Hot Springs National Park, in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, is surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest and the city of Hot Springs. Its dense forests on rocky mountain slopes, with novaculite outcrops and lush creek valleys, give shelter to a surprising variety of animals. Before the park grew in the early 20th century, overhunting, trapping and loss of habitat had wiped out gray wolves, red wolves and bison in the area. Today white-tailed deer and black bears are the park’s most common large mammals, though bears are more often known by the scat they leave along the trails than seen. Groundhogs, chipmunks and squirrels are common, and bobcats, coyotes, gray foxes, red foxes, raccoons, striped skunks and Virginia opossums also live here. Bats hunt insects over the park at dusk, at night and at dawn.
Wild turkeys, raptors and songbirds can be seen all year, and the mix of species changes with the spring and fall migrations. The Grand Promenade, with both deciduous and evergreen trees, and the West Mountain trails in the early morning are good places to look and listen for birds. The park also takes part in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count each winter. Twenty-eight kinds of snakes live in the park, five of them venomous, and the copperhead can be seen along most trails, so watch your step. Turtles bask on logs in the park’s ponds, green anoles and skinks hunt insects, and on spring and summer nights the woods fill with the calls of frogs and toads. The shallow creeks are too small for large game fish, but bass come up them to nest, and their young stay in the creeks until they move on to larger waters. Because the forest is so dense, wildlife is easiest to see in winter, after the leaves have fallen, and in the early morning and evening. Keep reading to see featured photos of Hot Springs’ wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Hot Springs 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.
Hot Springs Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Hot Springs National Park 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 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.
Hot Springs National Park Species List
The wildlife at Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs National Park:
Species Spotlight
Photo posts of animals you’ll find in Hot Springs.
Hot Springs National Park Mammals
40 species
- American Beaver(Castor canadensis)
- American Black Bear Photo post(Ursus americanus)
- American Mink(Mustela vison)
- Attwater’s Mouse(Peromyscus attwateri)
- Big Brown Bat(Eptesicus fuscus)
- Bobcat Photo post(Lynx rufus)
- Brazilian Free-tailed Bat(Tadarida brasiliensis)
- Common Gray Fox(Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
- Coyote Photo post(Canis latrans)NPS lists the coyote among mammals found in the park (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- Eastern Chipmunk(Tamias striatus)
- Eastern Cottontail(Sylvilagus floridanus)
- Eastern Gray Squirrel(Sciurus carolinensis)
- Eastern Mole(Scalopus aquaticus)
- Eastern Pipistrelle(Pipistrellus subflavus)
- Eastern Red Bat(Lasiurus borealis)
- Eastern Woodrat(Neotoma floridana)
- Evening Bat(Nycticeius humeralis)
- Golden Mouse(Ochrotomys nuttalli)
- Hispid Cotton Rat(Sigmodon hispidus)
- Hoary Bat(Lasiurus cinereus)
- House Mouse(Mus musculus)
- Least Shrew(Cryptotis parva)
- Little Brown Bat(Myotis lucifugus)
- Muskrat(Ondatra zibethicus)
- Nine-banded Armadillo(Dasypus novemcinctus)
- Northern Long-eared Bat(Myotis septentrionalis)
- Northern Short-tailed Shrew(Blarina brevicauda)
- Norway Rat(Rattus norvegicus)
- Raccoon(Procyon lotor)
- Red Fox Photo post(Vulpes vulpes)
- River Otter(Lontra canadensis)
- Silver-haired Bat(Lasionycteris noctivagans)
- Southeastern Myotis(Myotis austroriparius)
- Southern Flying Squirrel(Glaucomys volans)
- Southern Short-tailed Shrew(Blarina carolinensis)
- Striped Skunk(Mephitis mephitis)
- Virginia Opossum(Didelphis virginiana)
- White-footed Mouse(Peromyscus leucopus)
- White-tailed Deer Photo post(Odocoileus virginianus)NPS lists white-tailed deer among the park’s most common mammals (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- Woodchuck(Marmota monax)
No mammals match.
