Glacier National Park
🇺🇸 United States
🐐 Mountain Goats at Logan PassGlacier National Park sits in the northern Rocky Mountains of the United States, a mosaic of rugged peaks, glacial valleys and dense temperate conifer forest. Alpine meadows give way to spruce‑filled slopes, and the park is renowned for its mountain goats and bighorn sheep that navigate steep ridges.
48.742° N 113.785° W
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Mountain Goat
Oreamnos americanus
★ 
Brown Bear
Ursus arctos
★ 
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
★ 
Moose
Alces americanus
📊 Most Spotted
Columbian Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus columbianus
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
Hoary Marmot
Marmota caligata
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Mountain Chickadee
Poecile gambeli
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Mountain Goat
Oreamnos americanus
★ Brown Bear
Ursus arctos
★ Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
★ Moose
Alces americanus
📊 Most Spotted
Columbian Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus columbianus
Hoary Marmot
Marmota caligata
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Snowshoe Hare
Lepus americanus
American Pika
Ochotona princeps
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
Coyote
Canis latrans
📊 Most Spotted
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Mountain Chickadee
Poecile gambeli
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
Pine Siskin
Spinus pinus
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Swainson's Thrush
Catharus ustulatus
Recent sightings in Glacier National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Mountain Goat Salt Lick Gathering
Mountain goats descend to the mineral-laden cliffs at Goat Lick on the Middle Fork Flathead River to lick clay and replenish minerals lost over winter; peak visitation runs through summer.
2Bear Berry-Feeding Season
Grizzly and black bears feed intensively on ripening huckleberries in , moving into open berry slopes where they are most visible.
3Alpine Meadow Congregation
As the high country melts out, bighorn sheep and hoary marmots congregate in the alpine meadows around Logan Pass, grazing and basking through the short subalpine summer.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Mountain Goat Salt Lick Gathering
- 2Bear Berry-Feeding Season
- 3Alpine Meadow Congregation
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
I was looking forward to trying to spot some elk or moose at Swiftcurrent Lake or Lake Josephine, but sadly did not see any.
This hike was also a win because we saw a pair of moose grazing in the lake.
I saw my first bear of the trip (a black bear) meandering the hillside on the northside of Lake Josephine on the return boat ride.
We see mountain goats and sheep here in Colorado at higher elevations --they are mild creatures but if you hiked elsewhere I hope you had bear spray as I know Glacier has dangerous grizzly bears, while Colorado does not.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Glacier National Park?
The most likely sightings are Columbian Ground Squirrel (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Mountain Goat (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Bighorn Sheep (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), American Robin (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Red-breasted Nuthatch (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers) — among 500 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park for wildlife?
August has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Mountain Goat in Glacier National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Mountain Goat sighting in Glacier National Park, based on 855 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Brown Bear in Glacier National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Bear sighting in Glacier National Park, based on 296 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Bighorn Sheep in Glacier National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Bighorn Sheep sighting in Glacier National Park, based on 802 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Moose in Glacier National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Moose sighting in Glacier National Park, based on 372 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
GoodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
GoodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
