Glacier National Park, in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, is a wilderness of rugged peaks, broad forests and alpine meadows. Grizzly bears, black bears and mountain goats are often seen in the high country, while elk, moose and bighorn sheep live in the valleys and along the rivers. The elusive mountain lion and wolverine roam the more remote areas.
Marmots, pikas and snowshoe hares are common, and birdwatchers can look for bald eagles, peregrine falcons and harlequin ducks. The lakes and streams hold native fish, including the threatened bull trout. Keep reading to see featured photos of Glacier’s wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Glacier National Park Wildlife Photographs
Have a National Park Wildlife photograph you’d like featured? Contact us today to learn more!
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.
Glacier Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Glacier National Park and the wildlife that inhabits it? Check out these guides & books:
- Guide to Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks (Nature Guides to National Parks Series)
- Mac’s Pocket Guide: Glacier National Park, Birds & Mammals
- Mac’s Pocket Guide: Glacier National Park, Trees & Flowers
- Mountain Goats of Glacier National Park
- Bears I Have Known: A Park Ranger’s True Tales from Yellowstone & Glacier National Parks
- Glacier is for the Birds: A Trail Guide to the Birds of Glacier National Park
- 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.
Glacier National Park Species List
The wildlife at Glacier 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 Glacier National Park:
Species Spotlight
Photo posts of animals you’ll find in Glacier.
ElkMammal · Abundant
Bighorn SheepMammal · Common
Golden-mantled Ground SquirrelMammal · Common
MooseMammal · Common
Mountain GoatMammal · Common
PorcupineMammal · Common
White-tailed DeerMammal · Common
American RobinBird · Common
Steller’s JayBird · Common
American Black BearMammal · Uncommon
CoyoteMammal · Uncommon
Grizzly BearMammal · UncommonGlacier National Park Mammals
60 species
- American Black Bear Photo post(Ursus americanus)
- Badger Photo post(Taxidea taxus)
- Beaver(Castor canadensis)
- Big Brown Bat(Eptesicus fuscus)
- Bighorn Sheep Photo post(Ovis canadensis)
- Bobcat Photo post(Lynx rufus)
- Bushy-tailed Wood Rat(Neotoma cinerea)
- California Myotis(Myotis californicus)
- Canada Lynx(Lynx canadensis)
- Columbian Ground Squirrel(Spermophilus columbianus)
- Coyote Photo post(Canis latrans)
- Deer Mouse(Peromyscus maniculatus)
- Elk Photo post(Cervus elaphus)
- Fisher(Martes pennanti)
- Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel Photo post(Spermophilus lateralis)
- Gray Wolf(Canis lupus)
- Grizzly Bear Photo post(Ursus arctos horribilis)
- Hoary Marmot(Marmota caligata)
- Least Weasel(Mustela nivalis)
- Little Brown Bat(Myotis lucifugus)
- Long-eared Bat(Myotis evotis)
- Long-tailed Vole(Microtus longicaudus)
- Long-tailed Weasel(Mustela frenata)
- Marten(Martes americana)
- Masked Shrew(Sorex cinereus)
- Meadow Vole(Microtus pennsylvanicus)
- Mink(Mustela vison)
- Montane Heather Vole(Phenacomys intermedius)
- Montane Shrew(Sorex monticolus)
- Moose Photo post(Alces alces)
- Mountain Goat Photo post(Oreamnos americanus)
- Mountain Lion Photo post(Puma concolor)
- Mule Deer Photo post(Odocoileus hemionus)
- Muskrat(Ondatra zibethicus)
- Northern Bog Lemming(Synaptomys borealis)
- Northern Flying Squirrel(Glaucomys sabrinus)
- Northern Pocket Gopher(Thomomys talpoides)
- Northern Water Shrew(Sorex palustris)
- Pika(Ochotona princeps)
- Porcupine Photo post(Erethizon dorsatum)
- Raccoon(Procyon lotor)
- Red Fox Photo post(Vulpes vulpes)
- Red Squirrel(Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
- Red-backed Vole(Clethrionomys gapperi)
- Red-tailed Chipmunk(Tamias ruficaudus)
- Richardson’s Ground Squirrel(Spermophilus richardsonii)
- River Otter(Lutra canadensis)
- Short-tailed Weasel(Mustela erminea)
- Silver-haired Bat(Lasionycteris noctivagans)
- Snowshoe Hare(Lepus americanus)
- Striped Skunk(Mephitis mephitis)
- Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel(Spermophilus tridecemlineatus)
- Vagrant Shrew(Sorex vagrans)
- Water Vole(Microtus richardsoni)
- Western Jumping Mouse(Zapus princeps)
- White-tailed Deer Photo post(Odocoileus virginianus)
- White-tailed Jackrabbit(Lepus townsendii)
- Wolverine(Gulo gulo)
- Yellow-bellied Marmot(Marmota flaviventris)
- Yellow-pine Chipmunk(Tamias amoenus)
No mammals match.
