Lassen Volcanic National Park sits at the southern end of the Cascade Range, at the crossroads of three great biological provinces: the Cascades to the north, the Sierra Nevada to the south and the Great Basin desert to the east. Elevations run from about 5,000 feet to 10,457 feet at the summit of Lassen Peak, and the mix of forests, meadows, lakes and volcanic slopes supports roughly 300 species of vertebrates. NPS counts about 57 species of mammals in the park. Lassen is home to an estimated 50 American black bears, the only bear species in California today. Despite their name, many of them are brown or cinnamon in color. Grizzly bears once roamed the area, but the last one in California was shot in the early 1920s. The rare Sierra Nevada red fox is one of California’s rarest mammals, and the Lassen area is one of only two places where it is known to survive. Mule deer are the only hoofed animals in the park. Mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, American martens, American badgers and river otters also live here, along with American pikas in the high rocky slopes, snowshoe hares, eight species of bats and a long list of chipmunks and squirrels, including Douglas’s squirrels and golden-mantled ground squirrels.
About 216 species of birds have been documented in the park, and 96 of them are known to nest here. Most are neotropical migrants that breed in Lassen in summer and fly to Central and South America for the winter. Steller’s jays, mountain chickadees and Clark’s nutcrackers are some of the most frequently seen birds, and the park is also home to pileated woodpeckers, ruffed grouse, ospreys and seven other species of woodpeckers. Lassen’s reptiles include sagebrush lizards, northern alligator lizards, rubber boas and western terrestrial garter snakes. The park’s amphibians, the Pacific treefrog, western toad and long-toed salamander, face threats from non-native trout, habitat loss, climate change and chytrid fungus, and NPS says the Cascades frog and rough-skinned newt have disappeared from the park. Fish stocking ended in the early 1990s. Native rainbow trout, tui chub, speckled dace, Lahontan redside and Tahoe sucker share the park’s waters with non-native brook and brown trout, and Manzanita Lake is managed as a wild trout fishery. Keep reading to see featured photos of Lassen Volcanic’s wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Lassen Volcanic 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.
Lassen Volcanic Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Lassen Volcanic 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 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.
Lassen Volcanic National Park Species List
The wildlife at Lassen Volcanic 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 Lassen Volcanic National Park:
Species Spotlight
Photo posts of animals you’ll find in Lassen Volcanic.
Golden-mantled Ground SquirrelMammal · Common
Mule DeerMammal · Common
American RobinBird · Common
Steller’s JayBird · Common
American Black BearMammal · Uncommon
CoyoteMammal · Uncommon
Bald EagleBird · Uncommon
American BadgerMammal · Rare
BobcatMammal · Rare
Mountain LionMammal · Rare
North American PorcupineMammal · Rare
Sierra Nevada Red FoxMammal · RareLassen Volcanic National Park Mammals
59 species
- Allen’s Chipmunk(Tamias senex senex)
- American Badger Photo post(Taxidea taxus neglecta)
- American Beaver(Castor canadensis)
- American Black Bear Photo post(Ursus americanus)
- American Marten(Martes americana sierrae)
- American Mink(Neovison vison)
- American Pika(Ochotona princeps schisticeps)
- American Shrew Mole(Neurotrichus gibbsii gibbsii)
- American Water Shrew(Sorex palustris navigator)
