Acadia National Park, on the rugged coast of Maine, has rocky shorelines, dense forests and lakes that give its wildlife plenty of habitat. Visitors might see white-tailed deer grazing in the woodlands, beavers building dams in the streams and peregrine falcons soaring above the cliffs. Smaller mammals such as red squirrels and foxes live here too, and the surrounding waters hold seals and many kinds of seabirds.
Wildlife watchers and photographers come to Acadia for the chance to see these animals in their natural settings. Keep reading to see featured photos of Acadia’s wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Acadia National Park Wildlife Photographs
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Wildlife Photography Tips
Wildlife photography in the US National Parks offers a unique and enriching experience, as these protected areas are havens for diverse species and pristine natural landscapes. Capturing wildlife in such settings requires preparation and respect for both the environment and its inhabitants. Photographers should familiarize themselves with the specific animals and ecosystems of the park they are visiting, as each park hosts different species and behaviors. Early mornings and late afternoons, known as the golden hours, provide the best light and increased wildlife activity. Different seasons also offer different wildlife viewing opportunities. Patience and stillness are key, as the best moments often come to those who wait quietly.
If wildlife does present itself, always make sure to maintain a safe distance. Using a telephoto lens allows for close-up shots without intruding on the animals’ space. If you already own or want to own a professional grade mirrored camera like the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR, we recommend using a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens zoom lens for wildlife photography. If you have or are interested in a newer mirrorless model like the Canon EOS R5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera, we recommend using a Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Black for long distance shots.
Not quite ready to invest in traditional professional-grade camera equipment but want to enhance the quality of your cell phone photographs? Consider using a Moment Tele 58mm Mobile Lens II for improved reach, and use a Moment camera case with a lens mount to attach it to your phone. Since cell phones generally cannot provide the same reach as a dedicated telephoto camera lens, never compensate by moving dangerously close to wildlife. As with any visit to a national park, it’s important to follow park regulations, practice “Leave No Trace” principles, and prioritize safety while photographing wildlife.
Want to take your wildlife photos further? Featured photographer Vella Torvik shares her field-tested advice on gear, camera settings, light, composition and safely approaching wildlife in our Wildlife Photography 101: Insider Tips From the Field masterclass.
Acadia Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Acadia National Park and the wildlife that inhabits it? Check out these guides & books:
- Acadia National Park Wildlife: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Animals (Wildlife and Nature Identification)
- Acadia National Park: Wildlife Watcher’s Guide
- Best Easy Bird Guide Acadia National Park: A Field Guide to the Birds of Acadia National Park (Birding Series)
- Who Pooped in the Park? Acadia National Park: Scat and Tracks for Kids
- Peterson Field Guide To Mammals Of North America: Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Seventh Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song
- Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Second Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Animal Tracks: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Familiar North American Species (Wildlife and Nature Identification)
Please note, by making purchases through our affiliate links, you are supporting our mission to celebrate and showcase our National Parks and the photographers who frequent them. As an Amazon Associate, National Park Photographer earns from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We appreciate your support.
