Northern Harriers and hawks such as Red-tailed Hawks and Swainson’s Hawks patrol grasslands and meadows in search of rodents.

Owls are another fascinating group. Great Horned Owls, with their deep hoots, are powerful nocturnal predators. Barn Owls hunt silently in open fields, while Northern Saw-whet Owls and Long-eared Owls are smaller, secretive species that dwell in forests.

Songbirds bring color and melody to Yellowstone. Mountain Bluebirds, with their striking azure plumage, brighten up meadows. Yellow-rumped Warblers flit among trees, while Western Tanagers add splashes of red and yellow. Sparrows such as Song Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows, along with House Wrens, are common and widespread.

Shorebirds like Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpipers, and Wilson’s Snipes can be seen around Yellowstone’s wetlands, streams, and lake edges.

Waterfowl are abundant, including Mallards, Northern Pintails, American Black Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, Canada Geese, and Common Mergansers. The Trumpeter Swan, the largest native waterfowl species in North America, has an important stronghold in Yellowstone.

Other notable birds include the haunting calls of Common Loons, the fishing skills of Double-crested Cormorants, and the graceful flights of American White Pelicans. American Dippers, or Water Ouzels, are remarkable for their ability to dive into fast-moving streams in search of insects. Ravens, Sandhill Cranes, Rock Wrens, Clark’s Nutcrackers, and Black-capped Chickadees are also integral to Yellowstone’s birdlife. The White-headed Woodpecker, though rare, adds diversity to the park’s bird community.

Fish

Yellowstone’s rivers and lakes are home to both native and introduced fish species. Native species include the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, which is a cornerstone of the ecosystem and an important food source for grizzly bears and birds of prey. Other natives include the Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Arctic Grayling, Mountain Whitefish, Rocky Mountain Sculpin, Utah Chub, Redside Shiner, Longnose Dace, Speckled Dace, Mountain Sucker, Longnose Sucker, and Utah Sucker.

Nonnative fish species have also been introduced, with significant ecological consequences. Lake Trout, for instance, have devastated native cutthroat trout populations in Yellowstone Lake. Rainbow Trout, Eastern Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Chub, and hybrids such as Cutthroat x Rainbow Trout have altered the balance of aquatic ecosystems.

Reptiles 

Though fewer in number compared to mammals and birds, reptiles still play an important role in Yellowstone. Bullsnakes and Prairie Rattlesnakes inhabit grasslands and rocky areas, while the non-venomous Rubber Boa is one of the rarest snakes in the park. Common Garter Snakes and Terrestrial Garter Snakes are widespread near wetlands and streams. The Sagebrush Lizard is Yellowstone’s only lizard species, thriving in dry, rocky habitats.

Amphibians

Amphibians in Yellowstone include the Western Tiger Salamander, Boreal Chorus Frog, Western Toad, Columbia Spotted Frog, and Plains Spadefoot Toad. These species are particularly sensitive to environmental changes and serve as indicators of ecosystem health.