With high elevations, steep terrain, and extreme temperatures, mountainous national parks often support wildlife that are uniquely adapated to mountain living. These adaptations include the ability to climb steep, rocky terrain or the behavior of caching food for the long, cold winter. Some mammals actually require the cool temperatures that mountains provide, and a warming climate may threaten their populations. Explore the links below to learn more about mammals living in the mountains of your national parks.
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Bears
Black bears, grizzly bears, and even polar bears can be found in the mountains of various national parks.
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Yellowstone National Park
Sixty-seven different types of mammals, from the smallest pika to the largest bear, live in and around the mountains of Yellowstone.
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North Cascades National Park
Known for their sure footedness in steep terrain, the aptly named mountain goat can often be found on the highest of ridges.
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Bats
Bats can be found in a variety of habitats, including mountain caves and forests. Millions of bats live in national parks.
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Santa Monica Mountains NRA
Some mammals live in mountains that aren't in the remote wilderness. Here, a mountain lion roams the hills above Los Angeles.
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National Parks of Alaska
With a reputation as one of the fiercest animals on earth, wolverines are now extremely rare outside of Alaska and parts of Canada.
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Rocky Mountain National Park
Marmots are hibernators. When winter arrives in the mountains, these big rodents (11 pounds!) head underground to "sleep" until spring.
More information about mountain-living mammals
Last updated: October 19, 2022