Glacier National Park Birds
242 species
- American Avocet(Recurvirostra americana)
- American Coot(Fulica americana)
- American Crow(Corvus brachyrhynchos)
- American Dipper(Cinclus mexicanus)
- American Goldfinch(Carduelis tristis)
- American Kestrel(Falco sparverius)
- American Pipit(Anthus rubescens)
- American Redstarat(Setophaga ruticilla)
- American Robin Photo post(Turdus migratorius)
- American Three-toed Woodpecker(Picoides tridactylus)
- American Tree Sparrow(Spizella arborea)
- American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
- American Wigeon(Anas americana)
- Baird’s Sandpiper(Calidris bairdii)
- Bald Eagle Photo post(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Band-tailed Pigeon(Columba fasciata)
- Bank Swallow(Riparia riparia)
- Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica)
- Barred Owl(Strix varia)
- Barrow’s Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica)
- Bay-breasted Warbler(Dendroica castanea)
- Belted Kingfisher(Ceryle alcyon)
- Black Swift(Cypseloides niger)
- Black Tern(Chlidonias niger)
- Black-backed Woodpecker(Picoides arcticus)
- Black-bellied Plover(Pluvialis squatarola)
- Black-billed Magpie(Pica pica)
- Black-capped Chickadee(Parus atricapillus)
- Black-chinned Hummingbird(Archilochus alexandri)
- Black-crowned Night-heron(Nycticorax nycticorax)
- Black-headed Grosbeak(Pheucticus melanocephalus)
- Black-legged Kittiwake(Rissa tridactyla)
- Blue Jay(Cyanocitta cristata)
- Blue-winged Teal(Anas discors)
- Bohemian Waxwing(Bombycilla garrulus)
- Bonaparte’s Gull(Larus philadelphia)
- Boreal Chickadee(Parus hudsonicus)
- Boreal Owl(Aegolius funereus)
- Brewer’s Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus)
- Brewer’s Sparrow(Spizella breweri)
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird(Selasphorus platycercus)
- Broad-winged Hawk(Buteo platypterus)
- Brown Creeper(Certhia americana)
- Brown-headed Cowbird(Molothrus ater)
- Bufflehead(Bucephala albeola)
- Burrowing Owl(Athene cunicularia)
- California Gull(Larus californicus)
- Calliope Hummingbird(Stellula calliope)
- Canada Goose(Branta canadensis)
- Canvasback(Aythya valisineria)
- Cape May Warbler(Dendroica tigrina)
- Caspian Tern(Sterna caspia)
- Cassin’s Finch(Carpodacus cassinii)
- Cassin’s Vireo(Vireo solitarius)
- Cedar Waxwing(Bombycilla cedrorum)
- Chestnut-backed Chickadee(Parus rufescens)
- Chestnut-collared Longspur(Calcarius ornatus)
- Chipping Sparrow(Spizella passerina)
- Cinnamon Teal(Anas cyanoptera)
- Clark’s Nutcracker(Nucifraga columbiana)
- Clay-colored Sparrow(Spizella pallida)
- Cliff Swallow(Hirundo pyrrhonota)
- Common Goldeneye(Bucephala clangula)
- Common Loon Photo post(Gavia immer)
- Common Merganser(Mergus merganser)
- Common Nighthawk(Chordeiles minor)
- Common Raven(Corvus corax)
- Common Redpoll(Carduelis flammea)
- Common Snipe(Gallinago gallinago)
- Common Tern(Sterna hirundo)
- Common Yellowthroat(Geothlypis trichas)
- Cooper’s Hawk(Accipiter cooperii)
- Cordilleran Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis)
- Dark-eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis)
- Double-crested Cormorant(Phalacrocorax auritus)
- Downy Woodpecker(Picoides pubescens)
- Dusky Flycatcher(Empidonax oberholseri)
- Dusky Grouse(Dendragapus obscurus)
- Eared Grebe(Podiceps nigricollis)
- Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus)
- Eurasian Wigeon(Anas penelope)
- European Starling(Sturnus vulgaris)
- Evening Grosbeak(Coccothraustes vespertinus)
- Ferruginous Hawk(Buteo regalis)
- Fox Sparrow(Passerella iliaca)
- Franklin’s Gull(Larus pipixcan)
- Gadwall(Anas strepera)
- Glaucous Gull(Larus hyperboreus)
- Glaucous-winged Gull(Larus glaucescens)
- Golden Eagle(Aquila chrysaetos)
- Golden-crowned Kinglet(Regulus satrapa)
- Gray Catbird(Dumetella carolinensis)
- Gray Jay(Perisoreus canadensis)
- Gray-crowned Rosy-finch(Leucosticte tephrocotis)
- Great Blue Heron(Ardea herodias)
- Great Gray Owl(Strix nebulosa)
- Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus)
- Greater Scaup(Aythya marila)