Hot Springs National Park Birds
106 species
- American Crow(Corvus brachyrhynchos)
- American Goldfinch(Carduelis tristis)
- American Kestrel(Falco sparverius)
- American Redstart(Setophaga ruticilla)
- American Robin Photo post(Turdus migratorius)
- American Woodcock(Scolopax minor)
- Bald Eagle Photo post(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Baltimore Oriole(Icterus galbula)
- Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica)
- Barred Owl(Strix varia)
- Bay-breasted Warbler(Dendroica castanea)
- Belted Kingfisher(Ceryle alcyon)
- Black Vulture(Coragyps atratus)
- Black-and-white Warbler(Mniotilta varia)
- Black-throated Green Warbler(Dendroica virens)
- Blackburnian Warbler(Dendroica fusca)
- Blue Grosbeak(Guiraca caerulea)
- Blue Jay(Cyanocitta cristata)
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher(Polioptila caerulea)
- Blue-winged Warbler(Vermivora pinus)
- Broad-winged Hawk(Buteo platypterus)
- Brown Creeper(Certhia americana)
- Brown Thrasher(Toxostoma rufum)
- Brown-headed Cowbird(Molothrus ater)
- Canada Goose(Branta canadensis)
- Carolina Wren(Thryothorus ludovicianus)
- Cedar Waxwing(Bombycilla cedrorum)
- Chestnut-sided Warbler(Dendroica pensylvanica)
- Chimney Swift(Chaetura pelagica)
- Chipping Sparrow(Spizella passerina)
- Chuck-will’s-widow(Caprimulgus carolinensis)
- Common Grackle(Quiscalus quiscula)
- Common Nighthawk(Chordeiles minor)
- Common Yellowthroat(Geothlypis trichas)
- Dark-eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis)
- Downy Woodpecker(Picoides pubescens)
- Eastern Bluebird(Sialia sialis)
- Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus)
- Eastern Phoebe(Sayornis phoebe)
- Eastern Screech-owl(Otus asio)
- Eastern Towhee(Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
- Eastern Wood Pewee(Contopus virens)
- European Starling(Sturnus vulgaris)
- Field Sparrow(Spizella pusilla)
- Fish Crow(Corvus ossifragus)
- Fox Sparrow(Passerella iliaca)
- Golden Eagle(Aquila chrysaetos)
- Golden-crowned Kinglet(Regulus satrapa)
- Gray Catbird(Dumetella carolinensis)
- Great Blue Heron(Ardea herodias)
- Great Crested Flycatcher(Myiarchus crinitus)
- Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus)
- Greater Roadrunner(Geococcyx californianus)
- Green-winged Teal(Anas crecca)
- Hairy Woodpecker(Picoides villosus)
- Hermit Thrush(Catharus guttatus)
- House Sparrow(Passer domesticus)
- Indigo Bunting(Passerina cyanea)
- Kentucky Warbler(Oporornis formosus)
- Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus)
- Little Blue Heron(Egretta caerulea)
- Louisiana Waterthrush(Seiurus motacilla)
- Magnolia Warbler(Dendroica magnolia)
- Mourning Dove(Zenaida macroura)
- Nashville Warbler(Vermivora ruficapilla)
- Northern Bobwhite(Colinus virginianus)
- Northern Cardinal(Cardinalis cardinalis)
- Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus)
- Northern Mockingbird(Mimus polyglottos)
- Orchard Oriole(Icterus spurius)
- Osprey(Pandion haliaetus)
- Pileated Woodpecker(Dryocopus pileatus)
- Pine Siskin(Carduelis pinus)
- Pine Warbler(Dendroica pinus)
- Purple Finch(Carpodacus purpureus)
- Purple Martin(Progne subis)
- Red-bellied Woodpecker(Melanerpes carolinus)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta canadensis)
- Red-eyed Vireo(Vireo olivaceus)
- Red-headed Woodpecker(Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
- Red-shouldered Hawk(Buteo lineatus)
- Red-tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis)
- Rock Dove(Columba fasciata)
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak(Pheucticus ludovicianus)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet(Regulus calendula)
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird(Archilochus colubris)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk(Accipiter striatus)
- Snow Goose(Chen caerulescens)
- Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra)
- Tennessee Warbler(Vermivora peregrina)
- Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura)
- Whip-poor-will(Caprimulgus vociferus)
- White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis)
- White-crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia leucophrys)
- White-eyed Vireo(Vireo griseus)
- White-throated Sparrow(Zonotrichia albicollis)
- Wild Turkey(Meleagris gallopavo)
- Winter Wren(Troglodytes troglodytes)
- Wood Thrush(Hylocichla mustelina)
- Worm-eating Warbler(Helmitheros vermivorus)
- Yellow Warbler(Dendroica petechia)
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus varius)
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo(Coccyzus americanus)
- Yellow-breasted Chat(Icteria virens)
- Yellow-rumped Warbler(Dendroica coronata)
- Yellow-throated Warbler(Dendroica dominica)
No birds match.
