National Parks with the Most Animal Biodiversity

Published: April 12, 2024 by Colman Andrews

There are believed to be about 8.7 million unique species of plants and animals around the world, according to the National Geographic Society (the National Institutes of Health pegs the figure somewhat lower, at 7.8 million), though fewer than 1.5 million species have been identified and described to date. Most of those species, more than a million of them, are insects, as it turns out, but there are still hundreds of thousands of distinct plants and animals.

The United States is home to more than 200,000 species overall. In a report entitled “Biodiversity in Focus: United States Edition,” NatureServe — which represents 60-plus NGOs and governmental programs concerned with the environment in the U.S. and Canada — reveals that some 34% of plants and 40% of animals are at risk of extinction in this country (and also that 41% of ecosystems are threatened with collapse).

According to the report, its authors “found that habitat degradation, invasive species, dams, and climate change are among the primary threats to biodiversity in the United States.” One major player in the protection of precious plant and animal resources is our National Park system.

Research by the University of Montana, in collaboration with NASA-affiliated scientists and other experts, found that such parks, regardless of size, enhance bird diversity, and that larger parks “support a higher diversity of both birds and mammals in nearby unprotected areas.” In addition, the National Park Service reminds us, “Parklands and waters provide protected places for threatened or endangered species to find food, raise their young, grow and rest” and “NPS scientists and managers work to sustain and recover at-risk species populations.”

Many of the rare animal species in national parks are small, like frogs or rats, and many are fish or other water creatures, who probably won’t show themselves to the visitor. If you’re lucky, though, you might spot a Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep at Yosemite National Park in California, a Ringed Seal off the coast at New York’s Fire Island National Seashore, maybe even a Davis Mountains Cottontail at Big Bend National Park in Texas. Even if you don’t see any of these creatures, you can be assured that they’re probably in one of the best environments there can be for their safety and development.

To determine the national parks with the most animal biodiversity, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on species occurrences from the National Park Service’s NPSpecies site, which lists the individual species found in each national park. (The NPS notes that “While there are at least 19 naming designations [i.e., national monuments, national preserves, national historic sites, etc.], these units are commonly referred to as ‘parks.’”) Parks were ranked based on the total number of mammal, bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, and crustacean species reported within their boundaries. Supplemental data on park size is based on shapefile data from the NPS. Species rarity is based on the number of occurrences of a specific species in all national lands throughout the United States. Data is current as of January 2024. (These 17 animals were extinct — and then rediscovered.)

50. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)

Source: dougtone / Flickr

Number of animal species: 390
Park size: 32,749 acres
Rarest animal species: Striped Shiner, Brewster’s Warbler, Gray Ratsnake, Northern Leopard Frog, Redside Dace

49. Missouri National Recreational River (Nebraska)

Source: mypubliclands / Flickr

Number of animal species: 392
Park size: 68,369 acres
Rarest animal species: Pallid Sturgeon, Sicklefin Chub, Silver Carp, Bighead Carp, Prairie Skink

48. Yosemite National Park (California)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Number of animal species: 395
Park size: 747,837 acres
Rarest animal species: Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep, Snowshoe Hare, Western White-Tailed Jackrabbit, Big-Eared Woodrat, Mount Lyell Shrew

47. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)

Source: RobertWaltman / iStock via Getty Images

Number of animal species: 396
Park size: 87,224 acres
Rarest animal species: Gray-Footed Chipmunk, Colima Warbler, Barbary Sheep, Mogollon Vole, Mearns’s Grasshopper Mouse

46. Dinosaur National Monument (Colorado)

Source: ruggybear / Flickr

Number of animal species: 399
Park size: 211,362 acres
Rarest animal species: Bluehead Sucker X Flannelmouth Sucker Hybrid, Cutbow, Spotted Sandpiper, Flannelmouth Sucker X Razorback Sucker Hybrid, Wyoming Ground Squirrel

45. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (Arizona)

