Katmai National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🐻 Brown Bears Salmon Spectacle
🌍 #196 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #29 in North America #26 in Temperate Forest
United States, United States 315 spp. recorded

Katmai National Park is in southwestern Alaska, United States. It encompasses volcanic mountains, rugged coastline, and tundra‑filled valleys. The park’s dramatic landscape of ash‑covered slopes and salmon‑rich rivers sets it apart from other Alaskan parks.

58.632° N   155.252° 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

Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

90–100% · Very likely
Bald Eagle ★
LC

Bald Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

70–80% · Very likely
Sea Otter ★
EN

Sea Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Enhydra lutris

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Glaucous-winged Gull
LC

Glaucous-winged Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus glaucescens

80–90% · Very likely
Black-billed Magpie
LC

Black-billed Magpie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pica hudsonia

70–80% · Very likely
Common Merganser
LC

Common Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus merganser

60–70% · Likely
Short-billed Gull

Short-billed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus brachyrhynchus

60–70% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

50–60% · Likely
Greater Yellowlegs
NT

Greater Yellowlegs

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa melanoleuca

50–60% · Likely
Snowshoe Hare
LC

Snowshoe Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus americanus

50–60% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

40–50% · Likely
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

40–50% · Likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

40–50% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

40–50% · Likely
Belted Kingfisher
LC

Belted Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Megaceryle alcyon

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

90–100% · Very likely
Sea Otter ★
EN

Sea Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Enhydra lutris

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Snowshoe Hare
LC

Snowshoe Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus americanus

50–60% · Likely
American Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

30–40% · Possible
Gray Wolf
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

30–40% · Possible
Harbor Seal
LC

Harbor Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phoca vitulina

30–40% · Possible
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

30–40% · Possible
Quiller

Quiller

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Erethizon dorsatus

20–30% · Possible
Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

20–30% · Possible
Arctic Ground Squirrel
LC

Arctic Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Urocitellus parryii

20–30% · Possible
Canada Lynx
LC

Canada Lynx

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lynx canadensis

20–30% · Possible
Caribou
VU Endemic

Caribou

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rangifer tarandus

20–30% · Possible
Northern Red-backed Vole

Northern Red-backed Vole

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Myodes rutilus

Insufficient data
Meadow Jumping Mouse
LC

Meadow Jumping Mouse

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Zapus hudsonius

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Bald Eagle ★
LC

Bald Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Glaucous-winged Gull
LC

Glaucous-winged Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus glaucescens

80–90% · Very likely
Black-billed Magpie
LC

Black-billed Magpie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pica hudsonia

70–80% · Very likely
Common Merganser
LC

Common Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus merganser

60–70% · Likely
Short-billed Gull

Short-billed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus brachyrhynchus

60–70% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

50–60% · Likely
Greater Yellowlegs
NT

Greater Yellowlegs

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa melanoleuca

50–60% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

40–50% · Likely
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

40–50% · Likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

40–50% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

40–50% · Likely
Belted Kingfisher
LC

Belted Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Megaceryle alcyon

30–40% · Possible
Wilson's Warbler
LC

Wilson's Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardellina pusilla

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

📊 Most Spotted

Animal Events

🐦

Summer Salmon and Bear Gathering

Jul

Brown bears congregate in large numbers at Brooks Falls to feed on migrating salmon, joined by scavenging Glaucous-winged Gulls and soaring Bald Eagles.

Glaucous-winged Gull
LC

Glaucous-winged Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus glaucescens

80–90% · Very likely
Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

90–100% · Very likely
🐦

Shorebird and Songbird Arrival

MayJun

As snow melts, migratory songbirds and shorebirds arrive en masse to breed, highlighted by the melodic calls of the White-crowned Sparrow and the bright plumage of the American Robin and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

40–50% · Likely
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

40–50% · Likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

40–50% · Likely
🐦

Autumn Waterfowl Migration

Sep

Wetlands and rivers fill with departing migratory waterfowl, where the Common Merganser and Mallard congregate alongside diving Belted Kingfishers before winter sets in.

Belted Kingfisher
LC

Belted Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Megaceryle alcyon

30–40% · Possible
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

50–60% · Likely
Common Merganser
LC

Common Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus merganser

60–70% · 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
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Brown Bear
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
Bald Eagle
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Sea Otter
30–40
30–40
30–40
5–10
10–20
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
Glaucous-winged Gull
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
50–60
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
Black-billed Magpie
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
Common Merganser
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
80–90
60–70
60–70
60–70
Short-billed Gull
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Mallard
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
Greater Yellowlegs
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
Snowshoe Hare
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
Common Raven
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
White-crowned Sparrow
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
20–30
20–30
40–50
40–50
40–50
American Robin
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
60–70
40–50
20–30
20–30
40–50
40–50
40–50
Yellow-rumped Warbler
40–50
40–50
20–30
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
20–30
20–30
40–50
40–50
40–50
Belted Kingfisher
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
20–30
20–30
40–50
30–40
50–60
30–40
30–40
30–40
Animal Events
🐦 Summer Salmon and Bear Gathering
🐦 Shorebird and Songbird Arrival
🐦 Autumn Waterfowl Migration

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
🐻 Brown Bears Salmon Spectacle

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
235
🐒 Mammals
76
🦎 Reptiles
2
🐸 Amphibians
2
315 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
23 Threatened 38 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
63%
📊
Coverage (104 species at ≥5% of 315 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
33%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (10 bird, 2 mammal)
46% Global avg
37%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
76
🌟
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
8
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
13

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Katmai National Park?

The most likely sightings are Brown Bear (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Glaucous-winged Gull (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Black-billed Magpie (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Bald Eagle (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Common Merganser (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 315 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Katmai 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 Brown Bear in Katmai National Park?

Yes — about 96% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Bear sighting in Katmai National Park, based on 231 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Bald Eagle in Katmai National Park?

Yes — about 72% of wildlife watchers report a Bald Eagle sighting in Katmai National Park, based on 120 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Sea Otter in Katmai National Park?

Yes — about 36% of wildlife watchers report a Sea Otter sighting in Katmai National Park, based on 16 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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