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Wildlife in Big Bend National Park

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

27,688
recent observations
30
species listed
20
plants
5
birds
2
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 27,688 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Big Bend. The most frequently seen is the Ocotillo, with 1,755 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (20 of the species listed here), followed by birds (5).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Big Bend

Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
1,755 observations
Mexican Jay
Aphelocoma wollweberi
1,640 observations
Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus stramineus
1,504 observations · iNaturalist
Greater Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus
1,351 observations
Havard's Century Plant
Agave havardiana
1,299 observations · iNaturalist
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
1,270 observations
Strawberry Cactus
Echinocereus enneacanthus
1,236 observations · iNaturalist
Texas Lignum-vitae
Guaiacum angustifolium
1,107 observations · iNaturalist
Russet Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus russanthus
1,100 observations · iNaturalist
Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus coccineus
1,087 observations
Lechuguilla
Agave lechuguilla
1,071 observations
Devilshead
Echinocactus horizonthalonius
1,054 observations · iNaturalist
Greater Earless Lizard
Cophosaurus texanus
967 observations
Texas Rainbow Cactus
Echinocereus dasyacanthus
964 observations
Tree Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
898 observations
Texas Madrone
Arbutus xalapensis
775 observations · iNaturalist
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
748 observations
Blind Pricklypear
Opuntia rufida
725 observations
Turk's Head
Hamatocactus hamatacanthus
716 observations · iNaturalist
Evergreen Sumac
Rhus virens
680 observations · iNaturalist
Cactus Wren
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
654 observations
Christmas Cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
646 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Millipede
Orthoporus ornatus
620 observations · iNaturalist
Texas Brown Tarantula
Aphonopelma hentzi
601 observations · iNaturalist
Torrey's Yucca
Yucca torreyi
595 observations
Canyon Towhee
Melozone fusca
556 observations
Little Nipple Cactus
Mammillaria meiacantha
529 observations · iNaturalist
Vermilion Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
515 observations
Weeping Juniper
Juniperus flaccida
513 observations · iNaturalist
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
512 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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