Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🐻 Watch Brown Bears Devour Salmon
🌍 #203 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #39 in North America #4 in Tundra
United States, United States 445 spp. recorded

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is a massive protected mountain and coastal region in southeastern Alaska, defined by towering glacial peaks, braided rivers, and sweeping boreal forests. It stands apart through its sheer scale and raw, roadless expanse, uniting alpine heights with a wild Pacific coastline.

61.530° N   142.921° 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

Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

50–60% · Likely
Caribou ★
VU Endemic

Caribou

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rangifer tarandus

20–30% · Possible
Dall Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Dall Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis dalli

10–20% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

50–60% · Likely
Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

40–50% · Likely
Harbor Seal
LC

Harbor Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phoca vitulina

40–50% · Likely
Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

40–50% · Likely
Bald Eagle
LC

Bald Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

40–50% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

40–50% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

40–50% · Likely
American Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

40–50% · Likely
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

30–40% · Possible
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Regulus calendula

30–40% · Possible
Orange-crowned Warbler
LC

Orange-crowned Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leiothlypis celata

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

50–60% · Likely
Caribou ★
VU Endemic

Caribou

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rangifer tarandus

20–30% · Possible
Dall Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Dall Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis dalli

10–20% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

40–50% · Likely
Harbor Seal
LC

Harbor Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phoca vitulina

40–50% · Likely
American Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

40–50% · Likely
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

30–40% · Possible
Arctic Ground Squirrel
LC

Arctic Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Urocitellus parryii

30–40% · Possible
Sea Otter
EN

Sea Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Enhydra lutris

30–40% · Possible
Northern Sea Lion
NT

Northern Sea Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eumetopias jubatus

30–40% · Possible
Snowshoe Hare
LC

Snowshoe Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus americanus

30–40% · Possible
Quiller

Quiller

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Erethizon dorsatus

20–30% · Possible
Collared Pika
LC

Collared Pika

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ochotona collaris

20–30% · Possible
Gray Wolf
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

20–30% · Possible
American Beaver
LC

American Beaver

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Castor canadensis

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

50–60% · Likely
Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

40–50% · Likely
Bald Eagle
LC

Bald Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

40–50% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

40–50% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

40–50% · Likely
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Regulus calendula

30–40% · Possible
Orange-crowned Warbler
LC

Orange-crowned Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leiothlypis celata

30–40% · Possible
Wilson's Snipe
LC

Wilson's Snipe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallinago delicata

30–40% · Possible
Common Teal
LC

Common Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas crecca

30–40% · Possible
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

30–40% · Possible
Gray Jay
LC

Gray Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Perisoreus canadensis

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

📊 Most Spotted

Wood Frog
LC

Wood Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lithobates sylvaticus

30–40% · Possible
Western Toad
LC

Western Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus boreas

10–20% · Possible

Animal Events

🦌

Brown Bear Salmon Feeding Frenzy

JunOct

Brown bears congregate at rivers and streams to catch spawning salmon, creating dramatic wildlife spectacles and unparalleled photography opportunities.

Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

50–60% · Likely
🦌

Subarctic Ground Squirrel and Quiller Emergence

AprMayJun

After long hibernation, Arctic ground squirrels and quillers re-emerge to forage, offering rare glimpses of their frantic spring activity in alpine meadows.

Quiller

Quiller

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Erethizon dorsatus

20–30% · Possible
Arctic Ground Squirrel
LC

Arctic Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Urocitellus parryii

30–40% · Possible
🦌

Coastal Seal and Otter Foraging

MayJunJulSep

Harbor seals and sea otters gather along the park’s coastline to feed on fish and shellfish, creating bustling marine activity visible from boat tours.

Sea Otter
EN

Sea Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Enhydra lutris

30–40% · Possible
Harbor Seal
LC

Harbor Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phoca vitulina

40–50% · 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
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
Brown Bear
40–50
40–50
30–40
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
70–80
50–60
40–50
Caribou
20–30
20–30
10–20
10–20
20–30
10–20
30–40
0–10
0–10
10–20
20–30
20–30
Dall Sheep
10–20
10–20
10–20
0–10
10–20
10–20
20–30
<5
20–30
10–20
10–20
10–20
American Robin
50–60
60–70
40–50
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
30–40
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
Common Raven
50–60
50–60
50–60
70–80
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
Elk
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
Harbor Seal
40–50
40–50
30–40
20–30
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
Dark-eyed Junco
40–50
40–50
30–40
50–60
30–40
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
Bald Eagle
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
30–40
40–50
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
Mallard
40–50
40–50
20–30
20–30
50–60
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
Yellow-rumped Warbler
30–40
40–50
20–30
10–20
40–50
60–70
50–60
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
American Red Squirrel
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
20–30
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
20–30
40–50
30–40
American Black Bear
30–40
30–40
20–30
10–20
50–60
20–30
40–50
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
30–40
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
40–50
30–40
20–30
10–20
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
Orange-crowned Warbler
30–40
30–40
20–30
0–10
40–50
40–50
20–30
30–40
20–30
30–40
30–40
30–40
Animal Events
🦌 Brown Bear Salmon Feeding Frenzy
🦌 Subarctic Ground Squirrel and Quiller Emergence
🦌 Coastal Seal and Otter Foraging

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
🐻 Watch Brown Bears Devour Salmon

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
334
🐒 Mammals
101
🦎 Reptiles
3
🐸 Amphibians
7
445 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
32 Threatened 47 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
47%
📊
Coverage (146 species at ≥5% of 445 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
33%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 5 mammal)
47% Global avg
65%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
102
🌟
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
15
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
10
⚖️

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