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21 Animals That Call Denali National Park Home

Animals That call Denali National Park home.

Denali National Park spans over 6 million acres of Alaskan wilderness, boasting with its unique wildlife and tallest North American mountain. Let’s discover which animals call Denali national park home.

Grizzly Bear

A portrait of a wild grizzly bear.
A portrait of a wild grizzly bear. By Jean Beaufort – https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=300112&picture=grizzly-bear, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82893998

Denali is home to a healthy population of grizzly bears, which are apex predators in the ecosystem. They can be seen roaming the park’s tundra and forests.

Moose

moose
Moose Bull. Image by Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Moose_bull.jpg

Moose are commonly spotted in Denali, particularly in the wetlands and willow thickets. They are the largest members of the deer family and are known for their distinctive antlers.

Dall Sheep

dall sheep
Dall sheep have specialized concave hooves that provide traction on rocky terrain, allowing them to traverse steep cliffs and rocky slopes with ease. Image by Rollstein via Pixabay

These white-colored sheep inhabit the mountainous regions of Denali. They are well adapted to the steep and rugged terrain.

Caribou

Caribou
A Caribou. Image by Dean Biggins (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) – US FWS, DIVISION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, WO3772-023, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1214764, Wikimedia commons

Denali is home to the Denali Caribou Herd, one of the largest migratory caribou herds in Alaska. They migrate across the park’s vast landscape.

Gray Wolf

Gray wolf suddenly stopped.
Gray wolf suddenly stopped. Image by bazil via Depositphotos

Wolves are one of the top predators in Denali and play a crucial role in maintaining the park’s ecosystem balance. They hunt in packs and are often elusive.

Arctic Ground Squirrel

Arctic ground squirrel eating seeds on the rock. Kamchatka.

These small rodents are commonly found in Denali’s tundra habitats. They hibernate during the winter months.

Red Fox

Red fox, vulpes vulpes, siblings standing on den during the summer. Pair of baby animals watching from hole in the ground with blurred background. Wild little cubs sitting on sand. Image via depositphotos.

Red foxes are adaptable animals found throughout Denali. They prey on small mammals and birds.

Snowshoe Hare

Snowshoe Hare
Snowshoe hare captured mid-leap in the snow. Image by JimCumming via Depositphotos

These hares are well adapted to the snowy conditions of Denali. They have large hind feet that help them move across deep snow.

Ptarmigan

ptarmigan endangered animals
Ptarmigan. Image via Pexels

Denali is home to both rock and willow ptarmigan, which are well camouflaged against the snowy landscape. They are ground-dwelling birds.

Lynx

A Lynx. Image via depositphotos.

These elusive cats inhabit the boreal forests of Denali. They are skilled hunters, primarily preying on snowshoe hares.

Bald Eagle

bald eagle national animal of the U.S.
Image by Stephen Meyers via Pexels

Denali is home to a variety of bird species, including bald eagles. These majestic birds can often be seen soaring over rivers and lakes.

Golden Eagle

Wild Golden Eagle
Wild Golden Eagle. By Giles Laurent – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=142134111

Similar to bald eagles, golden eagles inhabit Denali’s vast wilderness and are skilled hunters.

River Otter

North American River Otter
North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or the common otter. Image by kwiktor via Depositphotos

River otters are playful animals commonly found in Denali’s waterways. They are well adapted to aquatic environments.

Northern Goshawk

Northern Goshawk. Image via depositphotos.

These birds of prey inhabit Denali’s forests and are skilled hunters, preying on smaller birds and mammals.

Arctic Tern

Artic Tern sitting on a rock. Kristian Pikner, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Artic Tern sitting on a rock. Kristian Pikner, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Denali is on the migration route of the Arctic tern, which travels thousands of miles from its breeding grounds in the Arctic to its wintering grounds in the Southern Hemisphere.

Arctic Grayling

Grayling caught on the fly. Tenkara and fly fishing. Image via depoitphotos.

These fish are found in Denali’s rivers and streams. They are a popular sportfish for anglers visiting the park.

Arctic Ground Beetle

Closeup on the large brown Granulated carabid beetle, Carabus granulatus walinkg among leaflitter. Image via depositphotos.

These insects are well adapted to the harsh conditions of Denali’s tundra. They play a role in the park’s ecosystem as scavengers.

Snowshoe Rabbit

Snowshoe rabbit. Image via depositphotos.

Snowshoe rabbits, also known as varying hares, are well adapted to the snowy conditions of Denali. Their white winter coat provides camouflage.

Hoary Marmot

Hoary marmots. Image via depositphotos.

These large ground squirrels inhabit the alpine regions of Denali. They hibernate during the winter months.

Wolverine

Wolverine. Image via depositphotos

Wolverines are rarely seen in Denali but inhabit the park’s remote and rugged terrain. They are powerful predators known for their strength and endurance.

American Dipper

American Dipper swims underwater to feed.
American Dipper swims underwater to feed. By David A Mitchell from Calgary, Canada – IMG_8886-63.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74729973

These small birds are found along Denali’s rivers and streams. They are skilled divers and feed on aquatic insects underwater.

Conclusion

Denali (also known as Mount McKinley, its former official name) is the highest mountain in North America at 20,310ft. Located in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA.

As you see these animals boast of the diversity of Denali National Park, each contributing uniquely to the environment.  I hope you enjoyed reading about the animals that call Denali national park home. To read more like this, check out the articles below:

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