A lynx in Denali National Park and Preserve watches intently.
NPS/Ken Conger
When people think about Alaska, they often thiink about the large mammals such as moose, wolves, and bears, but there are many other species of wildlife that play important roles in the ecosystems. Small mammals such as voles and shrews, arctic ground squirrels, hoary marmots, collared pika, and snowshoe hares are important food sources for many animals and are a foundation for a healthy ecosystem. Mesocarnivores, medium-sized mammals, such as wolverine, lynx, coyotes, red foxes, and arctic foxes are also important to functioning ecosystems.
