Mammals

A red fox looks out over the Alaska winter landscape at Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Red foxes are one of many mammals who roam the mountains in national parks. NPS photo.

Many of our hairy friends (i.e. mammals) can be found in the mountains. From the largest grizzly bear to the smallest shrew, a diversity of mammals inhabit our mountainous national parks.

With high elevations, steep terrain, and extreme temperatures, mountainous national parks often support wildlife that are uniquely adapated to mountain living. These adaptations include the ability to climb steep, rocky terrain or the behavior of caching food for the long, cold winter. Some mammals actually require the cool temperatures that mountains provide, and a warming climate may threaten their populations. Explore the links below to learn more about mammals living in the mountains of your national parks.

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  Bears

  Black bears, grizzly bears, and even polar bears can be found in the mountains of various national parks.

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  Yellowstone National Park

  Sixty-seven different types of mammals, from the smallest pika to the largest bear, live in and around the mountains of Yellowstone.

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  North Cascades National Park

  Known for their sure footedness in steep terrain, the aptly named mountain goat can often be found on the highest of ridges.

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  Bats

  Bats can be found in a variety of habitats, including mountain caves and forests. Millions of bats live in national parks.

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  Santa Monica Mountains NRA

  Some mammals live in mountains that aren't in the remote wilderness. Here, a mountain lion roams the hills above Los Angeles.

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  National Parks of Alaska

  With a reputation as one of the fiercest animals on earth, wolverines are now extremely rare outside of Alaska and parts of Canada.

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  Rocky Mountain National Park

  Marmots are hibernators. When winter arrives in the mountains, these big rodents (11 pounds!) head underground to "sleep" until spring.

More information about mountain-living mammals