In Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the Wrangell and St. Elias ranges hold some of North America’s largest volcanoes and its greatest concentration of glaciers, and the mountains, forests and coastline support a remarkable variety of wildlife. The park has one of the largest concentrations of Dall sheep in North America, about 13,000 of them, so scan rocky ridges and mountainsides for white dots. Moose are often seen near willow bogs and lakes, and other large mammals include mountain goats, caribou, wolves and two herds of transplanted bison. Both black bears and brown bears (grizzlies) live throughout the park and preserve; know how to be bear aware before heading into the backcountry. Smaller mammals include lynx, wolverines, beavers, martens, porcupines, foxes, coyotes, marmots, river otters, ground squirrels, pikas and voles. Along the coast, look for Steller sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, porpoises and whales.
Trumpeter swans, Canada geese and many other waterfowl and shorebirds begin arriving in late April, and by early May the forests are alive with the songs of warblers and thrushes. Common birds of the interior include willow and rock ptarmigan, spruce grouse, great horned, boreal and northern hawk owls, Canada jays, common ravens, black-billed magpies and American robins. Only about 34 hardy species stay through the frigid winter. The coast adds Kittlitz’s, ancient and marbled murrelets, harlequin ducks, jaegers, terns and black oystercatchers, and bald eagles nest along the Copper River. Rivers and lakes hold Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden, lake trout and whitefish, and returning sockeye, coho and Chinook salmon carry ocean nutrients far upstream. Keep reading to see featured photos of Wrangell-St. Elias’ wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Wrangell-St. Elias 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.
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.
Wrangell-St. Elias Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Wrangell-St. Elias 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 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.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Species List
The wildlife at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve 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 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve:
Species Spotlight
Photo posts of animals you’ll find in Wrangell-St. Elias.
Barren-ground CaribouMammal · Common
American RobinBird · Common
Bald EagleBird · Common
Common LoonBird · Common
Harlequin DuckBird · Common
Sandhill CraneBird · Common
Steller’s JayBird · Common
MooseMammal · Uncommon
Mule Deer (including Black-tailed Deer)Mammal · Uncommon
American Black BearMammal · Unknown
BisonMammal · Unknown
Brown BearMammal · UnknownWrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Mammals
44 species
- American Beaver(Castor canadensis)
- American Black Bear Photo post(Ursus americanus)
- American Marten(Martes americana)
- Arctic Ground Squirrel(Spermophilus parryii)
- Barren-ground Caribou Photo post(Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus)
- Bison Photo post(Bison bison)
- Brown Bear Photo post(Ursus arctos)
- Brown Lemming(Lemmus trimucronatus)
- Canada Lynx(Lynx canadensis)
- Collared Pika(Ochotona collaris)
- Common Muskrat(Ondatra zibethicus)
- Coyote Photo post(Canis latrans)
- Dall Sheep(Ovis dalli)
- Gray Wolf(Canis lupus)
- Harbor Seal(Phoca vitulina)
- Hoary Marmot(Marmota caligata)
- Little Brown Bat(Myotis lucifugus)
- Long-tailed Vole(Microtus longicaudus)
- Masked Shrew(Sorex cinereus)
- Meadow Vole(Microtus pennsylvanicus)
- Montane Shrew(Sorex monticolus)
- Moose Photo post(Alces alces)
- Mountain Goat Photo post(Oreamnos americanus)
- Mule Deer (including Black-tailed Deer) Photo post(Odocoileus hemionus)
- North American Porcupine Photo post(Erethizon dorsatum)
- Northern Bog Lemming(Synaptomys borealis)
- Northern Flying Squirrel(Glaucomys sabrinus)
- Northern Red-backed Vole(Clethrionomys rutilus)