Hot Springs National Park Reptiles
22 species
- Common Snapping Turtle(Chelydra serpentina serpentina)
- Eastern Garter Snake(Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
- Eastern Hog-nosed Snake(Heterodon platyrhinos)
- Five-lined Skink(Eumeces fasciatus)NPS shows a park photo of a five-lined skink (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- Flathead Snake(Tantilla gracilis)
- Green Anole(Anolis carolinensis)
- Midland Brown Snake(Storeria dekayi wrightorum)
- Midland Water Snake(Nerodia sipedon pleuralis)
- Northern Fence Lizard(Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus)NPS names the northern fence lizard among the park’s lizards (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- Northern Redbelly Snake(Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata)
- Prairie Racerunner(Cnemidophorus sexlineatus viridis)
- Red-eared Slider(Trachemys scripta elegans)
- River Cooter(Pseudemys concinna)
- Rough Green Snake(Opheodrys aestivus)
- Southern Copperhead(Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix)
- Speckled Kingsnake(Lampropeltis getula holbrooki)
- Stinkpot(Sternotherus odoratus)
- Three-toed Box Turtle(Terrapene carolina triunguis)NPS says the park is home to the three-toed box turtle (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- Western Cottonmouth(Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma)
- Western Slender Glass Lizard(Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus)NPS names the western slender glass lizard among the park’s lizards (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- Western Worm Snake(Carphophis vermis)
- Yellow-bellied Water Snake(Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster)
No reptiles match.
Hot Springs National Park Amphibians
13 species
- American Bullfrog(Rana catesbeiana)
- Blanchard’s Cricket Frog(Acris crepitans blanchardi)
- Cope’s Gray Treefrog(Hyla chrysoscelis)
- Dwarf American Toad(Bufo americanus charlesmithi)
- Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad(Gastrophryne carolinensis)
- Fowler’s Toad(Bufo woodhousii fowleri)
- Green Frog(Rana clamitans melanota)
- Green Treefrog(Hyla cinerea)
- Northern Spring Peeper(Pseudacris crucifer crucifer)
- Ouachita Dusky Salamander(Desmognathus brimleyorum)
- Southern Leopard Frog(Rana sphenocephala)
- Spotted Salamander(Ambystoma maculatum)
- Upland Chorus Frog(Pseudacris triseriata feriarum)
No amphibians match.
Hot Springs National Park Fish
27 species
- Bigeye Shiner(Notropis boops)
- Blackspotted Topminnow(Fundulus olivaceus)
- Bluegill(Lepomis macrochirus)
- Bluntnose Minnow(Pimephales notatus)
- Central Stoneroller(Campostoma anomalum)
- Channel Catfish(Ictalurus punctatus)
- Common Carp(Cyprinus carpio)
- Creek Chub(Semotilus atromaculatus)
- Creek Chubsucker(Erimyzon oblongus)
- Golden Redhorse(Moxostoma erythrurum)
- Grass Carp(Ctenopharyngodon idella)
- Green Sunfish(Lepomis cyanellus)
- Greenside Darter(Etheostoma blennioides)
- Largemouth Bass(Micropterus salmoides)
- Logperch(Percina caprodes)
- Longear Sunfish(Lepomis megalotis)
- Northern Hog Sucker(Hypentelium nigricans)
- Northern Studfish(Fundulus catenatus)
- Orangebelly Darter(Etheostoma radiosum)
- Ouachita Madtom(Noturus lachneri)
- Pirate Perch(Aphredoderus sayanus)
- Redear Sunfish(Lepomis microlophus)
- Spotted Bass(Micropterus punctulatus)
- Striped Shiner(Luxilus chrysocephalus)
- Warmouth(Lepomis gulosus)
- Western Mosquitofish(Gambusia affinis)
- Yellow Bullhead(Ameiurus natalis)
No fish match.
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present in Hot Springs National Park. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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