Gates of the Arctic National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🦌 Caribou Cross Gates of Arctic
🌍 #238 Global · 3.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #44 in North America #5 in Tundra
United States, United States 276 spp. recorded

Gates of the Arctic National Park is a vast mountain wilderness in northern Alaska, far above the Arctic Circle. This remote park contains no roads, trails, or visitor facilities, featuring instead rugged tundra valleys, steep peaks, and untamed rivers carved out of an ancient landscape.

67.721° N   154.209° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Caribou ★
VU Endemic

Caribou

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rangifer tarandus

40–50% · Likely
Dall Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Dall Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis dalli

Insufficient data
Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

30–40% · Possible
Gray Wolf ★
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

80–90% · Very likely
Common Redpoll
LC

Common Redpoll

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthis flammea

60–70% · Likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Gray Jay
LC

Gray Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Perisoreus canadensis

50–60% · Likely
Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

50–60% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

50–60% · Likely
Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

40–50% · Likely
Swainson's Thrush
LC

Swainson's Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Catharus ustulatus

40–50% · Likely
White-winged Crossbill
LC

White-winged Crossbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Loxia leucoptera

40–50% · Likely
Snowshoe Hare
LC

Snowshoe Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus americanus

Insufficient data
American Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Caribou ★
VU Endemic

Caribou

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rangifer tarandus

40–50% · Likely
Dall Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Dall Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis dalli

Insufficient data
Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

30–40% · Possible
Gray Wolf ★
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

50–60% · Likely
Snowshoe Hare
LC

Snowshoe Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus americanus

Insufficient data
American Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

Insufficient data
Muskox
LC

Muskox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ovibos moschatus

Insufficient data
Arctic Ground Squirrel
LC

Arctic Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Urocitellus parryii

Insufficient data
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

Insufficient data
Greenland Collared Lemming
LC

Greenland Collared Lemming

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Dicrostonyx groenlandicus

Insufficient data
American Beaver
LC

American Beaver

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Castor canadensis

Insufficient data
Canada Lynx
LC

Canada Lynx

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lynx canadensis

Insufficient data
Quiller

Quiller

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Erethizon dorsatus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

80–90% · Very likely
Common Redpoll
LC

Common Redpoll

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthis flammea

60–70% · Likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Gray Jay
LC

Gray Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Perisoreus canadensis

50–60% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

50–60% · Likely
Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

40–50% · Likely
Swainson's Thrush
LC

Swainson's Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Catharus ustulatus

40–50% · Likely
White-winged Crossbill
LC

White-winged Crossbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Loxia leucoptera

40–50% · Likely
Yellow Warbler
LC Endemic

Yellow Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga petechia

30–40% · Possible
Northern Waterthrush
LC

Northern Waterthrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parkesia noveboracensis

30–40% · Possible
Gray-cheeked Thrush
LC

Gray-cheeked Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Catharus minimus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

📊 Most Spotted

Wood Frog
LC

Wood Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lithobates sylvaticus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Caribou Migration

Jun

Thousands of caribou travel through the park's valleys and tundra, following ancestral routes to calving grounds.

Caribou
VU Endemic

Caribou

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rangifer tarandus

40–50% · Likely
🦌

Arctic Ground Squirrel Emergence

JunAug

Arctic ground squirrels emerge from hibernation, engaging in territorial disputes and mating rituals across the tundra.

Arctic Ground Squirrel
LC

Arctic Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Urocitellus parryii

Insufficient data
🦌

Brown Bear Feeding on Salmon

JulSep

Bears congregate at riverbanks to catch spawning salmon, creating dramatic wildlife spectacles.

Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

30–40% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
Caribou
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
20–30
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
Dall Sheep
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
40–50
40–50
5–10
10–20
10–20
20–30
20–30
20–30
Brown Bear
30–40
20–30
20–30
20–30
40–50
5–10
30–40
5–10
40–50
20–30
30–40
30–40
Gray Wolf
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
<5
10–20
40–50
40–50
20–30
20–30
20–30
White-crowned Sparrow
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
Common Redpoll
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
90–100
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
American Robin
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Gray Jay
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Elk
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
60–70
40–50
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
Common Raven
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Yellow-rumped Warbler
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Dark-eyed Junco
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
60–70
50–60
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
Swainson's Thrush
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
60–70
40–50
10–20
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
White-winged Crossbill
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
Snowshoe Hare
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
50–60
10–20
40–50
50–60
20–30
30–40
40–50
40–50
American Red Squirrel
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
50–60
10–20
10–20
50–60
60–70
70–80
40–50
40–50
Animal Events
🦌 Caribou Migration
🦌 Arctic Ground Squirrel Emergence
🦌 Brown Bear Feeding on Salmon
0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🦌 Caribou Cross Gates of Arctic

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
216
🐒 Mammals
58
🦎 Reptiles
0
🐸 Amphibians
2
276 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
15 Threatened 36 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
53%
📊
Coverage (93 species at ≥5% of 276 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
34%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 3 mammal)
46% Global avg
50%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
73
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
9
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
11

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Gates of the Arctic National Park?

The most likely sightings are White-crowned Sparrow (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Common Redpoll (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), American Robin (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Gray Jay (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Elk (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers) — among 276 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Gates of the Arctic National Park for wildlife?

June has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Caribou in Gates of the Arctic National Park?

Yes — about 49% of wildlife watchers report a Caribou sighting in Gates of the Arctic National Park, based on 6 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Dall Sheep in Gates of the Arctic National Park?

Yes — about 27% of wildlife watchers report a Dall Sheep sighting in Gates of the Arctic National Park, based on 2 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Brown Bear in Gates of the Arctic National Park?

Yes — about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Bear sighting in Gates of the Arctic National Park, based on 7 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Gray Wolf in Gates of the Arctic National Park?

Yes — about 24% of wildlife watchers report a Gray Wolf sighting in Gates of the Arctic National Park, based on 5 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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