Places National ParksNew River Gorge

Wildlife in New River Gorge National Park

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

5,530
recent observations
30
species listed
21
plants
6
reptiles & amphibians
2
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 5,530 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in New River Gorge. The most frequently seen is the great rhododendron, with 370 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (21 of the species listed here), followed by reptiles & amphibians (6).

Rarer finds confirmed in New River Gorge include Spotted Wintergreen - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Spotted Wintergreen
🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in New River Gorge

great rhododendron
Rhododendron maximum
370 observations
mountain laurel
Kalmia latifolia
290 observations
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens
257 observations
Christmas fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
247 observations
Ghost Pipe
Monotropa uniflora
239 observations
downy rattlesnake plantain
Goodyera pubescens
225 observations
partridgeberry
Mitchella repens
214 observations
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
207 observations
fan clubmoss
Diphasiastrum digitatum
200 observations
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
199 observations
American holly
Ilex opaca
197 observations
American cancer-root
Conopholis americana
190 observations
American tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
189 observations
eastern hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
182 observations
American beech
Fagus grandifolia
175 observations
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
174 observations
sassafras
Sassafras albidum
164 observations
sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
154 observations
common jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
153 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
152 observations
striped wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
152 observations
cardinal flower
Lobelia cardinalis
145 observations
multiflora rose
Rosa multiflora
142 observations
Green Salamander
Aneides aeneus
141 observations
Eastern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus undulatus
136 observations
Central Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
132 observations
princess tree
Paulownia tomentosa
129 observations · iNaturalist
intermediate wood fern
Dryopteris intermedia
128 observations · iNaturalist
Seal Salamander
Desmognathus monticola
127 observations
wineberry
Rubus phoenicolasius
120 observations

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