- Greater Yellowlegs(Tringa melanoleuca)
- Green-winged Teal(Anas crecca)
- Gyrfalcon(Falco rusticolus)
- Hairy Woodpecker(Picoides villosus)
- Hammond’s Flycatcher(Empidonax hammondii)
- Harlequin Duck Photo post(Histrionicus histrionicus)
- Harris’s Sparrow(Zonotrichia querula)
- Hermit Thrush(Catharus guttatus)
- Herring Gull(Larus argentatus)
- Hooded Merganser(Lophodytes cucullatus)
- Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus)
- Horned Lark(Eremophila alpestris)
- House Finch(Carpodacus mexicanus)
- House Wren(Troglodytes aedon)
- Indigo Bunting(Passerina cyanea)
- Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus)
- Lapland Longspur(Calcarius lapponicus)
- Lazuli Bunting(Passerina amoena)
- Le Conte’s Sparrow(Ammospiza leconteii)
- Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus)
- Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis)
- Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes)
- Lewis’s Woodpecker(Melanerpes lewis)
- Lincoln’s Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii)
- Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus)
- Long-billed Curlew(Numenius americanus)
- Long-billed Dowitcher(Limnodromus scolopaceus)
- Long-eared Owl(Asio otus)
- Long-tailed Duck(Clangula hyemalis)
- MacGillivray’s Warbler(Oporornis tolmiei)
- Mallard(Anas platyrhynchos)
- Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa)
- Merlin(Falco columbarius)
- Mountain Bluebird(Sialia currucoides)
- Mountain Chickadee(Parus gambeli)
- Mourning Dove(Zenaida macroura)
- Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus)
- Northern Goshawk(Accipiter gentilis)
- Northern Harrier(Circus cyaneus)
- Northern Hawk Owl(Surnia ulula)
- Northern Mockingbird(Mimus polyglottos)
- Northern Parula(Parula americana)
- Northern Pintail(Anas acuta)
- Northern Pygmy Owl(Glaucidium gnoma)
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow(Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
- Northern Saw-whet Owl(Aegolius acadicus)
- Northern Shoveler(Anas clypeata)
- Northern Shrike(Lanius excubitor)
- Northern Waterthrush(Seiurus noveboracensis)
- Olive-sided Flycatcher(Contopus borealis)
- Orange-crowned Warbler(Vermivora celata)
- Osprey(Pandion haliaetus)
- Ovenbird(Seiurus aurocapillus)
- Pacific Loon(Gavia pacifica)
- Pectoral Sandpiper(Calidris melanotos)
- Peregrine Falcon(Falco peregrinus)
- Pied-billed Grebe(Podilymbus podiceps)
- Pileated Woodpecker(Dryocopus pileatus)
- Pine Grosbeak(Pinicola enucleator)
- Pine Siskin(Carduelis pinus)
- Prairie Falcon(Falco mexicanus)
- Red Crossbill(Loxia curvirostra)
- Red-breasted Merganser(Mergus serrator)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta canadensis)
- Red-eyed Vireo(Vireo olivaceus)
- Red-naped Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
- Red-necked Grebe(Podiceps grisegena)
- Red-necked Phalarope(Phalaropus lobatus)
- Red-tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis)
- Red-throated Loon(Gavia stellata)
- Red-winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus)
- Redhead(Aythya americana)
- Ring-billed Gull(Larus delawarensis)
- Ring-necked Duck(Aythya collaris)
- Ring-necked Pheasant(Phasianus colchicus)
- Rock Pigeon(Columba livia)
- Rock Wren(Salpinctes obsoletus)
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak(Pheucticus ludovicianus)
- Ross’ Goose(Chen rossii)
- Rough-legged Hawk(Buteo lagopus)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet(Regulus calendula)
- Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis)
- Ruffed Grouse(Bonasa umbellus)
- Rufous Hummingbird(Selasphorus rufus)
- Rufous-sided Towhee(Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
- Rusty Blackbird(Euphagus carolinus)
- Sage Thrasher(Oreoscoptes montanus)
- Sandhill Crane Photo post(Grus canadensis)
- Savannah Sparrow(Passerculus sandwichensis)
- Say’s Phoebe(Sayornis saya)
- Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk(Accipiter striatus)
- Sharp-tailed Grouse(Tympanuchus phasianellus)
- Snow Bunting(Plectrophenax nivalis)
- Snow Goose(Chen caerulescens)
