Wildlife

You’ll see more than incredible views. Fascinating animals make their homes in the park. Keep an eye out on the trails and soaring in the skies.

Spiders and snakes are the most common stinging creatures you'll encounter in the park.

Sharing a habitat with Yosemite’s bruins means taking care to keep these wild animals wild. Follow these precautions while in bear country.

You would be very lucky indeed to see wild bighorn sheep up close. But even catching a glimpse of these majestic mammals from afar can be a thrill.

There are 255 species to be found in Yosemite thanks to a wide range of climates and elevations ranging from the Sierra Nevada foothills to alpine highlands.

In John Muir's day, thousands of frogs jumped about the rivers and alpine lakes of the park. Read about the reintroduction and habitat restoration efforts.

The most common wildlife you'll encounter during your Yosemite trip are members of the rodent family, which includes squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, and mice.

Also known as cougars, puma or panthers, these hunter mammals have all-over tawny-colored bodies with black-tipped ears and tails.

Mule deer are the most easily spotted mammal in Yosemite National Park. They are easily recognized by the shape of their ears, which actually do resemble mules' ears

If you have a trip planned to Yosemite National Park this summer, go ahead and leave the bear spray at home. It’s not allowed within park boundaries.

Birds you might see in the park include Blue Grouse, Gray Owls, Western Tanager, Peregrine Falcons, and Eagles

Yosemite has over a dozen species of slithering snakes, but don't worry. Only the western (diamondback) rattlesnake is venomous. The park's other snakes are harmless.

Yosemite’s 15 bear rangers and volunteers try to keep human food unavailable to bears. They track bear movements to be ready for confrontations.

The largest mammal in the Sierra Nevada mountains, a full-grown adult male black bear typically weighs between 300 and 350 pounds, although the largest ever caught inside the park weighed a whopping 690 pounds!

Scare the bear away by shouting or banging pots and pans. Bears that learn to avoid people are less likely to become problem bears. Never approach it.

Beware with your food stuffs in Yosemite National Park - the black bears have a hearty appetite. Here are our tips for proper food storage while camping and exploring.