- Belding’s Ground Squirrel(Urocitellus beldingi)
- Big Brown Bat(Eptesicus fuscus bernardinus)
- Black-tailed Jackrabbit(Lepus californicus)
- Bobcat Photo post(Lynx rufus)
- Broad-footed Mole(Scapanus latimanus dilatus)
- Bushy-tailed Woodrat(Neotoma cinerea alticola)
- California Ground Squirrel(Otospermophilus beecheyi)
- California Myotis(Myotis californicus)
- California Vole(Microtus californicus)
- Coyote Photo post(Canis latrans lestes)
- Deer Mouse(Peromyscus maniculatus gambelii)
- Douglas’s Squirrel(Tamiasciurus douglasii albolimbatus)
- Fringed Myotis(Myotis thysanodes)
- Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel Photo post(Callospermophilus lateralis)
- Gray Fox(Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
- Hoary Bat(Lasiurus cinereus)
- Inyo Shrew(Sorex tenellus)
- Little Brown Myotis(Myotis lucifugus)
- Lodgepole Chipmunk(Tamias speciosus frater)
- Long-eared Myotis(Myotis evotis)
- Long-legged Myotis(Myotis volans interior)
- Long-tailed Vole(Microtus longicaudus sierrae)
- Long-tailed Weasel(Mustela frenata)
- Montane Vole(Microtus montanus montanus)
- Mountain Beaver(Aplodontia rufa californica)
- Mountain Cottontail(Sylvilagus nuttallii)NPS lists the mountain (Nuttall’s) cottontail among the park’s rabbits and hares (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- Mountain Lion Photo post(Puma concolor)
- Mountain Pocket Gopher(Thomomys monticola)
- Mule Deer Photo post(Odocoileus hemionus)
- Muskrat(Ondatra zibethicus)
- North American Porcupine Photo post(Erethizon dorsatum epixanthum)
- North American River Otter(Lutra canadensis brevipilosus)
- Northern Flying Squirrel(Glaucomys sabrinus lascivus)
- Preble’s Shrew(Sorex preblei)
- Raccoon(Procyon lotor)
- Short-tailed Weasel(Mustela erminea muricus)
- Sierra Nevada Red Fox Photo post(Vulpes vulpes necator)
- Silver-haired Bat(Lasionycteris noctivagans)
- Snowshoe Hare(Lepus americanus)
- Spotted Skunk(Spilogale putorius)NPS lists the spotted skunk among the park’s carnivores (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- Striped Skunk(Mephitis mephitis)
- Trowbridge’s Shrew(Sorex trowbridgii mariposae)
- Vagrant Shrew(Sorex vagrans vagrans)
- Virginia Opossum(Didelphis virginiana)
- Western Gray Squirrel(Sciurus griseus)
- Western Jumping Mouse(Zapus princeps pacificus)
- Western Red-backed Vole(Myodes californicus)
- Yellow-bellied Marmot(Marmota flaviventris)
- Yellow-pine Chipmunk(Tamias amoenus amoenus)
- Yuma Myotis(Myotis yumanensis)
No mammals match.
Lassen Volcanic National Park Birds
165 species
- Acorn Woodpecker(Melanerpes formicivorus)
- Allen’s Hummingbird(Selasphorus sasin)
- American Coot(Fulica americana)
- American Crow(Corvus brachyrhynchos)
- American Dipper(Cinclus mexicanus)
- American Kestrel(Falco sparverius)
- American Pipit(Anthus rubescens)
- American Robin Photo post(Turdus migratorius)
- American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
- American Wigeon(Anas americana)
- Anna’s Hummingbird(Calypte anna)
- Ash-throated Flycatcher(Myiarchus cinerascens)
- Bald Eagle Photo post(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Band-tailed Pigeon(Patagioenas fasciata)
- Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica)
- Belted Kingfisher(Megaceryle alcyon)
- Bewick’s Wren(Thryomanes bewickii)
- Black Phoebe(Sayornis nigricans)
- Black-backed Woodpecker(Picoides arcticus)
- Black-crowned Night-Heron(Nycticorax nycticorax)
- Black-headed Grosbeak(Pheucticus melanocephalus)
- Black-throated Gray Warbler(Setophaga nigrescens)
- Brewer’s Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus)
- Brewer’s Sparrow(Spizella breweri)
- Brown Creeper(Certhia americana)
- Brown-headed Cowbird(Molothrus ater)
