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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.

38,912
recent observations
30
species listed
14
plants
8
mammals
5
birds

Naturalists have logged 38,912 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Yosemite. The most frequently seen is the Mule Deer, with 3,541 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
3,541 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
2,743 observations
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
2,673 observations
Giant Sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
1,973 observations
Mountain Pride
Penstemon newberryi
1,705 observations · iNaturalist
Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily
Calochortus leichtlinii
1,571 observations · iNaturalist
Snowplant
Sarcodes sanguinea
1,538 observations · iNaturalist
Common Raven
Corvus corax
1,498 observations
Western Gray Squirrel
Sciurus griseus
1,492 observations
Pacific Dogwood
Cornus nuttallii
1,441 observations
Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
1,324 observations
California Incense-cedar
Calocedrus decurrens
1,170 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Marmota flaviventris
1,163 observations
Pacific Chorus Frog
Pseudacris regilla
1,146 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,106 observations
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
1,096 observations
Canyon Live Oak
Quercus chrysolepis
1,036 observations
California Black Oak
Quercus kelloggii
982 observations
Mountain Jewelflower
Streptanthus tortuosus
919 observations · iNaturalist
Purple Mountain-heath
Phyllodoce breweri
915 observations · iNaturalist
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
870 observations
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
857 observations
Mountain Misery
Chamaebatia foliolosa
839 observations · iNaturalist
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
803 observations · iNaturalist
Belding's Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus beldingi
801 observations
Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
775 observations
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
748 observations
Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium
746 observations · iNaturalist
Douglas's Squirrel
Tamiasciurus douglasii
721 observations
California Sister
Adelpha californica
720 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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