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Wildlife in Big Bend National Park

Here’s what naturalists are spotting in Big Bend right now - pulled live from recent research-grade observations. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

27,878
recent observations
30
species listed
21
plants
5
birds
1
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 27,878 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Big Bend. The most frequently seen is the Ocotillo, with 1,764 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (21 of the species listed here), followed by birds (5).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Big Bend

Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
1,764 observations
Mexican Jay
Aphelocoma wollweberi
1,644 observations
Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus stramineus
1,520 observations · iNaturalist
Greater Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus
1,353 observations
Havard's Century Plant
Agave havardiana
1,299 observations · iNaturalist
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
1,282 observations
Strawberry Cactus
Echinocereus enneacanthus
1,242 observations · iNaturalist
Texas Lignum-vitae
Guaiacum angustifolium
1,119 observations · iNaturalist
Russet Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus russanthus
1,105 observations · iNaturalist
Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus coccineus
1,090 observations
Lechuguilla
Agave lechuguilla
1,076 observations
Devilshead
Echinocactus horizonthalonius
1,066 observations · iNaturalist
Greater Earless Lizard
Cophosaurus texanus
976 observations
Texas Rainbow Cactus
Echinocereus dasyacanthus
969 observations
Tree Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
901 observations
Texas Madrone
Arbutus xalapensis
778 observations · iNaturalist
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
749 observations
Blind Pricklypear
Opuntia rufida
727 observations
Turk's Head
Hamatocactus hamatacanthus
725 observations · iNaturalist
Evergreen Sumac
Rhus virens
680 observations · iNaturalist
Cactus Wren
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
657 observations
Christmas Cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
650 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Millipede
Orthoporus ornatus
621 observations · iNaturalist
Texas Brown Tarantula
Aphonopelma hentzi
614 observations · iNaturalist
Torrey's Yucca
Yucca torreyi
600 observations
Canyon Towhee
Melozone fusca
558 observations
Little Nipple Cactus
Mammillaria meiacantha
540 observations · iNaturalist
Leatherstem
Jatropha dioica
537 observations · iNaturalist
Vermilion Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
518 observations
Weeping Juniper
Juniperus flaccida
518 observations · iNaturalist

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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