- Pygmy Shrew(Sorex hoyi)
- Red Fox Photo post(Vulpes vulpes)
- Red Squirrel(Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
- Ribbon Seal(Histriophoca fasciata)
- River Otter(Lontra canadensis)
- Sea Otter(Enhydra lutris)
- Singing Vole(Microtus miurus)
- Snowshoe Hare(Lepus americanus)
- Steller Sea Lion(Eumetopias jubatus)
- Tiny Shrew(Sorex yukonicus)
- Tundra Shrew(Sorex tundrensis)
- Tundra Vole(Microtus oeconomus)
- Water Shrew(Sorex palustris)
- Wolverine(Gulo gulo)
- Wood Bison(Bison bison athabascae)
- Woodland Caribou Photo post(Rangifer tarandus caribou)
No mammals match.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Birds
191 species
- Alder Flycatcher(Empidonax alnorum)
- Aleutian Tern(Onychoprion aleuticus)
- American Coot(Fulica americana)
- American Crow (Northwestern Crow)(Corvus caurinus)
- American Dipper(Cinclus mexicanus)
- American Golden-Plover(Pluvialis dominica)
- American Kestrel(Falco sparverius)
- American Pipit(Anthus rubescens)
- American Robin Photo post(Turdus migratorius)
- American Three-toed Woodpecker(Picoides dorsalis)
- American Tree Sparrow(Spizella arborea)
- American Wigeon(Anas americana)
- Ancient Murrelet(Synthliboramphus antiquus)
- Arctic Tern(Sterna paradisaea)
- Arctic Warbler(Phylloscopus borealis)
- Baird’s Sandpiper(Calidris bairdii)
- Bald Eagle Photo post(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Bank Swallow(Riparia riparia)
- Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica)
- Barrow’s Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica)
- Belted Kingfisher(Megaceryle alcyon)
- Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani)
- Black Scoter(Melanitta nigra)
- Black Turnstone(Arenaria melanocephala)
- Black-backed Woodpecker(Picoides arcticus)
- Black-bellied Plover(Pluvialis squatarola)
- Black-billed Magpie(Pica hudsonia)
- Black-capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus)
- Black-legged Kittiwake(Rissa tridactyla)
- Blackpoll Warbler(Dendroica striata)
- Blue-winged Teal(Anas discors)
- Bohemian Waxwing(Bombycilla garrulus)
- Bonaparte’s Gull(Larus philadelphia)
- Boreal Chickadee(Poecile hudsonica)
- Boreal Owl(Aegolius funereus)
- Brant(Branta bernicla)
- Brewer’s Sparrow(Spizella breweri)
- Brown Creeper(Certhia americana)
- Bufflehead(Bucephala albeola)
- Canada Goose(Branta canadensis)
- Canada Jay(Perisoreus canadensis)
- Canvasback(Aythya valisineria)
- Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia)
- Cassin’s Auklet(Ptychoramphus aleuticus)
- Chestnut-backed Chickadee(Poecile rufescens)
- Chipping Sparrow(Spizella passerina)
- Cliff Swallow(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
- Common Goldeneye(Bucephala clangula)
- Common Loon Photo post(Gavia immer)
- Common Merganser(Mergus merganser)
- Common Murre(Uria aalge)
- Common Raven(Corvus corax)
- Common Redpoll(Carduelis flammea)
- Common Snipe(Gallinago gallinago)
- Dark-eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis)
- Double-crested Cormorant(Phalacrocorax auritus)
- Downy Woodpecker(Picoides pubescens)
- Dunlin(Calidris alpina)
- Eurasian Collared-Dove(Streptopelia decaocto)
- Eurasian Wigeon(Anas penelope)
- Fox Sparrow(Passerella iliaca)
- Gadwall(Anas strepera)
- Glaucous Gull(Larus hyperboreus)
- Glaucous-winged Gull(Larus glaucescens)
- Golden Eagle(Aquila chrysaetos)
- Golden-crowned Kinglet(Regulus satrapa)
- Golden-crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia atricapilla)
- Gray-cheeked Thrush(Catharus minimus)
- Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch(Leucosticte tephrocotis)
- Gray-headed Chickadee(Poecile cinctus)
- Great Blue Heron(Ardea herodias)
- Great Gray Owl(Strix nebulosa)
- Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus)
- Greater Scaup(Aythya marila)
- Greater White-fronted Goose(Anser albifrons)
- 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)
- Hermit Thrush(Catharus guttatus)
- Herring Gull(Larus argentatus)
- Hoary Redpoll(Carduelis hornemanni)
- Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus)
- Horned Lark(Eremophila alpestris)
- Hudsonian Godwit(Limosa haemastica)
- Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus)
- Kittlitz’s Murrelet(Brachyramphus brevirostris)
- Lapland Longspur(Calcarius lapponicus)
- Least Sandpiper(Calidris minutilla)
- Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis)
- Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes)
- Lincoln’s Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii)
- Long-billed Dowitcher(Limnodromus scolopaceus)
- Long-tailed Duck(Clangula hyemalis)
- Long-tailed Jaeger(Stercorarius longicaudus)
- Mallard(Anas platyrhynchos)
- Marbled Murrelet(Brachyramphus marmoratus)
- Merlin(Falco columbarius)
- Mountain Bluebird(Sialia currucoides)
- Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus)
- Northern Goshawk(Accipiter gentilis)
- Northern Harrier(Circus cyaneus)
- Northern Hawk Owl(Surnia ulula)
- Northern Pintail(Anas acuta)
- Northern Shoveler(Anas clypeata)
- Northern Shrike(Lanius excubitor)
- Northern Waterthrush(Seiurus noveboracensis)
- Northern Wheatear(Oenanthe oenanthe)
- Olive-sided Flycatcher(Contopus cooperi)
- Orange-crowned Warbler(Vermivora celata)
- Osprey(Pandion haliaetus)
- Pacific Loon(Gavia pacifica)
- Pacific Wren(Troglodytes troglodytes)
- Parasitic Jaeger(Stercorarius parasiticus)
- Pectoral Sandpiper(Calidris melanotos)
- Pelagic Cormorant(Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
- Peregrine Falcon(Falco peregrinus)
- Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba)
- Pine Grosbeak(Pinicola enucleator)
- Pine Siskin(Carduelis pinus)
- Pomarine Jaeger(Stercorarius pomarinus)
- Red Crossbill(Loxia curvirostra)
- Red Knot(Calidris canutus)
- Red Phalarope(Phalaropus fulicarius)
- Red-breasted Merganser(Mergus serrator)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta canadensis)
- Red-breasted Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus ruber)
- 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-necked Duck(Aythya collaris)
- Rock Ptarmigan(Lagopus muta)
- Rock Sandpiper(Calidris ptilocnemis)
- Rough-legged Hawk(Buteo lagopus)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet(Regulus calendula)
- Ruffed Grouse(Bonasa umbellus)
- Rufous Hummingbird(Selasphorus rufus)
- Rusty Blackbird(Euphagus carolinus)
- Sanderling(Calidris alba)
- Sandhill Crane Photo post(Grus canadensis)
- Savannah Sparrow(Passerculus sandwichensis)
- Say’s Phoebe(Sayornis saya)
- Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus)
- Semipalmated Sandpiper(Calidris pusilla)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk(Accipiter striatus)
- Sharp-tailed Grouse(Tympanuchus phasianellus)
- Short-billed Dowitcher(Limnodromus griseus)
- Short-billed Gull(Larus canus)
- Short-eared Owl(Asio flammeus)
- Smith’s Longspur(Calcarius pictus)
- Snow Bunting(Plectrophenax nivalis)
- Snow Goose(Chen caerulescens)
- Solitary Sandpiper(Tringa solitaria)
- Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia)
- Sora(Porzana carolina)
- Spotted Sandpiper(Actitis macularius)
- Spruce Grouse(Falcipennis canadensis)
- Steller’s Jay Photo post(Cyanocitta stelleri)
- Surf Scoter(Melanitta perspicillata)
- Surfbird(Aphriza virgata)
- Swainson’s Hawk(Buteo swainsoni)
- Swainson’s Thrush(Catharus ustulatus)
- Tennessee Warbler(Vermivora peregrina)
- Townsend’s Solitaire(Myadestes townsendi)
- Townsend’s Warbler(Dendroica townsendi)
- Tree Swallow(Tachycineta bicolor)
- Trumpeter Swan(Cygnus buccinator)
- Tundra Swan(Cygnus columbianus)
- Upland Sandpiper(Bartramia longicauda)
- Varied Thrush(Ixoreus naevius)
- Violet-green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina)
- Wandering Tattler(Tringa incana)
- Western Sandpiper(Calidris mauri)
- Western Screech-Owl(Megascops kennicottii)
- Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus)
- Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus)
- White-crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia leucophrys)
- White-tailed Ptarmigan(Lagopus leucura)
- White-winged Crossbill(Loxia leucoptera)
- White-winged Scoter(Melanitta fusca)
- Willow Ptarmigan(Lagopus lagopus)
- Wilson’s Snipe(Gallinago delicata)
- Wilson’s Warbler(Wilsonia pusilla)
