Gauja National Park

🇱🇻 Latvia

🐻 Brown Bear Denning at Gauja
🌍 #266 Global · 3.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #17 in Europe #53 in Temperate Forest
Latvia, Latvia 363 spp. recorded

Gauja National Park in northern Latvia protects a classic temperate forest landscape of mixed pine and oak, winding river valleys, limestone cliffs and open meadow patches. Trails wind through shady woodlands and along the Gauja River, offering a glimpse of the region’s natural mosaic.

57.277° N   25.021° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

20–30% · Possible
Western Roe Deer ★
LC

Western Roe Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Capreolus capreolus

20–30% · Possible
European Common Frog ★
LC

European Common Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana temporaria

50–60% · Likely
Black Swan ★
LC Endemic

Black Swan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cygnus atratus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Great Tit
LC Endemic

Great Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parus major

80–90% · Very likely
Hooded Crow

Hooded Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus cornix

80–90% · Very likely
Eurasian Magpie
LC

Eurasian Magpie

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Pica pica

70–80% · Very likely
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
LC

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer montanus

60–70% · Likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC Endemic

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

50–60% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

50–60% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

50–60% · Likely
Blue Tit
LC

Blue Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanistes caeruleus

50–60% · Likely
Common Chiffchaff
LC

Common Chiffchaff

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phylloscopus collybita

40–50% · Likely
European Herring Gull
LC

European Herring Gull

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Larus argentatus

40–50% · Likely
Wood Pigeon
LC Endemic

Wood Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba palumbus

40–50% · Likely
European Greenfinch
LC

European Greenfinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chloris chloris

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

20–30% · Possible
Western Roe Deer ★
LC

Western Roe Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Capreolus capreolus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Eurasian Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

Eurasian Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus vulgaris

20–30% · Possible
Eurasian Beaver
LC

Eurasian Beaver

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Castor fiber

Insufficient data
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

20–30% · Possible
Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

Insufficient data
Pine Marten
LC

Pine Marten

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Martes martes

Insufficient data
Mainland Raccoon Dog
LC

Mainland Raccoon Dog

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Nyctereutes procyonoides

Insufficient data
Common Shrew
LC

Common Shrew

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sorex araneus

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available
LC

European Mole

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Talpa europaea

Insufficient data
Elk
LC Endemic

Elk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

Insufficient data
Brown Hare
LC

Brown Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus europaeus

Insufficient data
Brown Big-eared Bat
LC

Brown Big-eared Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Plecotus auritus

Insufficient data
Wild Boar
LC Endemic

Wild Boar

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sus scrofa

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Black Swan ★
LC Endemic

Black Swan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cygnus atratus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Great Tit
LC Endemic

Great Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parus major

80–90% · Very likely
Hooded Crow

Hooded Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus cornix

80–90% · Very likely
Eurasian Magpie
LC

Eurasian Magpie

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Pica pica

70–80% · Very likely
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
LC

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer montanus

60–70% · Likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC Endemic

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

50–60% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

50–60% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

50–60% · Likely
Blue Tit
LC

Blue Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanistes caeruleus

50–60% · Likely
Common Chiffchaff
LC

Common Chiffchaff

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phylloscopus collybita

40–50% · Likely
European Herring Gull
LC

European Herring Gull

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Larus argentatus

40–50% · Likely
Wood Pigeon
LC Endemic

Wood Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba palumbus

40–50% · Likely
European Greenfinch
LC

European Greenfinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chloris chloris

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

grass snake
LC

grass snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Natrix natrix

40–50% · Likely
Viviparous Lizard
LC

Viviparous Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Zootoca vivipara

30–40% · Possible
Adder
LC Endemic

Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Vipera berus

Insufficient data
Eastern Slow-worm

Eastern Slow-worm

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anguis colchica

Insufficient data
Sand Lizard
LC

Sand Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lacerta agilis

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

European Common Frog ★
LC

European Common Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana temporaria

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

European Toad
LC

European Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Bufo bufo

30–40% · Possible
Smooth Newt
LC

Smooth Newt

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Lissotriton vulgaris

Insufficient data
Great Crested Newt
LC

Great Crested Newt

Amphibian

Triturus cristatus

Insufficient data
Pool Frog
LC

Pool Frog

Amphibian

Pelophylax lessonae

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Brown Bear Denning Season

NovDecMay

Bears emerge from hibernation or prepare for winter, creating opportunities for guided wildlife tracking tours in the dense forests.

Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

20–30% · Possible
🦌

Roe Deer Rutting Season

JulAug

Male roe deer engage in territorial displays and vocalizations, offering prime opportunities for wildlife photographers and observers.

Western Roe Deer
LC

Western Roe Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Capreolus capreolus

20–30% · Possible
🐸

Amphibian Breeding Chorus

JulAug

Thousands of frogs and toads gather in wetlands to breed, creating a loud, synchronized chorus at dawn and dusk.

European Toad
LC

European Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Bufo bufo

30–40% · Possible
European Common Frog
LC

European Common Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana temporaria

50–60% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
Brown Bear
10–20
10–20
5–10
5–10
30–40
5–10
<5
<5
30–40
5–10
40–50
50–60
Western Roe Deer
50–60
60–70
30–40
5–10
5–10
20–30
30–40
20–30
5–10
40–50
40–50
10–20
European Common Frog
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
50–60
30–40
70–80
Black Swan
20–30
20–30
10–20
50–60
10–20
30–40
20–30
40–50
30–40
10–20
10–20
20–30
Great Tit
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
Hooded Crow
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
70–80
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
Eurasian Magpie
80–90
90–100
80–90
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
80–90
80–90
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
80–90
90–100
80–90
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
Eurasian Blackbird
30–40
40–50
60–70
80–90
70–80
80–90
60–70
30–40
40–50
30–40
20–30
20–30
Common Raven
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
Mallard
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
60–70
60–70
Blue Tit
70–80
60–70
50–60
80–90
40–50
10–20
30–40
40–50
50–60
30–40
30–40
60–70
Common Chiffchaff
5–10
5–10
10–20
70–80
80–90
90–100
50–60
50–60
70–80
10–20
10–20
10–20
European Herring Gull
5–10
30–40
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
80–90
40–50
10–20
10–20
20–30
20–30
Wood Pigeon
5–10
5–10
40–50
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
30–40
10–20
10–20
European Greenfinch
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
30–40
30–40
10–20
10–20
10–20
40–50
50–60
60–70
Animal Events
🦌 Brown Bear Denning Season
🐸 Amphibian Breeding Chorus
🦌 Roe Deer Rutting Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐻 Brown Bear Denning at Gauja

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
278
🐒 Mammals
65
🦎 Reptiles
9
🐸 Amphibians
11
363 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
9 Threatened 45 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
61%
📊
Coverage (102 species at ≥5% of 363 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
28%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 amphibian)
46% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
71
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
5
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
17

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Gauja National Park?

The most likely sightings are Great Tit (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Hooded Crow (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Eurasian Magpie (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), European Common Frog (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers) — among 363 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Gauja National Park for wildlife?

April has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Brown Bear in Gauja National Park?

Yes — about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Bear sighting in Gauja National Park, based on 5 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Western Roe Deer in Gauja National Park?

Yes — about 29% of wildlife watchers report a Western Roe Deer sighting in Gauja National Park, based on 9 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see European Common Frog in Gauja National Park?

Yes — about 59% of wildlife watchers report a European Common Frog sighting in Gauja National Park, based on 25 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Black Swan in Gauja National Park?

Yes — about 34% of wildlife watchers report a Black Swan sighting in Gauja National Park, based on 7 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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