Incredible Photos of Wild Animals

The Wild Side

According to WorldAtlas, North America is home to around 457 species of mammals, 662 reptiles, more than 300 amphibians, and 914 birds. But, of course, most of us don't see wild animals on a regular basis, beyond the occasional squirrel or bird in our yard. Enter wildlife photographers, whose work gives us a glimpse into a world many of us would never otherwise see. Here are some of our favorite shots of wildlife in locations from the lower reaches of Florida to the upper expanses of Alaska.

Snowy Owl

A snowy owl on a Long Island, New York, beach looks like it's having a good laugh at someone's expense. These birds have an average wingspan of 4 to 5 feet.

Mule Deer

A mule deer catches sight of a photographer while grazing in Utah. Indigenous to the American West, these animals are known to eat a wide array of vegetation, according to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, including mesquite leaves and beans, fairy duster, jojoba, catclaw, buckbrush, and other shrubs and grasses.

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Brown Bear

A brown bear inspects a portion of a dead tree in Alaska's Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. According to park biologists, as many as 219 bears roam a 54-square-mile area within the preserve.

Great Egret

A great egret stands among wetland marsh reeds in an Everglades National Park sunrise. This species is just one of around 360 different types of bird that have been discovered within the park.

Bald Eagle

An American bald eagle flies near the Grand Tetons mountain range in Wyoming. While it's estimated that around 200 of this species live in Wyoming, bald eagles are found in all 48 continental states as well as Alaska, which has the largest population with an estimated 30,000.

Bison

A herd of bison walks down the middle of a Yellowstone National Park road during the winter. A recent study noted that the park's current bison population, which lies somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000, may number more than at any point in history.

Manatee

A manatee swims underwater in Florida's Crystal River north of Tampa. The area is home to a wide array of wildlife and includes Crystal River Preserve State Park and the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

Mountain Goat

A mountain goat kid jumps from one rock to another near the top of Colorado's 14,000-foot-plus Mount Evans.

Texas Horned Lizard

This animal, also known as a horned toad, gazes skyward in the Arizona desert at sunset. Though they're known to eat a variety of insects, Texas horned lizards feed on mostly harvester ants.

Bobcat

This native North American cat pauses to take a look around in Utah's Uinta National Forest. The species is crepuscular, which means it's most active around twilight, moving between 2 to 7 miles each night in a habitual pattern.

Pelican

Yes, there are pelicans in Colorado, much to many people's surprise. This one grabs a meal at Cherry Creek Reservoir at Cherry Creek State Park near Denver.

Red Fox

This member of the Vulpes vulpes family looks curiously at a photographer near Winter Park, Colorado. Though it appears alone, red foxes usually travel with mates or small familial groups.

Grey Wolf

Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park — where this one was photographed — in 1995, with more relocated to the park in 1996 and 1997. In 2019, the overall population in Yellowstone was around 94.

Key Deer

A Key deer stag and fawn nuzzle one another in the Florida Keys. This species of deer, which is endangered, live on 20 to 25 islands in the Keys region, swimming between islands in search of fresh water and food.

Harbor Seal

Also known as the common seal, one sticks its head out of the water in Long Island, New York's Robert Moses State Park. The species is one of the most common marine mammals along both the east and west U.S. coasts.

Prairie Dogs

A pair of prairie dogs appear to hug near York, Maine. It's estimated that the U.S. has somewhere between 10 million and 20 million of these small mammals, although that number also represents a 95% decline.

Mandarin Duck

Swimming in New York's Central Park, this colorful bird native to parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia first appeared in the park in 2018, prompting all manner of media coverage. Sightings remained rare until December 2019 — the duck has not been seen since.

Snowy Egret Chick

This wild-haired baby bird lets his feelings be known on a small island in the Great South Bay of Long Island. A member of the heron family, young snowy egrets eventually grow into elegant and long-legged birds known for their remarkable plumage.

Racoon

This animal, native to North America, reaches toward a flower in Victoria, Minnesota. Raccoons are omnivorous, eating plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates.

Short-Tailed Weasel

Also known as a stoat or ermine, this animal was photographed on Kodiak Island in Alaska. In addition to North America, it is also native to Eurasia.

American Flamingos

Three flamingos look like they're having a confab in Naples, Florida. There are six different species of flamingo but only one — the American Flamingo — can be found in the U.S.

Grizzly Bear

A hunting grizzly bear leaps after salmon in Katmai National Park & Preserve in southern Alaska. The park is home to 42 mammal species, including caribou, red fox, wolf, lynx, wolverine, mink, marten, river otter, snowshoe hare, red squirrel, weasel, porcupine, and beaver.

Gold-Mantled Ground Squirrel

A member of the Sciuridae family, this animal appears to be reaching for the heavens in Yellowstone National Park.

Moose

A bull moose stands among vegetation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, near dusk. The U.S. moose population is estimated at around 300,000, with most living in Alaska and Wyoming.

Knight Anole Lizard

A member of the Anolis equestris family hangs out on a tree in the Everglades in Florida. The largest species of anole, this reptile is fiercely territorial and eats mostly insects and snails.

Rainbow Grasshopper

Also known as painted grasshoppers, the species is native to North America and can be found in landscapes of shortgrass prairie and desert grasslands throughout the American West. This one was photographed near Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Polar Bears

A pair of polar bears sit on the beach near Kaktovik, Alaska, on Barter Island, near the northernmost part of the state.

Northern Leopard Frog

A member of this frog species chills on a toadstool near Boulder Junction, Wisconsin. This animal, the state amphibian of Minnesota and Vermont, comes in many different color variations.

Chipmunk

A chipmunk — cheeks stuffed full of food — hangs out on a rock near Frisco, Colorado. These industrious little critters can gather upward of 150 acorns in one day.