- Yellow Warbler(Dendroica petechia)
- Yellow-billed Loon(Gavia adamsii)
- Yellow-rumped Warbler(Dendroica coronata)
No birds match.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Reptiles
0 species
NPSpecies currently lists no reptiles as present in this park.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Amphibians
2 species
- Western Toad(Bufo boreas)
- Wood Frog(Rana sylvatica)
No amphibians match.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Fish
86 species
- Arctic Grayling(Thymallus arcticus)
- Arrowtooth Flounder(Atheresthes stomias)
- Bay Pipefish(Syngnathus leptorhynchus)
- Big Skate(Raja binoculata)
- Bigmouth Sculpin(Hemitripterus bolini)
- Brown Irish Lord(Hemilepidotus spinosus)
- Buffalo Sculpin(Enophrys bison)
- Burbot(Lota lota)
- Butter Sole(Isopsetta isolepis)
- Capelin(Mallotus villosus)
- Chinook Salmon(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
- Chum Salmon(Oncorhynchus keta)
- Coastrange Sculpin(Cottus aleuticus)
- Coho Salmon(Oncorhynchus kisutch)
- Copper Rockfish(Sebastes caurinus)
- Crescent Gunnel(Pholis laeta)
- Daubed Shanny(Leptoclinus maculatus)
- Dolly Varden(Salvelinus malma)
- Dover Sole(Microstomus pacificus)
- Dusky Rockfish(Sebastes ciliatus)
- English Sole(Parophrys vetulus)
- Eulachon(Thaleichthys pacificus)
- Flathead Sole(Hippoglossoides elassodon)
- Frog Sculpin(Myoxocephalus stelleri)
- Great Sculpin(Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus)
- Humpback Whitefish(Coregonus pidschian)
- Kelp Greenling(Hexagrammos decagrammus)
- Lake Chub(Couesius plumbeus)
- Lake Trout(Salvelinus namaycush)
- Lingcod(Ophiodon elongatus)
- Longfin Smelt(Spirinchus thaleichthys)
- Longnose Sucker(Catostomus catostomus)
- Longsnout Prickleback(Lumpenella longirostris)
- Masked Greenling(Hexagrammos octogrammus)
- Night Smelt(Spirinchus starksi)
- Northern Pike(Esox lucius)
- Northern Sculpin(Icelinus borealis)
- Pacific Cod(Gadus macrocephalus)
- Pacific Halibut(Hippoglossus stenolepis)
- Pacific Herring(Clupea pallasii marisalbi)
- Pacific Lamprey(Lampetra tridentata)
- Pacific Sand Lance(Ammodytes hexapterus)
- Pacific Sanddab(Citharichthys sordidus)
- Pacific Sandfish(Trichodon trichodon)
- Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker(Eumicrotremus orbis)
- Pacific Staghorn Sculpin(Leptocottus armatus)
- Pacific Tomcod(Microgadus proximus)
- Padded Sculpin(Artedius fenestralis)
- Penpoint Gunnel(Apodichthys flavidus)
- Pink Salmon(Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
- Pygmy Whitefish(Prosopium coulteri)
- Quillback Rockfish(Sebastes maliger)
- Rainbow Trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- Red Irish Lord(Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus)
- Rock Greenling(Hexagrammos lagocephalus)
- Rock Soles(Lepidopsetta)
- Round Whitefish(Prosopium cylindraceum)
- Sailfin Sculpin(Nautichthys oculofasciatus)
- Sand Sole(Psettichthys melanostictus)
- Scalyhead Sculpin(Artedius harringtoni)
- Sharpnose Sculpin(Clinocottus acuticeps)
- Shiner Perch(Cymatogaster aggregata)
- Shortfin Eelpout(Lycodes brevipes)
- Shorthorn Sculpin(Myoxocephalus scorpius)
- Showy Snailfish(Liparis pulchellus)
- Slender Sole(Lyopsetta exilis)
- Slimy Sculpin(Cottus cognatus)
- Snake Prickleback(Lumpenus sagitta)
- Sockeye Salmon(Oncorhynchus nerka)
- Speckled Sanddab(Citharichthys stigmaeus)
- Spineless Sculpins(Psychrolutes)
- Spinyhead Sculpin(Dasycottus setiger)
- Starry Flounder(Platichthys stellatus)
- Stout Eelblenny(Anisarchus medius)
- Sturgeon Poacher(Podothecus accipenserinus)
- Surf Smelt(Hypomesus pretiosus)
- Threespine Stickleback(Gasterosteus aculeatus)
- Tidepool Sculpin(Oligocottus maculosus)
- Tidepool Snailfish(Liparis florae)
- Tube-snout(Aulorhynchus flavidus)
- Tubenose Poacher(Pallasina barbata)
- Walleye Pollock(Theragra chalcogramma)
- Warty Poacher(Chesnonia verrucosa)
- Wattled Eelpout(Lycodes palearis)
- Whitespotted Greenling(Hexagrammos stelleri)
- Yellowfin Sole(Limanda aspera)
No fish match.
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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