Source: usareisetipps / Flickr

Number of animal species: 407
Park size: 330,690 acres
Rarest animal species: Jaguarundi, Underwood’s Mastiff Bat, Black-Eared Mouse, Merriam’s Mouse, Buff-Collared Nightjar

44. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (New Jersey)

Source: dougtone / Flickr

Number of animal species: 408
Park size: 68,950 acres
Rarest animal species: Silvery Salamander, Black-Capped Chickadee, Brewster’s Warbler

43. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (Louisiana)

Source: string_bass_dave / Flickr

Number of animal species: 409
Park size: 20,064 acres
Rarest animal species: Gulf Coast Toad, Buff-Bellied Hummingbird, Bayou Killifish, Freshwater Goby

42. Natchez Trace Parkway (Alabama)

Source: formulanone / Flickr

Number of animal species: 410
Park size: 52,840 acres
Rarest animal species: Ringed Map Turtle, Clear Chub, Stargazing Minnow, Blenny Darter, Slackwater Darter

41. Buffalo National River (Arkansas)

Source: latteda / Flickr

Number of animal species: 412
Park size: 93,499 acres
Rarest animal species: Ozark Big-Eared Bat, Ouachita Map Turtle, Arkansas Saddled Darter, Least Brook Lamprey, American Brook Lamprey

40. Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Missouri)

Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr

Number of animal species: 418
Park size: 82,332 acres
Rarest animal species: Diamondback Water Snake, Hieroglyphic River Cooter, Ozark Hellbender, Gravel Chub

39. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Arizona)

Source: jayhuangphotos / Flickr

Number of animal species: 420
Park size: 1,250,335 acres
Rarest animal species: Yellow-Footed Gull, Chuckwalla, Budgerigar, Humpback Chub, Bonytail

38. Lake Mead National Recreation Area (Arizona)

Source: kenlund / Flickr

Number of animal species: 422
Park size: 1,494,438 acres
Rarest animal species: Western Screech Owl, Barred Tiger Salamander, Southern Platyfish, Banded Cichlid, Canyon Towhee

37. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (Michigan)

Source: gabepopa / Flickr

Number of animal species: 422
Park size: 70,651 acres
Rarest animal species: Eastern Smooth Green Snake, Spotted Newt, Blue Racer Snake, Northern Ribbon Snake, American Brook Lamprey

36. Amistad National Recreation Area (Texas)

Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr

Number of animal species: 427
Park size: 61,682 acres
Rarest animal species: Hairy-Legged Vampire Bat, Nutria, Interior Least Tern, Ringed Kingfisher, Texas Indigo Snake

35. Olympic National Park (Washington)

Source: brian-m / Flickr

Number of animal species: 438
Park size: 915,127 acres
Rarest animal species: Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Marten, Ermine, Olympic Mazama Pocket Gopher

34. Fire Island National Seashore (New York)

Source: npsncbn / Flickr

Number of animal species: 441
Park size: 19,706 acres
Rarest animal species: Ringed Seal, Winter Flounder, Winter Skate, Harp Seal, Long-Finned Pilot Whale

33. Colonial National Historical Park (Virginia)

Source: npsncbn / Flickr

Number of animal species: 448
Park size: 8,511 acres
Rarest animal species: Northern Gannet, Atlantic Sturgeon, Red-Bellied Watersnake, Mabee’s Salamander, Black-banded Sunfish

32. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)

Source: andrewmaciejewski / Flickr

Number of animal species: 459
Park size: 16,256 acres
Rarest animal species: Eastern Massasauga, Tremblay’s Salamander, Rudd, Eastern Blue Racer, Northern Ribbon Snake

31. Sitka National Historical Park (Alaska)

Source: sitkanhp / Flickr

Number of animal species: 462
Park size: 116 acres
Rarest animal species: Red-Legged Kittiwake, Dusky Thrush, Atlantic Snipe Eel, Spotted Opah, Brokenline Lampfish

30. Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Minnesota)

Source: wackybadger / Flickr

Number of animal species: 464
Park size: 70,625 acres
Rarest animal species: Brewster’s Warbler, Bullsnake, Greater Redhorse, Greater Prairie Chicken, Crystal Darter

