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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.

38,118
recent observations
30
species listed
14
plants
8
mammals
5
birds

Naturalists have logged 38,118 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Yosemite. The most frequently seen is the Mule Deer, with 3,473 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
3,473 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
2,694 observations
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
2,628 observations
Giant Sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
1,913 observations
Mountain Pride
Penstemon newberryi
1,700 observations · iNaturalist
Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily
Calochortus leichtlinii
1,565 observations · iNaturalist
Snowplant
Sarcodes sanguinea
1,534 observations · iNaturalist
Common Raven
Corvus corax
1,473 observations
Western Gray Squirrel
Sciurus griseus
1,459 observations
Pacific Dogwood
Cornus nuttallii
1,437 observations
Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
1,298 observations
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Marmota flaviventris
1,156 observations
California Incense-cedar
Calocedrus decurrens
1,134 observations · iNaturalist
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
1,077 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,076 observations
Pacific Chorus Frog
Pseudacris regilla
1,074 observations
Canyon Live Oak
Quercus chrysolepis
980 observations
California Black Oak
Quercus kelloggii
926 observations
Mountain Jewelflower
Streptanthus tortuosus
890 observations · iNaturalist
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
859 observations
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
855 observations
Purple Mountain-heath
Phyllodoce breweri
838 observations · iNaturalist
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
766 observations
Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium
745 observations · iNaturalist
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
731 observations
California Sister
Adelpha californica
716 observations
Douglas's Squirrel
Tamiasciurus douglasii
698 observations

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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