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Wildlife in Yosemite National Park

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

37,658
recent observations
30
species listed
14
plants
8
mammals
5
birds

Naturalists have logged 37,658 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Yosemite. The most frequently seen is the Mule Deer, with 3,450 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (14 of the species listed here), followed by mammals (8).

Rarer finds confirmed in Yosemite include Giant Sequoia - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Giant Sequoia
🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Yosemite

Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
3,450 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
2,676 observations
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
2,613 observations
giant sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
1,899 observations
Mountain Pride
Penstemon newberryi
1,698 observations · iNaturalist
Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily
Calochortus leichtlinii
1,564 observations · iNaturalist
Snowplant
Sarcodes sanguinea
1,533 observations · iNaturalist
Common Raven
Corvus corax
1,460 observations
Pacific Dogwood
Cornus nuttallii
1,436 observations
Western Gray Squirrel
Sciurus griseus
1,407 observations
Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
1,152 observations
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Marmota flaviventris
1,150 observations
California incense-cedar
Calocedrus decurrens
1,128 observations · iNaturalist
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
1,070 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,069 observations
Pacific chorus frog
Pseudacris regilla
1,057 observations
canyon live oak
Quercus chrysolepis
978 observations
California black oak
Quercus kelloggii
920 observations
Mountain Jewelflower
Streptanthus tortuosus
884 observations · iNaturalist
showy milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
854 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
853 observations
Mountain Misery
Chamaebatia foliolosa
820 observations · iNaturalist
western columbine
Aquilegia formosa
802 observations · iNaturalist
Belding's Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus beldingi
801 observations
Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
760 observations
Purple Mountain-heath
Phyllodoce breweri
759 observations · iNaturalist
fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium
744 observations · iNaturalist
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
719 observations
California Sister
Adelpha californica
711 observations
Douglas's Squirrel
Tamiasciurus douglasii
691 observations

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