Acadia National Park Species List
The wildlife at Acadia National Park is beautiful and diverse. There are a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish to view. Check out all the incredible species this park has to offer! Click on the links below to see the different animal species that inhabit Acadia National Park:
Acadia National Park Mammals
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| American Beaver (Castor canadensis) | Common |
| American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) | Occasional |
| Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) | Uncommon |
| Bobcat (Lynx rufus) | Unknown |
| Coyote (Canis latrans) | Common |
| Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) | Abundant |
| Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) | Abundant |
| Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) | Common |
| Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis) | Occasional |
| Ermine (Mustela erminea) | Uncommon |
| Fisher (Martes pennanti) | Rare |
| Gray Seal (Halichoerus grypus) The National Park Service lists gray and harbor seals as the most common seals along the Maine coast. | Unknown |
| Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) See the gray seal note above. | Unknown |
| Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) | Unknown |
| Keen’s Myotis (Myotis keenii) | Common |
| Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) | Common |
| Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata) | Uncommon |
| Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus) | Abundant |
| Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius) | Uncommon |
| Mink (Mustela vison) | Uncommon |
| Moose (Alces alces) | Rare |
| Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) | Common |
| Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda) | Uncommon |
| Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) | Common |
| Pygmy Shrew (Sorex hoyi) | Common |
| Raccoon (Procyon lotor) | Common |
| Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) | Common |
| Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) | Common |
| River Otter (Lutra canadensis) | Common |
| Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) | Unknown |
| Smoky Shrew (Sorex fumeus) | Uncommon |
| Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) | Common |
| Southern Bog Lemming (Synaptomys cooperi) | Rare |
| Southern Red-backed Vole (Clethrionomys gapperi) | Common |
| Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) | Common |
| Water Shrew (Sorex palustris) | Uncommon |
| White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) | Common |
| White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) | Abundant |
| Woodchuck (Marmota monax) | Common |
| Woodland Jumping Mouse (Napaeozapus insignis) | Rare |
Acadia National Park Birds
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Acadian Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) | Uncommon |
| Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) | Common |
| American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) | Unknown |
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | Common |
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | Abundant |
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | Unknown |
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | Common |
| American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) | Abundant |
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | Common |
| American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) | Common |
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | Abundant |
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | Abundant |
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) | Common |
| American Wigeon (Anas americana) | Uncommon |
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | Common |
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | Common |
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | Common |
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | Common |
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | Uncommon |
| Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea) | Common |
| Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) | Common |
| Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) | Common |
| Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) | Common |
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | Occasional |
| Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) | Common |
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | Rare |
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | Abundant |
| Black-crowned Night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | Occasional |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens) | Common |
| Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens) | Abundant |
| Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca) | Common |
| Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) | Common |
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | Abundant |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) | Rare |
| Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) | Common |
| Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) | Uncommon |
| Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus) | Unknown |
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | Unknown |
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | Common |
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | Common |
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | Common |
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | Abundant |
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | Abundant |
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | Common |
| Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis) | Common |
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | Occasional |
| Cape May Warbler (Dendroica tigrina) | Common |
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | Abundant |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica) | Common |
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | Common |
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | Common |
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | Common |
| Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) | Abundant |
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | Common |
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | Abundant |
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | Common |
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | Uncommon |
| Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) | Occasional |
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | Common |
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | Common |
| Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) | Rare |
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | Common |
| Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) | Abundant |
| Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) | Unknown |
| Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | Uncommon |
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | Abundant |
| Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) | Abundant |
| Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) | Abundant |
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | Uncommon |
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | Common |
| Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) | Rare |
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | Common |
| Eastern Screech-owl (Otus asio) | Unknown |
| Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) | Common |
| Eastern Wood Pewee (Contopus virens) | Common |
| Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) | Unknown |
| Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) | Rare |
| Gadwall (Anas strepera) | Unknown |
| Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) | Unknown |
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | Occasional |
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | Common |
| Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) | Unknown |
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | Abundant |
| Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | Rare |
| Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) | Rare |
| Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) | Abundant |
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | Common |
| Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) | Common |
| Great Egret (Ardea alba) | Occasional |
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | Uncommon |
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | Common |
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | Occasional |
| Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) | Common |
| Green Heron (Butorides virescens) | Uncommon |
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | Common |
| Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) | Unknown |
| Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) | Common |
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | Common |
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | Common |
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | Abundant |
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | Uncommon |
| Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina) | Unknown |
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | Uncommon |
| House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) | Common |
| Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) | Rare |
| Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus) | Unknown |
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | Common |
| Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) | Common |
| Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) | Rare |
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | Common |
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | Common |
| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) | Uncommon |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | Rare |
| Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) | Occasional |
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | Rare |
| Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia) | Common |
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | Common |
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | Rare |
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | Common |
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | Common |
| Mourning Warbler (Oporornis philadelphia) | Uncommon |
| Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla) | Common |
| Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni) | Common |
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | Common |
| Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) | Uncommon |
| Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) | Uncommon |
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | Occasional |
| Northern Parula (Parula americana) | Common |
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | Rare |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | Unknown |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | Uncommon |
| Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis) | Uncommon |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) | Uncommon |
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) | Unknown |
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | Common |
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) | Common |
| Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum) | Common |
| Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) | Rare |
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | Uncommon |
| Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) | Rare |
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | Rare |
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | Common |
| Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) | Abundant |
| Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor) | Unknown |
| Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) | Abundant |
| Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica) | Unknown |
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | Unknown |
| Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) | Common |
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | Abundant |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | Unknown |
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | Common |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | Abundant |
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | Common |
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | Occasional |
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | Common |
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | Common |
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | Common |
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | Common |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | Common |
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | Uncommon |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) | Common |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) | Common |
| Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) | Common |
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | Common |
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | Common |
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | Abundant |
| Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) | Rare |
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) | Rare |
| Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) | Abundant |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | Common |
| Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) | Abundant |
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | Common |
| Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) | Occasional |
| Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) | Rare |
| Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) | Rare |
| Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) | Common |
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | Abundant |
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | Common |
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) | Common |
| Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis) | Rare |
| Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | Common |
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | Common |
| Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina) | Common |
| Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus) | Unknown |
| Townsend’s Warbler (Dendroica townsendi) | Rare |
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | Abundant |
| Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) | Occasional |
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | Common |
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | Rare |
| Veery (Catharus fuscescens) | Common |
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | Unknown |
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | Rare |
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | Occasional |
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | Rare |
| Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus) | Common |
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | Common |
| White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) | Unknown |
| White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) | Uncommon |
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | Common |
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | Unknown |
| Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) | Rare |
| Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla) | Common |
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) | Common |
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | Common |
| Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) | Uncommon |
| Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) | Common |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) | Common |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | Common |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | Unknown |
| Yellow-crowned Night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea) | Occasional |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) | Common |
| Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) | Occasional |
| Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica) | Unknown |
Acadia National Park Reptiles
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) | Common |
| Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) | Common |
| Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) | Common |
| Eastern Smooth Green Snake (Liochlorophis vernalis) | Common |
| Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) | Common |
| Redbelly Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) | Common |
| Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus) | Common |
Acadia National Park Amphibians
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) | Common |
| American Toad (Bufo americanus) | Uncommon |
| Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) | Uncommon |
| Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) | Common |
| Green Frog (Rana clamitans) | Common |
| Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) | Common |
| Northern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata) | Common |
| Pickerel Frog (Rana palustris) | Abundant |
| Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) | Common |
| Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) | Abundant |
| Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) | Common |
Acadia National Park Fish
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) | Common |
| American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) | Abundant |
| Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus) | Unknown |
| Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) | Uncommon |
| Atlantic Silverside (Menidia menidia) | Unknown |
| Banded Killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) | Abundant |
| Blackspotted Stickleback (Gasterosteus wheatlandi) | Unknown |
| Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) | Common |
| Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) | Uncommon |
| Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) | Uncommon |
| Chain Pickerel (Esox niger) | Common |
| Common Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) | Unknown |
| Common Shiner (Luxilus cornutus) | Uncommon |
| Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) | Uncommon |
| Fallfish (Semotilus corporalis) | Uncommon |
| Fourspine Stickleback (Apeltes quadracus) | Uncommon |
| Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) | Abundant |
| Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) | Uncommon |
| Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) | Uncommon |
| Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) | Unknown |
| Ninespine Stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) | Common |
| Northern Redbelly Dace (Phoxinus eos) | Common |
| Pollock (Pollachius virens) | Unknown |
| Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) | Abundant |
| Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) | Common |
| Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus) | Uncommon |
| Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) | Uncommon |
| Striped Mummichog (Fundulus majalis) | Unknown |
| Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) | Common |
| White Perch (Morone americana) | Uncommon |
| White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii) | Common |
| Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) | Uncommon |
| Yellowtail (Limanda ferruginea) | Unknown |
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present in Acadia National Park. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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