Gauja National Park

🇱🇻 Latvia

🐻 Brown Bear Denning at Gauja
🌍 #255 Global · 3.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #18 in Europe #54 in Temperate Forest
Latvia, Latvia 363 spp. recorded

Gauja National Park in northern Latvia protects a classic temperate forest landscape of mixed pine and oak, winding river valleys, limestone cliffs and open meadow patches. Trails wind through shady woodlands and along the Gauja River, offering a glimpse of the region’s natural mosaic.

57.277° N   25.021° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare 5–15%
With luck 15–40%
Possible 40–70%
Likely >70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

Insufficient data
Western Roe Deer ★
LC

Western Roe Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Capreolus capreolus

30–40% · Possible
European Common Frog ★
LC

European Common Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana temporaria

60–70% · Likely
Black Swan ★
LC Endemic

Black Swan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cygnus atratus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Great Tit
LC

Great Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parus major

80–90% · Very likely
Hooded Crow

Hooded Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus cornix

80–90% · Very likely
Eurasian Magpie
LC

Eurasian Magpie

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Pica pica

70–80% · Very likely
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
LC

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer montanus

60–70% · Likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

50–60% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

50–60% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

50–60% · Likely
Blue Tit
LC

Blue Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanistes caeruleus

50–60% · Likely
Common Chiffchaff
LC

Common Chiffchaff

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phylloscopus collybita

40–50% · Likely
European Herring Gull
LC

European Herring Gull

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Larus argentatus

40–50% · Likely
Wood Pigeon
LC

Wood Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba palumbus

40–50% · Likely
European Greenfinch
LC

European Greenfinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chloris chloris

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

Insufficient data
Western Roe Deer ★
LC

Western Roe Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Capreolus capreolus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Eurasian Red Squirrel
LC

Eurasian Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus vulgaris

Insufficient data
Eurasian Beaver
LC

Eurasian Beaver

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Castor fiber

Insufficient data
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

Insufficient data
Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

Insufficient data
Brown Hare
LC

Brown Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus europaeus

Insufficient data
Brown Big-eared Bat
LC

Brown Big-eared Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Plecotus auritus

Insufficient data
Red Deer
LC

Red Deer

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

Insufficient data
Mainland Raccoon Dog
LC

Mainland Raccoon Dog

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Nyctereutes procyonoides

Insufficient data
European Mole
LC

European Mole

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Talpa europaea

Insufficient data
Pine Marten
LC

Pine Marten

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Martes martes

Insufficient data
Common Shrew
LC

Common Shrew

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sorex araneus

Insufficient data
Yellow-necked Field Mouse
LC

Yellow-necked Field Mouse

Mammal

Apodemus flavicollis

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Black Swan ★
LC Endemic

Black Swan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cygnus atratus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Great Tit
LC

Great Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parus major

80–90% · Very likely
Hooded Crow

Hooded Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus cornix

80–90% · Very likely
Eurasian Magpie
LC

Eurasian Magpie

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Pica pica

70–80% · Very likely
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
LC

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer montanus

60–70% · Likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

50–60% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

50–60% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

50–60% · Likely
Blue Tit
LC

Blue Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanistes caeruleus

50–60% · Likely
Common Chiffchaff
LC

Common Chiffchaff

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phylloscopus collybita

40–50% · Likely
European Herring Gull
LC

European Herring Gull

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Larus argentatus

40–50% · Likely
Wood Pigeon
LC

Wood Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba palumbus

40–50% · Likely
European Greenfinch
LC

European Greenfinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chloris chloris

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

grass snake
LC

grass snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Natrix natrix

40–50% · Likely
Viviparous Lizard
LC

Viviparous Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Zootoca vivipara

30–40% · Possible
Adder
LC

Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Vipera berus

Insufficient data
Sand Lizard
LC

Sand Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lacerta agilis

Insufficient data
Eastern Slow-worm

Eastern Slow-worm

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anguis colchica

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

European Common Frog ★
LC

European Common Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana temporaria

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

European Toad
LC

European Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Bufo bufo

40–50% · Likely
Pool Frog
LC

Pool Frog

Amphibian

Pelophylax lessonae

Insufficient data
Great Crested Newt
LC

Great Crested Newt

Amphibian

Triturus cristatus

Insufficient data
Smooth Newt
LC

Smooth Newt

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Lissotriton vulgaris

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Brown Bear Denning Season

NovDecMay

Bears emerge from hibernation or prepare for winter, creating opportunities for guided wildlife tracking tours in the dense forests.

Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

Insufficient data
🦌

Roe Deer Rutting Season

JulAug

Male roe deer engage in territorial displays and vocalizations, offering prime opportunities for wildlife photographers and observers.

Western Roe Deer
LC

Western Roe Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Capreolus capreolus

30–40% · Possible
🐸

Amphibian Breeding Chorus

JulAug

Thousands of frogs and toads gather in wetlands to breed, creating a loud, synchronized chorus at dawn and dusk.

European Toad
LC

European Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Bufo bufo

40–50% · Likely
European Common Frog
LC

European Common Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana temporaria

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
Brown Bear
10–20
10–20
0–10
0–10
30–40
0–10
0–10
0–10
30–40
10–20
40–50
50–60
Western Roe Deer
50–60
60–70
30–40
10–20
0–10
30–40
30–40
20–30
10–20
40–50
40–50
20–30
European Common Frog
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
40–50
50–60
30–40
70–80
Black Swan
20–30
20–30
10–20
50–60
10–20
30–40
20–30
40–50
30–40
10–20
10–20
20–30
Great Tit
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
Hooded Crow
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
70–80
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
Eurasian Magpie
80–90
90–100
80–90
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
80–90
80–90
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
80–90
90–100
80–90
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
Eurasian Blackbird
30–40
40–50
60–70
80–90
70–80
80–90
60–70
30–40
40–50
30–40
20–30
20–30
Common Raven
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
Mallard
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
60–70
60–70
Blue Tit
70–80
60–70
50–60
80–90
40–50
10–20
30–40
40–50
50–60
30–40
30–40
60–70
Common Chiffchaff
0–10
0–10
10–20
70–80
80–90
90–100
50–60
50–60
70–80
10–20
10–20
10–20
European Herring Gull
0–10
30–40
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
80–90
40–50
10–20
10–20
20–30
20–30
Wood Pigeon
0–10
0–10
40–50
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
30–40
10–20
10–20
European Greenfinch
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
30–40
30–40
10–20
10–20
10–20
40–50
50–60
60–70
Animal Events
🦌 Brown Bear Denning Season
🐸 Amphibian Breeding Chorus
🦌 Roe Deer Rutting Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐻 Brown Bear Denning at Gauja

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
278
🐒 Mammals
65
🦎 Reptiles
9
🐸 Amphibians
11
363 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
9 Threatened 11 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
61%
📊
Coverage (101 species at ≥5% of 363 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
28%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 amphibian)
47% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
71
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
14 Global avg
8
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
18
⚖️

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