Wildlife in Rhode Island

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

38,061

recent observations

30

species listed

12

plants

8

birds

4

insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 38,061 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Rhode Island. The most frequently seen is the White-tailed Deer, with 2,154 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (12 of the species listed here), followed by birds (8).

Rarer finds confirmed in Rhode Island include Spotted Wintergreen - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Spotted Wintergreen

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Rhode Island

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

2,154 observations

Common Eastern Bumble Bee

Bombus impatiens

2,006 observations

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

1,678 observations

Turdus migratorius

1,665 observations

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

1,460 observations · iNaturalist

1,459 observations · iNaturalist

Sweet Pepperbush

Clethra alnifolia

1,353 observations

Eastern Cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

1,336 observations

eastern white pine

1,331 observations

Anas platyrhynchos

1,316 observations

Branta canadensis

1,307 observations

striped wintergreen

Chimaphila maculata

1,293 observations

Artemisia vulgaris

1,292 observations · iNaturalist

Asian bittersweet

Celastrus orbiculatus

1,219 observations

Asian Lady Beetle

Harmonia axyridis

1,198 observations

Eastern Skunk Cabbage

Symplocarpus foetidus

1,185 observations

Melospiza melodia

1,161 observations

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

1,148 observations

multiflora rose

Rosa multiflora

1,139 observations

Monotropa uniflora

1,128 observations

common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

1,083 observations

Danaus plexippus

1,051 observations

Western Honey Bee

1,034 observations

Elaeagnus umbellata

1,023 observations

Onoclea sensibilis

1,021 observations

Chrysemys picta

1,014 observations

Dumetella carolinensis

1,008 observations

Passer domesticus

1,006 observations

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

1,001 observations

Eastern Red-backed Salamander

Plethodon cinereus

992 observations

Get rare-sighting alerts for Rhode Island

We’ll email you when an uncommon or rare species is spotted here. One check a day, only when there’s something new.

Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.

More wildlife near Rhode Island

Exploring Rhode Island?

Take Huck with you. Identify any wildlife you find in seconds, and watch the live map of what is being spotted in Rhode Island right now.

Exploring Rhode Island? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what naturalists are finding - straight to your inbox.