Redwood National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🦌 Red Deer Roam Redwood Forests
🌍 #136 Global · 3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #10 in North America #9 in Temperate Forest
United States, United States 686 spp. recorded

Redwood National Park spans the northern California coast, protecting ancient coastal forests and foggy Pacific shorelines. Trails wind through massive evergreen trees and dense fern groves, creating a cool, damp coastal habitat unlike any inland desert or mountain range.

41.202° N   124.014° W

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

Elk ★
LC Endemic

Elk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

90–100% · Very likely
Coastal Giant Salamander ★
LC

Coastal Giant Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Dicamptodon tenebrosus

60–70% · Likely
Common Garter Snake ★
LC Endemic

Common Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis sirtalis

30–40% · Possible
American Black Bear ★
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Steller's Jay
LC Endemic

Steller's Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta stelleri

70–80% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

70–80% · Likely
Song Sparrow
LC Endemic

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

60–70% · Likely
Ensatina
LC Endemic

Ensatina

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ensatina eschscholtzii

60–70% · Likely
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
LC

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile rufescens

60–70% · Likely
Pacific Wren
LC

Pacific Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes pacificus

60–70% · Likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

50–60% · Likely
Northern Red-legged Frog
LC

Northern Red-legged Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana aurora

50–60% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

50–60% · Likely
California Slender Salamander
LC Endemic

California Slender Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Batrachoseps attenuatus

50–60% · Likely
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

50–60% · Likely
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
NT

Foothill Yellow-legged Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana boylii

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Elk ★
LC Endemic

Elk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

90–100% · Very likely
American Black Bear ★
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

40–50% · Likely
Harbor Seal
LC

Harbor Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phoca vitulina

30–40% · Possible
Douglas' Squirrel
LC Endemic

Douglas' Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus douglasii

30–40% · Possible
Brush Rabbit
LC Endemic

Brush Rabbit

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sylvilagus bachmani

30–40% · Possible
Northern River Otter
LC Endemic

Northern River Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lontra canadensis

30–40% · Possible
Shadow Chipmunk

Shadow Chipmunk

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamias senex

20–30% · Possible
California Sea Lion
LC

California Sea Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Zalophus californianus

20–30% · Possible
Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

20–30% · With luck
American Shrew-mole
LC

American Shrew-mole

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Neurotrichus gibbsii

20–30% · With luck
🐒 No photo available
LC

Striped Skunk

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Mephitis mephitis

20–30% · With luck
Gray Whale
LC

Gray Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eschrichtius robustus

10–20% · With luck
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Steller's Jay
LC Endemic

Steller's Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta stelleri

70–80% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

70–80% · Likely
Song Sparrow
LC Endemic

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

60–70% · Likely
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
LC

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile rufescens

60–70% · Likely
Pacific Wren
LC

Pacific Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes pacificus

60–70% · Likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

50–60% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

50–60% · Likely
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

50–60% · Likely
Golden-crowned Kinglet
LC

Golden-crowned Kinglet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Regulus satrapa

40–50% · Likely
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

40–50% · Possible
Western Gull
LC

Western Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus occidentalis

30–40% · Possible
Northern Flicker
LC Endemic

Northern Flicker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colaptes auratus

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Common Garter Snake ★
LC Endemic

Common Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis sirtalis

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Northern Alligator Lizard
LC Endemic

Northern Alligator Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Elgaria coerulea

20–30% · Possible
Western Fence Lizard
LC Endemic

Western Fence Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus occidentalis

20–30% · Possible
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
LC

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis elegans

20–30% · Possible
Aquatic Garter Snake
LC Endemic

Aquatic Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis atratus

10–20% · With luck
Northwestern Garter Snake
LC

Northwestern Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis ordinoides

10–20% · With luck
Gopher Snake
LC Endemic

Gopher Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Pituophis catenifer

10–20% · With luck
Ringneck Snake
LC Endemic

Ringneck Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Diadophis punctatus

10–20% · With luck
Western Skink
LC

Western Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Plestiodon skiltonianus

10–20% · With luck
North American Racer
LC

North American Racer

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Coluber constrictor

5–10% · With luck
Western Rattlesnake
LC

Western Rattlesnake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crotalus oreganus