- Bufflehead(Bucephala albeola)
- Bullock’s Oriole(Icterus bullockii)
- Bushtit(Psaltriparus minimus)
- California Gull(Larus californicus)
- California Quail(Callipepla californica)
- California Spotted Owl(Strix occidentalis occidentalis)
- Calliope Hummingbird(Stellula calliope)
- Canada Goose(Branta canadensis)
- Canada Jay(Perisoreus canadensis)
- Canvasback(Aythya valisineria)
- Canyon Wren(Catherpes mexicanus)
- Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia)
- Cassin’s Finch(Carpodacus cassinii)
- Cassin’s Vireo(Vireo cassinii)
- Chipping Sparrow(Spizella passerina)
- Clark’s Grebe(Aechmophorus clarkii)
- Clark’s Nutcracker(Nucifraga columbiana)
- Cliff Swallow(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
- Common Goldeneye(Bucephala clangula)
- Common Loon Photo post(Gavia immer)
- Common Merganser(Mergus merganser)
- Common Nighthawk(Chordeiles minor)
- Common Poorwill(Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)
- Common Raven(Corvus corax)
- Common Yellowthroat(Geothlypis trichas)
- Cooper’s Hawk(Accipiter cooperii)
- 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)
- European Starling(Sturnus vulgaris)
- Evening Grosbeak(Coccothraustes vespertinus)
- Forster’s Tern(Sterna forsteri)
- Fox Sparrow(Passerella iliaca)
- Golden Eagle(Aquila chrysaetos)
- Golden-crowned Kinglet(Regulus satrapa)
- Golden-crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia atricapilla)
- Gray Flycatcher(Empidonax wrightii)
- Gray-crowned Rosy-finch(Leucosticte tephrocotis)
- Great Blue Heron(Ardea herodias)
- Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus)
- Greater Yellowlegs(Tringa melanoleuca)
- Green-tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus)
- Green-winged Teal(Anas crecca)
- Hairy Woodpecker(Picoides villosus)
- Hammond’s Flycatcher(Empidonax hammondii)
- Hermit Thrush(Catharus guttatus)
- Hermit Warbler(Setophaga occidentalis)
- Horned Lark(Eremophila alpestris)
- House Wren(Troglodytes aedon)
- Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus)
- Lazuli Bunting(Passerina amoena)
- Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis)
- Lewis’s Woodpecker(Melanerpes lewis)
- Lincoln’s Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii)
- MacGillivray’s Warbler(Geothlypis tolmiei)
- Mallard(Anas platyrhynchos)
- Merlin(Falco columbarius)
- Mountain Bluebird(Sialia currucoides)
- Mountain Chickadee(Parus gambeli)
- Mountain Quail(Oreortyx pictus)
- Mourning Dove(Zenaida macroura)
- Nashville Warbler(Leiothlypis ruficapilla)
- Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus)
- Northern Goshawk(Accipiter gentilis)
- 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)
- Olive-sided Flycatcher(Contopus cooperi)
- Orange-crowned Warbler(Leiothlypis celata)
- Osprey(Pandion haliaetus)
- Pacific Loon(Gavia pacifica)
- Pacific Wren(Troglodytes pacificus)
- Pacific-slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis)
- Peregrine Falcon(Falco peregrinus)
- Pied-billed Grebe(Podilymbus podiceps)
- Pileated Woodpecker(Dryocopus pileatus)
- Pine Grosbeak(Pinicola enucleator)
- Pine Siskin(Spinus pinus)
- Prairie Falcon(Falco mexicanus)
- Purple Martin(Progne subis)
- Pygmy Nuthatch(Sitta pygmaea)
- Red Crossbill(Loxia curvirostra)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta canadensis)
- Red-breasted Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus ruber)
- Red-necked Phalarope(Phalaropus lobatus)
- Red-tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis)
- Red-winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus)
- Ring-billed Gull(Larus delawarensis)
- Ring-necked Duck(Aythya collaris)
- Rock Pigeon(Columba livia)