29. George Washington Memorial Parkway (Maryland)

Source: kenlund / Flickr

Number of animal species: 478
Park size: 6,601 acres
Rarest animal species: Skunks, Barnacle Goose, White-Winged Scoter, Golden-Plovers, Little Gull

28. Mississippi National River and Recreation Areas (Minnesota)

Source: kenlund / Flickr

Number of animal species: 480
Park size: 53,830 acres
Rarest animal species: Long-Billed Marsh Wren, Snowy Owl, Greater Redhorse, Channel Shiner

27. Death Valley National Park (California)

Source: con4tini / Flickr

Number of animal species: 486
Park size: 3,434,914 acres
Rarest animal species: Mohave Ground Squirrel, Mccown’s Longspur, Panamint Alligator Lizard, California Lyre Snake, Baja California Treefrog

26. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)

Source: douglastofoli / Flickr

Number of animal species: 491
Park size: 46,797 acres
Rarest animal species: Mottled Rock Rattlesnake, Roundnose Minnow, Gray-Footed Chipmunk, Lesser Prairie-Chicken, Tropical Parula

25. Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina)

Source: Pgiam / iStock via Getty Images

Number of animal species: 495
Park size: 102,347 acres
Rarest animal species: Meadow Vole, Eastern Woodrat, Corn Snake, Bog Turtle, Carolina Mountain Dusky Salamander

24. Cumberland Island National Seashore (Georgia)

Source: kenlund / Flickr

Number of animal species: 504
Park size: 38,363 acres
Rarest animal species: Boat-Tailed Grackle, Tarpon Snook, Dwarf Sperm Whale, Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Mottled Mojarra

23. Assateague Island National Seashore (Maryland)

Source: Erik Anestad from USA / Wikimedia Commons

Number of animal species: 505
Park size: 48,757 acres
Rarest animal species: Sika Deer, Spotted Dolphin, Black Skimmer, Royal Tern, New Jersey Chorus Frog

22. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (California)

Source: sergeigussev / Flickr

Number of animal species: 517
Park size: 153,786 acres
Rarest animal species: Pacific Kangaroo Rat, California Pocket Mouse, Gadwall, Cinnamon Teal, Blue-Winged Teal

21. Big Thicket National Preserve (Texas)

Source: kzubrycki / iStock via Getty Images

Number of animal species: 526
Park size: 113,139 acres
Rarest animal species: Domestic Dog, Louisiana Black Bear, Baird’s Pocket Gopher, Hispid Pocket Mouse, Eskimo Curlew

20. Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts)

Source: usinterior / Flickr

Number of animal species: 527
Park size: 44,309 acres
Rarest animal species: Striped Skunk, White-Beaked Dolphin, Atlantic Puffin, Leatherback, Radiated Shanny

19. Canaveral National Seashore (Florida)

Source: Susanne Pommer / Shutterstock.com

Number of animal species: 531
Park size: 58,460 acres
Rarest animal species: Southeast Beach Mouse, Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake, Central Florida Crowned Snake, Redfin Needlefish, Blackchin Mouthbreeder

18. Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve (Florida)

Source: kenlund / Flickr

Number of animal species: 538
Park size: 45,361 acres
Rarest animal species: Striped Newt, Yellowfin Menhaden Hybrid, Slender Mojarra, Muscovy Duck, Peninsula Cooter

17. Gateway National Recreation Area (New Jersey)

Source: andykazie / iStock via Getty Images

Number of animal species: 538
Park size: 27,159 acres
Rarest animal species: Stints, Clapper Rail, European Goldfinch, Redwing

16. Cabrillo National Monument (California)

Source: nantela / iStock via Getty Images

Number of animal species: 568
Park size: 160 acres
Rarest animal species: California Vole, San Diego Desert Woodrat, Xantus’s Murrelet, Little Bunting, Coastal Rosy Boa

15. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)

