Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, in northern Alaska, is one of the most remote and wild places on Earth, a landscape of rugged mountains, open tundra and glacially carved valleys. Grizzly bears and black bears forage across the terrain, gray wolves hunt in packs, caribou migrate through in large herds and Dall sheep travel the steep, rocky slopes.
The rivers support fish such as Chinook salmon. Birds include golden eagles, gyrfalcons and many migratory species that nest here during the brief summer, and Arctic ground squirrels, lemmings and foxes are well adapted to the harsh Arctic conditions. Keep reading to see featured photos of Gates of the Arctic’s wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve 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.
Gates of the Arctic Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve and the wildlife that inhabits it? Check out these guides & books:
- Peterson Field Guide To Mammals Of North America: Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Peterson Field Guide To Birds Of Western North America, Fifth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song
- Peterson Field Guide To Western Reptiles & Amphibians, 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.
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Species List
The wildlife at Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is beautiful and diverse. There are a variety of mammals, birds, 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 Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve:
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Mammals
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Alaska Marmot (Marmota broweri) | Unknown |
| American Beaver (Castor canadensis) | Common |
| American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) | Occasional |
| American Marten (Martes americana) | Unknown |
| Arctic Fox (Alopex lagopus) | Unknown |
| Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii) | Unknown |
| Barren Ground Shrew (Sorex ugyunak) | Unknown |
| Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) | Common |
| Brown Lemming (Lemmus trimucronatus) | Unknown |
| Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) | Unknown |
| Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) | Abundant |
| Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus) | Unknown |
| Coyote (Canis latrans) | Unknown |
| Dall’s Sheep (Ovis dalli) | Abundant |
| Ermine (Mustela erminea) | Unknown |
| Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) | Common |
| Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) | Unknown |
| Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus) | Unknown |
| Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) | Unknown |
| Mink (Mustela vison) | Rare |
| Montane Shrew (Sorex monticolus) | Unknown |
| Moose (Alces alces) | Common |
| Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) | Unknown |
| Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) | Unknown |
| Northern Bog Lemming (Synaptomys borealis) | Unknown |
| Northern Red-backed Vole (Clethrionomys rutilus) | Unknown |
| Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) | Rare |
| Pygmy Shrew (Sorex hoyi) | Unknown |
| Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) | Unknown |
| Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) | Unknown |
| River Otter (Lontra canadensis) | Uncommon |
| Singing Vole (Microtus miurus) | Unknown |
| Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) | Unknown |
| Taiga Vole (Microtus xanthognathus) | Unknown |
| Tiny Shrew (Sorex yukonicus) | Unknown |
| Tundra Shrew (Sorex tundrensis) | Unknown |
| Tundra Vole (Microtus oeconomus) | Unknown |
| Wolverine (Gulo gulo) | Unknown |
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Birds
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) | Unknown |
| American Golden-plover (Pluvialis dominica) | Unknown |
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | Unknown |
| American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) | Unknown |
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | Unknown |
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) | Unknown |
| American Wigeon (Anas americana) | Unknown |
| Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) | Unknown |
| Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) | Unknown |
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | Unknown |
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | Unknown |
| Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) | Unknown |
| Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra) | Unknown |
| Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) | Unknown |
| Black-capped Chickadee (Parus atricapillus) | Unknown |
| Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) | Unknown |
| Bohemian Wagwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | Unknown |
| Bonaparte’s Gull (Larus philadelphia) | Unknown |
| Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) | Unknown |
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | Unknown |
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | Unknown |
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | Unknown |
| Cliff Swallow (Hirundo pyrrhonota) | Unknown |
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | Unknown |
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | Unknown |
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | Unknown |
| Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) | Unknown |
| Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) | Unknown |
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | Unknown |
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | Unknown |
| Glaucus Gull (Larus hyperboreus) | Unknown |
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | Unknown |
| Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) | Unknown |
| Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | Unknown |
| Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) | Unknown |
| Gray-crowned Rosy-finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) | Unknown |
| Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) | Unknown |
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | Unknown |
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | Unknown |
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | Unknown |
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | Unknown |
| Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) | Unknown |
| Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) | Unknown |
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | Unknown |
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | Unknown |
| Hoary Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni) | Unknown |
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | Unknown |
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | Unknown |
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | Unknown |
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | Unknown |
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | Unknown |
| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) | Unknown |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | Unknown |
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | Unknown |
| Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus) | Unknown |
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | Unknown |
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | Unknown |
| Mew Gull (Larus canus) | Unknown |
| Northen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) | Unknown |
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | Unknown |
| Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) | Unknown |
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | Unknown |
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | Unknown |
| Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) | Unknown |
| Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor) | Unknown |
| Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis) | Unknown |
| Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) | Unknown |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus borealis) | Unknown |
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) | Unknown |
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | Unknown |
| Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) | Unknown |
| Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) | Unknown |
| Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) | Unknown |
| Peregrin Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | Unknown |
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | Unknown |
| Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicaria) | Unknown |
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | Unknown |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | Unknown |
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | Unknown |
| Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) | Unknown |
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | Unknown |
| Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) | Unknown |
| Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) | Unknown |
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | Unknown |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) | Unknown |
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | Unknown |
| Sanderling (Calidris alba) | Unknown |
| Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) | Unknown |
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | Unknown |
| Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya) | Unknown |
| Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) | Unknown |
| Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) | Unknown |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | Unknown |
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | Unknown |
| Smith’s Longspur (Calcarius pictus) | Unknown |
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | Unknown |
| Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) | Unknown |
| Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) | Unknown |
| Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) | Unknown |
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) | Unknown |
| Spruce Grouse (Dendragapus canadensis) | Unknown |
| Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) | Unknown |
| Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | Unknown |
| Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus) | Unknown |
| Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | Unknown |
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | Unknown |
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | Unknown |
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | Unknown |
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | Unknown |
| Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) | Unknown |
| Wandering Tattler (Heteroscelus incanus) | Unknown |
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | Unknown |
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | Unknown |
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | Unknown |
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) | Unknown |
| Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) | Unknown |
| Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla) | Unknown |
| Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) | Unknown |
| Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) | Unknown |
| Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) | Unknown |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) | Unknown |
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Reptiles
NPSpecies currently lists no reptiles as present in this park.
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Amphibians
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) | Unknown |
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Fish
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) | Unknown |
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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