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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.

38,699
recent observations
30
species listed
14
plants
8
mammals
5
birds

Naturalists have logged 38,699 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Yosemite. The most frequently seen is the Mule Deer, with 3,527 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
3,527 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
2,731 observations
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
2,665 observations
Giant Sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
1,952 observations
Mountain Pride
Penstemon newberryi
1,702 observations · iNaturalist
Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily
Calochortus leichtlinii
1,569 observations · iNaturalist
Snowplant
Sarcodes sanguinea
1,538 observations · iNaturalist
Common Raven
Corvus corax
1,493 observations
Western Gray Squirrel
Sciurus griseus
1,490 observations
Pacific Dogwood
Cornus nuttallii
1,439 observations
Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
1,314 observations
California Incense-cedar
Calocedrus decurrens
1,163 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Marmota flaviventris
1,161 observations
Pacific Chorus Frog
Pseudacris regilla
1,140 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,095 observations
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
1,089 observations
Canyon Live Oak
Quercus chrysolepis
996 observations
California Black Oak
Quercus kelloggii
944 observations
Mountain Jewelflower
Streptanthus tortuosus
918 observations · iNaturalist
Purple Mountain-heath
Phyllodoce breweri
910 observations · iNaturalist
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
866 observations
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
859 observations
Mountain Misery
Chamaebatia foliolosa
828 observations · iNaturalist
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
804 observations · iNaturalist
Belding's Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus beldingi
801 observations
Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
775 observations
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
746 observations
Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium
746 observations · iNaturalist
Douglas's Squirrel
Tamiasciurus douglasii
719 observations
California Sister
Adelpha californica
719 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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