Places National ParksGreat Sand Dunes

Wildlife in Great Sand Dunes National Park

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

2,419
recent observations
30
species listed
20
plants
5
insects & arthropods
1
mammals

Naturalists have logged 2,419 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Great Sand Dunes. The most frequently seen is the Rocky Mountain Beeplant, with 282 recorded sightings.

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

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Great Sand Dunes

Rocky Mountain Beeplant
Cleomella serrulata
282 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
269 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
169 observations
Ten-lined June Beetle
Polyphylla decemlineata
163 observations
Scarlet Gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata
116 observations
Colorado Pinyon
Pinus edulis
100 observations
scarlet hedgehog cactus
Echinocereus coccineus
100 observations
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
95 observations · iNaturalist
small-flowered sand-verbena
Tripterocalyx micranthus
81 observations · iNaturalist
Lance-leaved scurf-pea
Ladeania lanceolata
75 observations · iNaturalist
Giant Sand Treader Camel Cricket
Daihinibaenetes giganteus
68 observations · iNaturalist
Winterfat
Krascheninnikovia lanata
66 observations · iNaturalist
Plateau Fence Lizard
Sceloporus tristichus
64 observations · iNaturalist
Colorado Dune Tiger Beetle
Cicindela theatina
58 observations · iNaturalist
upright blue beardtongue
Penstemon virgatus
57 observations · iNaturalist
Rocky Mountain Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum
56 observations
quaking aspen
Populus tremuloides
54 observations
Trumpet gooseberry
Ribes leptanthum
48 observations · iNaturalist
Broadbeard Beardtongue
Penstemon angustifolius
47 observations · iNaturalist
Green-tailed Towhee
Pipilo chlorurus
46 observations
wax currant
Ribes cereum
45 observations · iNaturalist
Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
43 observations
Broom-like Ragwort
Senecio spartioides
42 observations · iNaturalist
Great Plains yucca
Yucca glauca
41 observations
James' Buckwheat
Eriogonum jamesii
41 observations · iNaturalist
Big Sand Tiger Beetle
Cicindela formosa
40 observations · iNaturalist
Alderleaf Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus montanus
39 observations · iNaturalist
Trimerotropis barnumi
Trimerotropis barnumi
39 observations · iNaturalist
Blowout grass
Muhlenbergia multiflora
38 observations · iNaturalist
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma woodhouseii
37 observations

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