Glacier National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🐐 Mountain Goats at Logan Pass
🌍 #228 Global · 3.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #40 in North America #39 in Temperate Forest
Rocky Mountains, United States 500 spp. recorded

Glacier National Park sits in the northern Rocky Mountains of the United States, a mosaic of rugged peaks, glacial valleys and dense temperate conifer forest. Alpine meadows give way to spruce‑filled slopes, and the park is renowned for its mountain goats and bighorn sheep that navigate steep ridges.

48.742° N   113.785° 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

Mountain Goat ★
LC

Mountain Goat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oreamnos americanus

60–70% · Likely
Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

40–50% · Likely
Bighorn Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

60–70% · Likely
Elk ★
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

70–80% · Very likely
Columbian Ground Squirrel
LC

Columbian Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Urocitellus columbianus

60–70% · Likely
Red-breasted Nuthatch
LC

Red-breasted Nuthatch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sitta canadensis

50–60% · Likely
Hoary Marmot
LC

Hoary Marmot

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Marmota caligata

50–60% · Likely
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
LC

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Callospermophilus lateralis

50–60% · Likely
Black-capped Chickadee
LC

Black-capped Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile atricapillus

50–60% · Likely
Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

50–60% · Likely
Northern Flicker
LC Endemic

Northern Flicker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colaptes auratus

50–60% · Likely
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

50–60% · Likely
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

40–50% · Likely
Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

40–50% · Likely
Mountain Chickadee
LC

Mountain Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile gambeli

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Mountain Goat ★
LC

Mountain Goat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oreamnos americanus

60–70% · Likely
Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

40–50% · Likely
Bighorn Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

60–70% · Likely
Elk ★
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Columbian Ground Squirrel
LC

Columbian Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Urocitellus columbianus

60–70% · Likely
Hoary Marmot
LC

Hoary Marmot

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Marmota caligata

50–60% · Likely
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
LC

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Callospermophilus lateralis

50–60% · Likely
Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

50–60% · Likely
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

50–60% · Likely
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

40–50% · Likely
American Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

40–50% · Possible
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

20–30% · Possible
Snowshoe Hare
LC

Snowshoe Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus americanus

10–20% · With luck
American Pika
LC

American Pika

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ochotona princeps

10–20% · With luck
Moose

Moose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces americanus

10–20% · With luck
American Beaver
LC

American Beaver

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Castor canadensis

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

70–80% · Very likely
Red-breasted Nuthatch
LC

Red-breasted Nuthatch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sitta canadensis

50–60% · Likely
Black-capped Chickadee
LC

Black-capped Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile atricapillus

50–60% · Likely
Northern Flicker
LC Endemic

Northern Flicker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colaptes auratus

50–60% · Likely
Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

40–50% · Likely
Mountain Chickadee
LC

Mountain Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile gambeli

40–50% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

40–50% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

40–50% · Likely
Pine Siskin
LC

Pine Siskin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spinus pinus

30–40% · Possible
Chipping Sparrow
LC

Chipping Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella passerina

30–40% · Possible
Cedar Waxwing
LC

Cedar Waxwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bombycilla cedrorum

30–40% · Possible
Swainson's Thrush
LC

Swainson's Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Catharus ustulatus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
LC

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis elegans

20–30% · Possible
Painted Turtle
LC

Painted Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chrysemys picta

10–20% · With luck
Common Garter Snake
LC Endemic

Common Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis sirtalis

10–20% · With luck
Northern Alligator Lizard
LC Endemic

Northern Alligator Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Elgaria coerulea

Insufficient data
Northern Rubber Boa
LC

Northern Rubber Boa

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Charina bottae

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Western Toad
LC

Western Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus boreas

30–40% · Possible
Columbia Spotted Frog
LC

Columbia Spotted Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana luteiventris

20–30% · Possible
Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog
LC

Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ascaphus montanus

10–20% · With luck
Long-toed Salamander
LC Endemic

Long-toed Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ambystoma macrodactylum

10–20% · With luck
Pacific chorus frog
LC

Pacific chorus frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudacris regilla

5–10% · Rare
Western Tiger Salamander
LC

Western Tiger Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ambystoma mavortium

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐐

Mountain Goat Salt Lick Gathering

JunJulAug

Mountain goats descend to the mineral-laden cliffs at Goat Lick on the Middle Fork Flathead River to lick clay and replenish minerals lost over winter; peak visitation runs through summer.