5–10% · With luck
Southern Alligator Lizard
LC Endemic

Southern Alligator Lizard

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Elgaria multicarinata

5–10% · With luck
Western Pond Turtle
VU

Western Pond Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Actinemys marmorata

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Coastal Giant Salamander ★
LC

Coastal Giant Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Dicamptodon tenebrosus

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Ensatina
LC Endemic

Ensatina

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ensatina eschscholtzii

60–70% · Likely
Northern Red-legged Frog
LC

Northern Red-legged Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana aurora

50–60% · Likely
California Slender Salamander
LC Endemic

California Slender Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Batrachoseps attenuatus

50–60% · Likely
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
NT

Foothill Yellow-legged Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana boylii

40–50% · Likely
Western Toad
LC

Western Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus boreas

40–50% · Likely
Del Norte Salamander
LC Endemic

Del Norte Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Plethodon elongatus

40–50% · Likely
Pacific chorus frog
LC

Pacific chorus frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudacris regilla

40–50% · Possible
Rough-skinned Newt
LC

Rough-skinned Newt

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Taricha granulosa

30–40% · Possible
Northwestern Salamander
LC

Northwestern Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ambystoma gracile

30–40% · Possible
Coastal Tailed Frog
LC

Coastal Tailed Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ascaphus truei

20–30% · Possible
Wandering Salamander
LC

Wandering Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Aneides vagrans

20–30% · Possible
🐸 No photo available
LC Endemic

Klamath Black Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Aneides klamathensis

10–20% · With luck

Animal Events

🦌

Bear Foraging Season

JunJul

Black bears intensify feeding on ripening berries and salmon, often seen moving along river corridors.

American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

40–50% · Likely
🐸

Salamander Breeding Migration

SepOct

Coastal Giant Salamanders congregate in streams to mate, with males performing elaborate courtship displays.

Coastal Giant Salamander
LC

Coastal Giant Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Dicamptodon tenebrosus

60–70% · Likely
🦎

Garter Snake Emergence

MarApr

Common Garter Snakes become active after winter, hunting amphibians and insects along forest floor streams.

Common Garter Snake
LC Endemic

Common Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis sirtalis

30–40% · Possible

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
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
Elk
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
Coastal Giant Salamander
60–70
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
Common Garter Snake
<5
20–30
40–50
50–60
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
<5
American Black Bear
10–20
20–30
20–30
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
Steller's Jay
50–60
60–70
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
50–60
50–60
30–40
Common Raven
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
80–90
60–70
Song Sparrow
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
Ensatina
80–90
80–90
70–80
50–60
50–60
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
60–70
80–90
80–90
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
Pacific Wren
40–50
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
American Robin
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
40–50
20–30
30–40
40–50
50–60
Northern Red-legged Frog
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
40–50
Turkey Vulture
30–40
60–70
80–90
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
30–40
30–40
20–30
California Slender Salamander
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
White-crowned Sparrow
40–50
30–40
30–40
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
20–30
30–40
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
30–40
20–30
Animal Events
🦌 Bear Foraging Season
🐸 Salamander Breeding Migration
🦎 Garter Snake Emergence

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 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🦌 Red Deer Roam Redwood Forests

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
508
🐒 Mammals
128
🦎 Reptiles
26
🐸 Amphibians
24
686 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
41 Threatened 107 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
64%
📊
Coverage (173 species at ≥5% of 686 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
25%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 4 amphibian, 1 mammal)
46% Global avg
72%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
110
🌟
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
8
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
19

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Redwood National Park?

The most likely sightings are Elk (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Steller's Jay (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Common Raven (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Song Sparrow (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Coastal Giant Salamander (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 686 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

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

March 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 Elk in Redwood National Park?

Yes — about 92% of wildlife watchers report a Elk sighting in Redwood National Park, based on 1,368 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Coastal Giant Salamander in Redwood National Park?

Yes — about 61% of wildlife watchers report a Coastal Giant Salamander sighting in Redwood National Park, based on 329 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Common Garter Snake in Redwood National Park?

Yes — about 39% of wildlife watchers report a Common Garter Snake sighting in Redwood National Park, based on 127 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see American Black Bear in Redwood National Park?

Yes — about 43% of wildlife watchers report a American Black Bear sighting in Redwood National Park, based on 153 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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