Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

🇺🇸 United States

🐿️ Yellow-bellied Marmot in Giant Sequoias

🌍 #173 Global · 3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #25 in North America #21 in Temperate Forest

United States, United States 630 spp. recorded

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks form a rugged mountain wilderness in the southern Sierra Nevada of California. This high-altitude landscape features deep river canyons, sheer granite cliffs, and dense coniferous forests of towering trees. Visitors hike along dirt trails winding through pine woods and rocky alpine slopes.

36.606° N 118.547° W

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Ursus americanus

Marmota flaviventris

Sceloporus occidentalis

60–70% · Likely

★

Pseudacris regilla

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

LC Endemic

Odocoileus hemionus

80–90% · Very likely

Corvus corax

70–80% · Very likely

Callospermophilus lateralis

Junco hyemalis

Setophaga coronata

Tamiasciurus douglasii

Turdus migratorius

Ochotona princeps

Sceloporus graciosus

Melanerpes formicivorus

Colaptes auratus

Cyanocitta stelleri

⭐ Iconic Species

Ursus americanus

Marmota flaviventris

📊 Most Spotted

LC Endemic

Odocoileus hemionus

80–90% · Very likely

Callospermophilus lateralis

60–70% · Likely

LC Endemic

Tamiasciurus douglasii

50–60% · Likely

Ochotona princeps

40–50% · Likely

LC Endemic

Otospermophilus beecheyi

Sciurus griseus

Tamias speciosus

Cervus elaphus

Urocitellus beldingi

Lynx rufus

Canis latrans

Puma concolor

📊 Most Spotted

Corvus corax

Junco hyemalis

Setophaga coronata

Turdus migratorius

Melanerpes formicivorus

Colaptes auratus

Cyanocitta stelleri

Aphelocoma californica

Poecile gambeli

Baeolophus inornatus

Calypte anna

Haemorhous mexicanus

⭐ Iconic Species

★

LC Endemic

Sceloporus occidentalis

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Sceloporus graciosus

Crotalus oreganus

Pituophis catenifer

Elgaria coerulea

Thamnophis elegans

Thamnophis couchii

Lampropeltis zonata

Elgaria multicarinata

Charina bottae

Aspidoscelis tigris

Uta stansburiana

Actinemys marmorata

⭐ Iconic Species

★

Pseudacris regilla

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Anaxyrus boreas

20–30% · Possible

LC Endemic

Ensatina eschscholtzii

20–30% · Possible

Lithobates catesbeianus

Anaxyrus canorus

Taricha sierrae

Rana sierrae

Taricha torosa

Spea intermontana

Batrachoseps gregarius

Batrachoseps kawia

Hydromantes platycephalus

0–10% · With luck

EN Endemic

Rana muscosa

0–10% · With luck

Animal Events

🦌

Black Bear Foraging in Giant Sequoia Groves

MayJunJulAugSepOct

American black bears raid sequoia groves for insects, acorns, and fallen seeds, often seen foraging in meadows and along trails.

LC Endemic

Ursus americanus

70–80% · Very likely

🦌

Alpine Marmot Sunbathing Season

AprMayJunJulAugSep

Yellow-bellied marmots emerge from hibernation and bask on sun-warmed rocks near sequoia groves, often in family groups.

Marmota flaviventris

70–80% · Very likely

🦎

Western Fence Lizard Territorial Displays

MarAprMay

Male Western fence lizards perform push-up displays and territorial chases in open, sunlit areas of sequoia groves and lower elevations.

LC Endemic

Sceloporus occidentalis

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

American Black Bear

50–60

30–40

20–30

40–50

70–80

50–60

Yellow-bellied Marmot

20–30

30–40

60–70

70–80

80–90

70–80

40–50

30–40

Western Fence Lizard

10–20

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

30–40

Pacific chorus frog

40–50

70–80

40–50

30–40

50–60

60–70

30–40

40–50

10–20

Mule Deer

70–80

80–90

Common Raven

80–90

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

80–90

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

10–20

30–40

20–30

30–40

50–60

60–70

70–80

50–60

40–50

10–20

Dark-eyed Junco

70–80

60–70

50–60

30–40

40–50

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

Yellow-rumped Warbler

60–70

50–60

60–70

40–50

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

Douglas' Squirrel

40–50

30–40

40–50

50–60

70–80

30–40

American Robin

50–60

60–70

40–50

50–60

60–70

40–50

30–40

20–30

40–50

American Pika

10–20

0–10

10–20

30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

0–10

10–20

Sagebrush Lizard

10–20

0–10

20–30

30–40

50–60

40–50

20–30

0–10

Acorn Woodpecker

70–80

80–90

70–80

60–70

40–50

20–30

40–50

50–60

80–90

Northern Flicker

60–70

50–60

20–30

30–40

40–50

30–40

40–50

60–70

50–60

70–80

Steller's Jay

0–10

10–20

30–40

40–50

50–60

70–80

50–60

20–30

10–20

Animal Events

🦌 Black Bear Foraging in Giant Sequoia Groves

🦌 Alpine Marmot Sunbathing Season

🦎 Western Fence Lizard Territorial Displays

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

🐿️ Yellow-bellied Marmot in Giant Sequoias

🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

405

🐒 Mammals

126

🦎 Reptiles

🐸 Amphibians

630 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

29 Threatened 128 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

63%

📊

Coverage (168 species at ≥5% of 630 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

27%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (6 mammal, 4 bird, 1 reptile, 1 amphibian)

47% Global avg

83%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

🌟

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

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

American Black Bear

Yellow-bellied Marmot

Western Fence Lizard

Pacific chorus frog

📊 Most Spotted

Mule Deer

Common Raven

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Dark-eyed Junco

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Douglas' Squirrel

American Robin

American Pika

Sagebrush Lizard

Acorn Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Steller's Jay

⭐ Iconic Species

American Black Bear

Yellow-bellied Marmot

📊 Most Spotted

Mule Deer

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Douglas' Squirrel

American Pika

California Ground Squirrel

Western Gray Squirrel

Lodgepole Chipmunk

Red Deer

Belding's Ground Squirrel

Bobcat

Coyote

Mountain Lion

📊 Most Spotted

Common Raven

Dark-eyed Junco

Yellow-rumped Warbler

American Robin

Acorn Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Steller's Jay

California Scrub-Jay

Mountain Chickadee

Oak Titmouse

Anna's Hummingbird

House Finch

⭐ Iconic Species

Western Fence Lizard

📊 Most Spotted

Sagebrush Lizard

Western Rattlesnake

Gopher Snake

Northern Alligator Lizard

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

Western Aquatic Garter Snake

California Mountain Kingsnake

Southern Alligator Lizard

Northern Rubber Boa

Western Whiptail

Common Side-blotched Lizard

Western Pond Turtle

⭐ Iconic Species

Pacific chorus frog

📊 Most Spotted

Western Toad

Ensatina

American Bullfrog

Yosemite Toad

Sierra Newt

Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog

California Newt

Great Basin Spadefoot

Gregarious Slender Salamander

Sequoia Slender Salamander

Mount Lyell Salamander

Southern Mountain Yellow-legged Frog

Animal Events