Mountain Goat
LC

Mountain Goat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oreamnos americanus

60–70% · Likely
🐻

Bear Berry-Feeding Season

JulAugSep

Grizzly and black bears feed intensively on ripening huckleberries in , moving into open berry slopes where they are most visible.

American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

50–60% · Likely
Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

40–50% · Likely
🐏

Alpine Meadow Congregation

JunJulAugSep

As the high country melts out, bighorn sheep and hoary marmots congregate in the alpine meadows around Logan Pass, grazing and basking through the short subalpine summer.

Bighorn Sheep
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

60–70% · Likely
Hoary Marmot
LC

Hoary Marmot

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Marmota caligata

50–60% · Likely

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
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
30–40
Mountain Goat
40–50
30–40
30–40
10–20
40–50
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
40–50
10–20
20–30
Brown Bear
10–20
10–20
20–30
5–10
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
10–20
10–20
Bighorn Sheep
40–50
20–30
10–20
30–40
40–50
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
40–50
40–50
30–40
Elk
10–20
10–20
5–10
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
20–30
10–20
American Robin
10–20
10–20
50–60
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
60–70
50–60
40–50
5–10
5–10
Columbian Ground Squirrel
30–40
20–30
10–20
40–50
40–50
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
10–20
10–20
20–30
Red-breasted Nuthatch
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
Hoary Marmot
10–20
10–20
20–30
5–10
20–30
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
5–10
10–20
10–20
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
10–20
30–40
10–20
10–20
30–40
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
20–30
20–30
10–20
Black-capped Chickadee
90–100
90–100
80–90
70–80
50–60
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
90–100
Mule Deer
30–40
10–20
20–30
20–30
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
20–30
30–40
Northern Flicker
80–90
90–100
80–90
60–70
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
American Black Bear
20–30
10–20
5–10
20–30
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
10–20
10–20
White-tailed Deer
50–60
60–70
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
70–80
Dark-eyed Junco
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
40–50
30–40
Mountain Chickadee
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
30–40
20–30
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
Animal Events
🐐 Mountain Goat Salt Lick Gathering
🐻 Bear Berry-Feeding Season
🐏 Alpine Meadow Congregation

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐐 Mountain Goats at Logan Pass

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
376
🐒 Mammals
104
🦎 Reptiles
8
🐸 Amphibians
12
500 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
20 Threatened 68 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
59%
📊
Coverage (146 species at ≥5% of 500 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
29%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (8 mammal, 4 bird)
46% Global avg
59%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
102
🌟
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
10
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
18

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Glacier National Park?

The most likely sightings are American Robin (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Columbian Ground Squirrel (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Mountain Goat (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Bighorn Sheep (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Red-breasted Nuthatch (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers) — among 500 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park for wildlife?

July 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 Mountain Goat in Glacier National Park?

Yes — about 69% of wildlife watchers report a Mountain Goat sighting in Glacier National Park, based on 686 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Brown Bear in Glacier National Park?

Yes — about 45% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Bear sighting in Glacier National Park, based on 270 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Bighorn Sheep in Glacier National Park?

Yes — about 68% of wildlife watchers report a Bighorn Sheep sighting in Glacier National Park, based on 670 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Elk in Glacier National Park?

Yes — about 47% of wildlife watchers report a Elk sighting in Glacier National Park, based on 284 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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