Shenandoah National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🐻 Black Bears Along Skyline Drive

🌍 #197 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #37 in North America #31 in Temperate Forest

Appalachians, United States 513 spp. recorded

Shenandoah National Park sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachians, United States. It is a temperate forest of oak, hickory, and maple, with rolling ridges and shaded hollows that differ from coastal parks. The park is known for its vibrant birdlife and deer that roam the meadow edges.

38.729° N 78.300° W

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

20–30% · Possible

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

70–80% · Very likely

Shenandoah Salamander

Plethodon shenandoah

10–20% · Possible

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Carolina Wren

Thryothorus ludovicianus

80–90% · Very likely

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor

70–80% · Very likely

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

70–80% · Very likely

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely

Carolina Chickadee

Poecile carolinensis

70–80% · Very likely

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

60–70% · Likely

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

60–70% · Likely

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis

60–70% · Likely

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

60–70% · Likely

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

50–60% · Likely

Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescens

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

20–30% · Possible

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

30–40% · Possible

Eastern Cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

30–40% · Possible

Woodchuck

Marmota monax

20–30% · Possible

Eastern Chipmunk

Tamias striatus

20–30% · Possible

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

10–20% · Possible

Common Raccoon

Procyon lotor

10–20% · Possible

American Beaver

Castor canadensis

10–20% · Possible

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

10–20% · With luck

Northern Short-tailed Shrew

Blarina brevicauda

10–20% · With luck

Coyote

Canis latrans

10–20% · With luck

Striped Skunk

Mephitis mephitis

10–20% · With luck

Fox Squirrel

Sciurus niger

10–20% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Carolina Wren

Thryothorus ludovicianus

80–90% · Very likely

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor

70–80% · Very likely

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

70–80% · Very likely

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely

Carolina Chickadee

Poecile carolinensis

70–80% · Very likely

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

60–70% · Likely

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

60–70% · Likely

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis

60–70% · Likely

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

60–70% · Likely

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

50–60% · Likely

Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescens

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina

50–60% · Likely

Eastern Rat Snake

Pantherophis alleghaniensis

40–50% · Likely

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

40–50% · Likely

Common Watersnake

Nerodia sipedon

30–40% · Possible

Common Five-lined Skink

Plestiodon fasciatus

30–40% · Possible

Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta

30–40% · Possible

Eastern Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix

30–40% · Possible

Timber Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus

30–40% · Possible

Ringneck Snake

Diadophis punctatus

20–30% · Possible

Eastern Fence Lizard

Sceloporus undulatus

20–30% · Possible

Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentina

20–30% · Possible

Eastern Milksnake

Lampropeltis triangulum

10–20% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Shenandoah Salamander

Plethodon shenandoah

10–20% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

American Toad

Anaxyrus americanus

50–60% · Likely

Eastern Red-backed Salamander

Plethodon cinereus

40–50% · Likely

Eastern Newt

Notophthalmus viridescens

40–50% · Possible

Pickerel Frog

Lithobates palustris

30–40% · Possible

Green Frog

Lithobates clamitans

30–40% · Possible

Northern Two-lined Salamander

Eurycea bislineata

20–30% · Possible

Seal Salamander

Desmognathus monticola

20–30% · Possible

Gray Treefrog

Dryophytes versicolor

20–30% · Possible

Fowler's Toad

Anaxyrus fowleri

20–30% · Possible

Northern Cricket Frog

Acris crepitans

20–30% · Possible

Spring Peeper

Pseudacris crucifer

20–30% · Possible

American Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

10–20% · Possible

Animal Events

🦌

White-tailed Deer Rut

Nov

breeding season — bucks chase does across the Big Meadows clearings and are active in daylight, the park's peak deer-viewing spectacle.

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

70–80% · Very likely

🐻

Black Bear Foraging Season

JunJulAugSep

Summer berry season concentrates black bears along Skyline Drive and around Big Meadows, the most reliable window to see them feeding in the open.

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

20–30% · Possible

🦅

Fall Raptor Migration

SepOctNov

Thousands of raptors funnel down the Blue Ridge each autumn , with hawks and eagles riding the ridgeline thermals over Skyline Drive overlooks.

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

10–20% · With luck

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

10–20% · With luck

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

American Black Bear

20–30

10–20

10–20

10–20

20–30

30–40

30–40

30–40

20–30

20–30

20–30

10–20

White-tailed Deer

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

60–70

Shenandoah Salamander

<5

<5

<5

10–20

10–20

10–20

20–30

20–30

20–30

20–30

10–20

<5

Northern Cardinal

80–90

80–90

90–100

90–100

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

Tufted Titmouse

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

Carolina Chickadee

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

American Goldfinch

60–70

50–60

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

60–70

50–60

70–80

60–70

Red-bellied Woodpecker

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

Eastern Bluebird

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

40–50

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

White-breasted Nuthatch

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

Downy Woodpecker

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

Animal Events

🦅 Fall Raptor Migration

🦌 White-tailed Deer Rut

🐻 Black Bear Foraging Season

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good

🐻 Black Bears Along Skyline Drive

🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

338

🐒 Mammals

74

🦎 Reptiles

50

🐸 Amphibians

51

513 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

21 Threatened 95 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

71%

📊

Coverage (164 species at ≥5% of 513 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

32%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 mammal)

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

93

🌟

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

3

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

24

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