Isle Royale National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🐺 Track Elusive Gray Wolves Together
🌍 #249 Global · 3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #47 in North America #51 in Temperate Forest
United States, United States 370 spp. recorded

Isle Royale National Park is an isolated island wilderness sitting in the cold waters of Lake Superior, featuring dense boreal forests, rocky ridges, and interconnected wetland bogs. Visitors hike along rugged dirt trails winding beneath towering pines and dense spruce stands, surrounded by remote northern coastlines and inland lakes.

47.985° N   88.841° W

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

Moose ★

Moose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces americanus

50–60% · Likely
Gray Wolf ★
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

50–60% · Likely
American Red Squirrel ★
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

60–70% · Likely
Common Garter Snake ★
LC Endemic

Common Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis sirtalis

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

70–80% · Very likely
Common Loon
LC

Common Loon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gavia immer

70–80% · Very likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

60–70% · Likely
Black-capped Chickadee
LC

Black-capped Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile atricapillus

60–70% · Likely
White-throated Sparrow
LC

White-throated Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia albicollis

60–70% · Likely
Blue Jay
LC

Blue Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta cristata

60–70% · Likely
American Toad
LC Endemic

American Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus americanus

50–60% · Likely
American Herring Gull
LC

American Herring Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus smithsonianus

50–60% · Likely
Snowshoe Hare
LC

Snowshoe Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus americanus

50–60% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

50–60% · Likely
Common Merganser
LC

Common Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus merganser

50–60% · Likely
American Redstart
LC

American Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga ruticilla

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Moose ★

Moose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces americanus

50–60% · Likely
Gray Wolf ★
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

50–60% · Likely
American Red Squirrel ★
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

70–80% · Very likely
Snowshoe Hare
LC

Snowshoe Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus americanus

50–60% · Likely
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

40–50% · Likely
American Beaver
LC

American Beaver

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Castor canadensis

40–50% · Likely
Northern River Otter
LC Endemic

Northern River Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lontra canadensis

30–40% · Possible
Deer Mouse
LC

Deer Mouse

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Peromyscus maniculatus

20–30% · Possible
Quiller

Quiller

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Erethizon dorsatus

Insufficient data
American Marten
LC Endemic

American Marten

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Martes americana

Insufficient data
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

Insufficient data
Woodchuck
LC

Woodchuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Marmota monax

Insufficient data
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

Insufficient data
Eastern Chipmunk
LC

Eastern Chipmunk

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamias striatus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Common Loon
LC

Common Loon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gavia immer

70–80% · Very likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

60–70% · Likely
Black-capped Chickadee
LC

Black-capped Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile atricapillus

60–70% · Likely
White-throated Sparrow
LC

White-throated Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia albicollis

60–70% · Likely
Blue Jay
LC

Blue Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta cristata

60–70% · Likely
American Herring Gull
LC

American Herring Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus smithsonianus

50–60% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

50–60% · Likely
Common Merganser
LC

Common Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus merganser

50–60% · Likely
American Redstart
LC

American Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga ruticilla

50–60% · Likely
Red-breasted Nuthatch
LC

Red-breasted Nuthatch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sitta canadensis

50–60% · Likely
Nashville Warbler
LC

Nashville Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leiothlypis ruficapilla

50–60% · Likely
Bald Eagle
LC

Bald Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Common Garter Snake ★
LC Endemic

Common Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis sirtalis

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Painted Turtle
LC

Painted Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chrysemys picta

30–40% · Possible
Redbelly Snake
LC

Redbelly Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Storeria occipitomaculata

20–30% · Possible
Eastern Rat Snake
LC

Eastern Rat Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pantherophis alleghaniensis

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

American Toad
LC Endemic

American Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus americanus

50–60% · Likely
Green Frog

Green Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Lithobates clamitans

40–50% · Likely
Wood Frog
LC

Wood Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lithobates sylvaticus

20–30% · Possible
Spring Peeper
LC

Spring Peeper

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Pseudacris crucifer

10–20% · Possible
Gray Treefrog
LC

Gray Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Dryophytes versicolor

Insufficient data
Blue-spotted Salamander
LC

Blue-spotted Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ambystoma laterale

10–20% · With luck
Northern Leopard Frog
LC

Northern Leopard Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lithobates pipiens

Insufficient data
Eastern Newt
LC

Eastern Newt

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Notophthalmus viridescens

0–10% · With luck
Mink Frog

Mink Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lithobates septentrionalis

Insufficient data
Boreal Chorus Frog
LC

Boreal Chorus Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudacris maculata

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Summer Browsing and Foraging

JunJulAug

During the warm summer months, the Elk actively browse along wetland edges and aquatic habitats to feed on lush vegetation.

Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

70–80% · Very likely
🦌

Snow Tracking and Pack Movement

FebMayJun

The Gray Wolf travels across frozen terrain and forest trails, leaving clear tracks that reveal territorial behavior and pack dynamics.

Gray Wolf
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

50–60% · Likely
🐸

Wetland Vocalizations and Breeding

MayJulAug

Boreal wetlands come alive as the Spring Peeper and other amphibians engage in loud breeding choruses following the thaw.

Spring Peeper
LC

Spring Peeper

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Pseudacris crucifer

10–20% · Possible

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
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
Moose
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
70–80
40–50
40–50
30–40
50–60
30–40
30–40
40–50
Gray Wolf
40–50
60–70
40–50
30–40
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
20–30
30–40
30–40
40–50
American Red Squirrel
50–60
80–90
50–60
40–50
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
40–50
40–50
70–80
50–60
Common Garter Snake
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
30–40
60–70
40–50
40–50
Elk
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
Common Loon
50–60
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
Yellow-rumped Warbler
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
50–60
20–30
60–70
Black-capped Chickadee
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
80–90
80–90
70–80
40–50
60–70
White-throated Sparrow
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
40–50
20–30
60–70
Blue Jay
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
American Toad
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
American Herring Gull
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
20–30
50–60
Snowshoe Hare
50–60
60–70
40–50
30–40
60–70
60–70
40–50
30–40
50–60
30–40
30–40
40–50
Common Raven
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
Common Merganser
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
50–60
70–80
50–60
American Redstart
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
70–80
30–40
30–40
40–50
10–20
50–60
Animal Events
🦌 Summer Browsing and Foraging
🦌 Snow Tracking and Pack Movement
🐸 Wetland Vocalizations and Breeding

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
🐺 Track Elusive Gray Wolves Together

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
301
🐒 Mammals
52
🦎 Reptiles
4
🐸 Amphibians
13
370 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
15 Threatened 40 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
62%
📊
Coverage (126 species at ≥5% of 370 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
34%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 3 mammal, 1 reptile, 1 amphibian)
47% Global avg
78%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
81
🌟
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
6
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
25
⚖️

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