- Rock Wren(Salpinctes obsoletus)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet(Regulus calendula)
- Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis)
- Ruffed Grouse(Bonasa umbellus)NPS says the ruffed grouse can be found year-round in the park (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- Rufous Hummingbird(Selasphorus rufus)
- Sabine’s Gull(Xema sabini)
- Sandhill Crane Photo post(Grus canadensis)
- Savannah Sparrow(Passerculus sandwichensis)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk(Accipiter striatus)
- Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia)
- Sora(Porzana carolina)
- Spotted Sandpiper(Actitis macularius)
- Spotted Towhee(Pipilo maculatus)
- Steller’s Jay Photo post(Cyanocitta stelleri)
- Townsend’s Solitaire(Myadestes townsendi)
- Townsend’s Warbler(Setophaga townsendi)
- Tree Swallow(Iridoprocne bicolor)
- Tundra Swan(Cygnus columbianus)
- Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura)
- Varied Thrush(Ixoreus naevius)
- Vesper Sparrow(Pooecetes gramineus)
- Violet-green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina)
- Virginia Rail(Rallus limicola)
- Warbling Vireo(Vireo gilvus)
- Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana)
- Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis)
- Western Meadowlark(Sturnella neglecta)
- Western Sandpiper(Calidris mauri)
- Western Tanager(Piranga ludoviciana)
- Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus)
- White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis)
- White-crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia leucophrys)
- White-headed Woodpecker(Picoides albolarvatus)
- White-throated Swift(Aeronautes saxatalis)
- Wild Turkey(Meleagris gallopavo)
- Williamson’s Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
- Willow Flycatcher(Empidonax traillii)
- Wilson’s Phalarope(Phalaropus tricolor)
- Wilson’s Snipe(Gallinago delicata)
- Wilson’s Warbler(Cardellina pusilla)
- Wood Duck(Aix sponsa)
- Yellow Warbler(Setophaga petechia)
- Yellow-headed Blackbird(Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
- Yellow-rumped Warbler(Setophaga coronata)
No birds match.
Lassen Volcanic National Park Reptiles
8 species
- Common Garter Snake(Thamnophis sirtalis)
- Northern Alligator Lizard(Elgaria coerulea)
- Rubber Boa(Charina bottae)
- Sagebrush Lizard(Sceloporus graciosus)
- Striped Whipsnake(Masticophis taeniatus)
- Western Pond Turtle(Actinemys marmorata)
- Western Skink(Eumeces skiltonianus)
- Western Terrestrial Garter Snake(Thamnophis elegans)
No reptiles match.
Lassen Volcanic National Park Amphibians
3 species
- Pacific Treefrog(Pseudacris regilla)
- Southern Long-toed Salamander(Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum)
- Western Toad(Anaxyrus boreas)
No amphibians match.
Lassen Volcanic National Park Fish
9 species
- Brook Trout(Salvelinus fontinalis)
- Brown Trout(Salmo trutta)
- Fathead Minnow(Pimephales promelas)
- Golden Shiner(Notemigonus crysoleucas)
- Lahontan Redside(Richardsonius egregius)
- Rainbow Trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- Speckled Dace(Rhinichthys osculus)
- Tahoe Sucker(Catostomus tahoensis)
- Tui Chub(Siphateles bicolor)
No fish match.
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
Do you want to be featured on National Park Photographer?
Why wait! Contact us today at nationalparkphoto@gmail.com for more information!
References:
- National Park Species List
- NPS: Animals, Lassen Volcanic
- NPS: Mammals, Lassen Volcanic
- NPS: American Black Bear, Lassen Volcanic
- NPS: Sierra Nevada Red Fox, Lassen Volcanic
- NPS: Birds, Lassen Volcanic
- NPS: Reptiles, Lassen Volcanic
- NPS: Amphibians, Lassen Volcanic
- NPS: Fish, Lassen Volcanic
- NPS: Nature & Science, Lassen Volcanic
