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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.

5,686
recent observations
30
species listed
21
plants
6
reptiles & amphibians
2
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 5,686 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in New River Gorge. The most frequently seen is the great rhododendron, with 374 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
374 observations
mountain laurel
Kalmia latifolia
299 observations
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens
264 observations
Christmas fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
258 observations
Ghost Pipe
Monotropa uniflora
248 observations
downy rattlesnake plantain
Goodyera pubescens
232 observations
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
219 observations
partridgeberry
Mitchella repens
218 observations
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
208 observations
fan clubmoss
Diphasiastrum digitatum
203 observations
American holly
Ilex opaca
201 observations
American tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
191 observations
American cancer-root
Conopholis americana
191 observations
eastern hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
185 observations
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
183 observations
American beech
Fagus grandifolia
175 observations
common jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
166 observations
sassafras
Sassafras albidum
165 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
159 observations
sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
157 observations
striped wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
155 observations
cardinal flower
Lobelia cardinalis
147 observations
Green Salamander
Aneides aeneus
145 observations
Eastern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus undulatus
143 observations
multiflora rose
Rosa multiflora
143 observations
intermediate wood fern
Dryopteris intermedia
135 observations · iNaturalist
Central Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
135 observations
princess tree
Paulownia tomentosa
134 observations · iNaturalist
Seal Salamander
Desmognathus monticola
131 observations
common milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
122 observations

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