Places National ParksNew River Gorge

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.

5,594
recent observations
30
species listed
21
plants
6
reptiles & amphibians
2
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 5,594 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in New River Gorge. The most frequently seen is the great rhododendron, with 371 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
371 observations
mountain laurel
Kalmia latifolia
294 observations
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens
261 observations
Christmas fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
249 observations
Ghost Pipe
Monotropa uniflora
243 observations
downy rattlesnake plantain
Goodyera pubescens
226 observations
partridgeberry
Mitchella repens
216 observations
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
213 observations
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
207 observations
fan clubmoss
Diphasiastrum digitatum
201 observations
American holly
Ilex opaca
198 observations
American tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
190 observations
American cancer-root
Conopholis americana
190 observations
eastern hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
183 observations
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
177 observations
American beech
Fagus grandifolia
175 observations
sassafras
Sassafras albidum
165 observations
common jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
160 observations
sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
156 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
153 observations
striped wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
152 observations
cardinal flower
Lobelia cardinalis
147 observations
multiflora rose
Rosa multiflora
142 observations
Green Salamander
Aneides aeneus
141 observations
Eastern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus undulatus
137 observations
Central Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
134 observations
princess tree
Paulownia tomentosa
133 observations · iNaturalist
Seal Salamander
Desmognathus monticola
129 observations
intermediate wood fern
Dryopteris intermedia
129 observations · iNaturalist
wineberry
Rubus phoenicolasius
122 observations

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