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Wildlife in New River Gorge National Park

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

5,766
recent observations
30
species listed
21
plants
6
reptiles & amphibians
2
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 5,766 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in New River Gorge. The most frequently seen is the Great Rhododendron, with 379 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (21 of the species listed here), followed by reptiles & amphibians (6).

Rarer finds confirmed in New River Gorge include Spotted Wintergreen - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Spotted Wintergreen
🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in New River Gorge

Great Rhododendron
Rhododendron maximum
379 observations
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
303 observations
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens
269 observations
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
261 observations
Ghost Pipe
Monotropa uniflora
249 observations
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
Goodyera pubescens
241 observations
Partridgeberry
Mitchella repens
223 observations
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
220 observations
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
213 observations
Fan Clubmoss
Diphasiastrum digitatum
207 observations
American Holly
Ilex opaca
201 observations
American Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
193 observations
American Cancer-root
Conopholis americana
191 observations
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
187 observations
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
185 observations
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
175 observations
Common Jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
167 observations
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
167 observations
Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
166 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
162 observations
Striped Wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
157 observations
Green Salamander
Aneides aeneus
148 observations
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
147 observations
Eastern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus undulatus
143 observations
Multiflora Rose
Rosa multiflora
143 observations
Intermediate Wood Fern
Dryopteris intermedia
137 observations · iNaturalist
Central Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
137 observations
Princess Tree
Paulownia tomentosa
135 observations · iNaturalist
Seal Salamander
Desmognathus monticola
133 observations
Eastern Teaberry
Gaultheria procumbens
127 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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