- Snowy Owl(Nyctea scandiaca)
- Solitary Sandpiper(Tringa solitaria)
- Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia)
- Sora(Porzana carolina)
- Spotted Sandpiper(Actitis macularia)
- Spruce Grouse(Dendragapus canadensis)
- Steller’s Jay Photo post(Cyanocitta stelleri)
- Surf Scoter(Melanitta perspicillata)
- Swainson’s Hawk(Buteo swainsoni)
- Swainson’s Thrush(Catharus ustulatus)
- Tennessee Warbler(Vermivora peregrina)
- Thick-billed Longspur(Calcarius mccownii)
- Townsend’s Solitaire(Myadestes townsendi)
- Townsend’s Warbler(Dendroica townsendi)
- Tree Swallow(Tachycineta bicolor)
- Trumpeter Swan(Cygnus buccinator)
- Tundra Swan(Cygnus columbianus)
- Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura)
- Varied Thrush(Ixoreus naevius)
- Vaux’s Swift(Chaetura vauxi)
- Veery(Catharus fuscescens)
- Vesper Sparrow(Pooecetes gramineus)
- Violet-green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina)
- Warbling Vireo(Vireo gilvus)
- Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana)
- Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis)
- Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis)
- Western Meadowlark(Sturnella neglecta)
- Western Sandpiper(Calidris mauri)
- Western Screech-owl(Otus kennicottii)
- Western Tanager(Piranga ludoviciana)
- Western Wood-pewee(Contopus sordidulus)
- White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis)
- White-crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia leucophrys)
- White-tailed Ptarmigan(Lagopus leucurus)
- White-throated Sparrow(Zonotrichia albicollis)
- White-winged Crossbill(Loxia leucoptera)
- White-winged Scoter(Melanitta fusca)
- Willet(Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)
- Williamson’s Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
- Willow Flycatcher(Empidonax traillii)
- Wilson’s Phalarope(Phalaropus tricolor)
- Wilson’s Warbler(Wilsonia pusilla)
- Winter Wren(Troglodytes troglodytes)
- Wood Duck(Aix sponsa)
- Yellow Warbler(Dendroica petechia)
- Yellow-billed Loon(Gavia adamsii)
- Yellow-headed Blackbird(Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
- Yellow-rumped Warbler(Dendroica coronata)
No birds match.
Glacier National Park Reptiles
3 species
- Common Garter Snake(Thamnophis sirtalis)
- Painted Turtle(Chrysemys picta)
- Western Terrestrial Garter Snake(Thamnophis elegans)
No reptiles match.
Glacier National Park Amphibians
6 species
- Boreal Chorus Frog(Pseudacris maculata)
- Coastal Tailed Frog(Ascaphus montanus)
- Long-toed Salamander(Ambystoma macrodactylum)
- Northern Pacific Treefrog(Pseudacris regilla)
- Oregon Spotted Frog(Rana luteiventris)
- Western Toad(Bufo boreas)
No amphibians match.
Glacier National Park Fish
26 species
- Arctic Grayling(Thymallus arcticus)
- Brook Trout(Salvelinus fontinalis)
- Bull Trout(Salvelinus confluentus)
- Burbot(Lota lota)
- Fathead Minnow(Pimephales promelas)
- Lake Trout(Salvelinus namaycush)
- Lake Whitefish(Coregonus clupeaformis)
- Largescale Sucker(Catostomus macrocheilus)
- Longnose Dace(Rhinichthys cataractae)
- Longnose Sucker(Catostomus catostomus)
- Mottled Sculpin(Cottus bairdii)
- Mountain Whitefish(Prosopium williamsoni)
- Northern Pike(Esox lucius)
- Northern Pikeminnow(Ptychocheilus oregonensis)
- Peamouth(Mylocheilus caurinus)
- Pygmy Whitefish(Prosopium coulteri)
- Rainbow Trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- Redside Shiner(Richardsonius balteatus)
- Shorthead Sculpin(Cottus confusus)
- Slimy Sculpin(Cottus cognatus)
- Sockeye Salmon(Oncorhynchus nerka)
- Spoonhead Sculpin(Cottus ricei)
- Trout-perch(Percopsis omiscomaycus)
- Westslope Cutthroat Trout(Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi)
- White Sucker(Catostomus commersonii)
- Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout(Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri)
No fish match.
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present in Glacier National Park. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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