Source: drytortugasnps / Flickr

Number of animal species: 580
Park size: 65,579 acres
Rarest animal species: Fraser’s Dolphin, Reef Squirrelfish, Caribbean Sharpnose Shark, Key Anchovy, Yellow Stingray

14. Padre Island National Seashore (Texas)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Number of animal species: 590
Park size: 130,556 acres
Rarest animal species: Bryde’s Whale, Pygmy Killer Whale, Clymene Dolphin, Maritime Pocket Gopher, Ord’s Kangaroo Rat

13. Big Bend National Park (Texas)

Source: geewhypics / Flickr

Number of animal species: 600
Park size: 810,877 acres
Rarest animal species: Davis Mountains Cottontail, Black-Vented Oriole, Golden-Cheeked Warbler, Fan-Tailed Warbler, Slate-Throated Redstart

12. Point Reyes National Seashore (California)

Source: beckymatsubara / Flickr

Number of animal species: 600
Park size: 71,865 acres
Rarest animal species: Valley Elk, Aleutian Canada Goose, Wood Warbler, Northern Red-Legged Frog

11. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina)

Source: dougtone / Flickr

Number of animal species: 617
Park size: 518,050 acres
Rarest animal species: Mink, Eastern Cottontail, Pack Rats, Marsh Rice Rat, Deer Mice

10. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

Source: grand_canyon_nps / Flickr

Number of animal species: 622
Park size: 1,203,252 acres
Rarest animal species: Bighorn Sheep, Greater Western Bonneted Bat, Abert’s Squirrel, Kaibab Squirrel, White-Throated Swift

9. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (Alaska)

Source: urbanglimpses / E+ via Getty Images

Number of animal species: 624
Park size: 3,226,579 acres
Rarest animal species: Glacier Bay Water Shrew, Canada Geese, Ktiilitz’s Murrelet, Marbled Murrelet, Daggertooth

8. Cape Lookout National Seashore (North Carolina)

Source: usinterior / Flickr

Number of animal species: 627
Park size: 28,418 acres
Rarest animal species: Spiny Butterfly Ray, Atlantic Devil Ray, Frigate Mackerel, Whitebone Porgy

7. Golden Gate National Recreation Area (California)

Source: volvob12b / Flickr

Number of animal species: 639
Park size: 82,467 acres
Rarest animal species: Great Knot, Black Rail, Clapper Rail, Red-Masked Parakeet

6. Redwood National Park (California)

Source: pedrosz / Flickr

Number of animal species: 650
Park size: 142,365 acres
Rarest animal species: River Otter, Oregon Garter Snake, Northern Sagebrush Lizard, Northern Red-Legged Frog

5. Channel Islands National Park (California)

Source: kenlund / Flickr

Number of animal species: 678
Park size: 245,685 acres
Rarest animal species: Channel Islands Gray Fox, Spotted Skunk, Island Scrub Jay, Laysan Albatross, Flesh-Footed Shearwater

4. Everglades National Park (Florida)

Source: ijammin / Flickr

Number of animal species: 700
Park size: 1,531,768 acres
Rarest animal species: Bryde’s Whale, Key Largo Cotton Mouse, Big Cypress Fox Squirrel, Everglade Snail Kite, Masked Duck

3. Cape Hatteras National Seashore (North Carolina)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Number of animal species: 756
Park size: 31,131 acres
Rarest animal species: Great Skua, White-Faced Storm-Petrel, Black-Capped Petrel, Lichen Moray, Barred Cusk-Eel

2. Gulf Islands National Seashore (Florida)

Source: nationalparkservice / Flickr

Number of animal species: 846
Park size: 130,412 acres
Rarest animal species: Santa Rosa Beach Mouse, Perdido Key Beach Mouse, Cave Swallow, Gulf Salt Marsh Snake

1. Biscayne National Park (Florida)

Source: stockphoto52 / iStock via Getty Images

Number of animal species: 864
Park size: 173,835 acres
Rarest animal species: Key Largo Woodrat, Mexican Red-Bellied Squirrel, Greenhouse Frog, Seagrass Eel, Manytooth Conger