NPS Photo / Daniel Leifheit
Denali's abundant and diverse wildlife are just as famous as its tallest mountain, Mount McKinley, which towers above the landscape at 20,310’ tall. In fact, Denali was the first national park created to protect wildlife. Now, this park is home to 39 species of mammals, 169 species of birds, and 1 lonely species of amphibian.
Explore the sections below to learn more about the wildlife that find a sanctuary within these boundaries.
Mammals
A goal for many visitors is to see a grizzly bear lumbering through the tundra, Denali is home to 39 mammals that vary from shrews to moose.
Wildlife Safety
Traveling where wild animals live can be intimidating even for the most savvy hiker. Have a fun, safe visit by following these guidelines.
Birds
Denali has over 160 species of birds that call the park home during the summer months, but far fewer remain during the chilly winter days.
Amphibians & Reptiles
There are no reptiles found this far north. However, there is a single species of amphibian that is adapted for life in the cold.
Invertebrates
Bears and moose can capture a visitor's attention. But, did you know that the vast majority of Denali critters are less than an inch long?
Stories of Wildlife and Wildlife Research
Showing results 1-10 of 57
- Locations: Denali National Park & Preserve, Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve
- Offices: Central Alaska Inventory & Monitoring Network
Read the abstract and get the link to a study that looks at social behavior among canids worldwide: Benson, J., D. Keiter, P. Mahoney, B. Allen, L. Allen, B. L. Borg,… K. Joly, … M. Sorum, et al. 2024. Intrinsic and environmental drivers of pairwise cohesion in wild Canis social groups. Ecology: e4492.
- Locations: Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Denali National Park & Preserve, Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve
Wildlife biologists have long known that wolves occasionally travel enormous distances in search of new mates and ranges. However, the advent of GPS-based wildlife tracking has allowed researchers to follow in the very footsteps of wolves as they travel across vast and wild landscapes. Alaska National Park scientists have witnessed some surprisingly intimate and breathtaking interconnections between wolves, parks and people by using this technology over the last few years.
- Denali National Park & Preserve
Large Mammals in Denali: How Many Are There?
- Locations: Denali National Park & Preserve
Science Summary (2014) - Check out a yearly update of population estimates for "the Big Five" species of Denali - wolves, caribou, Dall sheep, moose and bears.
- Locations: Denali National Park & Preserve, Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve
The American peregrine falcon is one of the best known raptors in North America. For years, American peregrine populations declined due to problems with egg-shell thinning caused by persistent organic pollutants such as DDT. The American peregrine is one of three peregrine species found throughout North America, from northern Mexico all the way to Alaska.
- Type: Series
- Locations: Denali National Park & Preserve, Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park, Noatak National Preserve, Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve
Discover the importance of Dall Sheep in Alaska's National Parks
- Locations: Denali National Park & Preserve, Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve, Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve
How might climate change impact the world's northernmost wild sheep population?
- Locations: Denali National Park & Preserve, Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park, Noatak National Preserve, Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve
Discovery how and why scientists monitor Dall sheep in national parks throughout Alaska.
- Locations: Denali National Park & Preserve, Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve, Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve
Learn about the two ways humans harvest sheep - for subsistence use and in sport hunting.
- Locations: Denali National Park & Preserve, Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve, Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve
Dall sheep employ a sophisticated social structure.
- Denali National Park & Preserve
Long-Term Golden Eagle Studies
- Locations: Denali National Park & Preserve
Alaska Park Science (2006) - Thanks to results of a long-term monitoring program for golden eagles ( Aquila chrysaetos), visitors frequently turn their eyes skyward in hopes of seeing one of North America’s largest aerial predators. With an abundance of cliffs and rock outcroppings for nest sites, as well as a diversity of prey, the northern foothills of the towering Alaska Range are well suited for this large aerial predator.
Tags:
wildlife
Last updated: February 3, 2025