15 of the USA's most exciting wildlife encounters

The USA isn’t just a melting pot of people – it is also home to myriad wild species spread across all 50 states. You just need to know where to look…

6 mins

Everything is bigger in America; even its wild spaces are ‘supersized’, with forests that seem to go on forever and vast tracts of desert, canyons and mountains that stretch all the way to the horizon. Skyscraping American cities have a hold on many people’s imaginations, but it’s these natural landscapes, including the national parks, refuges and national monuments, that have called me back time and again over the years.

Today, around 12% of land in the USA is protected, alongside 26% of its oceans. Shortly after arriving in office, President Joe Biden committed to raising the percentage of conserved land and ocean to 30% by 2030. It’s a welcome idea. These wild places are home to a fascinating array of creatures, including more than 400 species of mammal, around 800 bird species and about 1,100 types of fish.

People may say there’s nothing more American than apple pie, but it’s the bald eagle, a symbol of freedom and strength, that the Founding Fathers chose to represent the United States. Wolf, bison and bear are all part of the American psyche and culture, from film and literature to Native American folklore. And it’s not just the West that’s wild: remarkable species are found across all 50 states, from the ’gator-filled swamps of Florida to the prairies of South Dakota.

Remember: Do right by wildlife

Documentaries such as Tiger King and Blackfish helped lift the lid on the fact that many experiences offered to tourists often mean misery and harm to the animals involved. Always stop to think whether paying to take part in a ‘fun’ holiday experience is likely to cause suffering or contribute to negative practices, especially if animals are kept in cramped or unhealthy conditions. Avoid situations where captive animals are forced to pose or perform for tourists. As a general rule, it’s best to see animals only in the wild or in reputable rehab centres and sanctuaries. With the latter, do your research in advance to make sure you’re visiting a respected facility and not just a money-spinner. In the wild, keep your distance and take measures to make sure you and the animals you are watching are safe: avoid keeping food in your car or tent and don’t take selfies with bison, bears or moose because they don’t always play nice.

Here are 15 of the United States' most fascinating animals and the best places to see them...

1. Sea otter

Sea otter floating on its back (Shutterstock)

Sea otter floating on its back (Shutterstock)

Is this the world’s cutest animal? It’s certainly a contender, especially when mothers float on their backs carrying fuzzy pups in their arms. Sea otters are the smallest marine mammal in North America. They have thick fur, which is handy when you spend your life in cold water. They’re also able to use ‘tools’, breaking open mussels and clams with stones that they often store in pocket-like folds of skin under their arms. Sadly, this animal is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered, although protection efforts are underway.

Where to see: Monterey, California, has high concentrations of southern sea otters. It’s possible to kayak alongside them on Elkhorn Slough, a wildlife-rich estuary, or spot otters in the water from Cannery Row, near the Monterey Bay Aquarium. They’re also seen in Morro Bay, Point Lobos State Reserve and other locations in California. Northern sea otters can be spotted in Resurrection Bay in Alaska and Olympic NP in Washington.

2. Manatee

Manatee in Florida (Shutterstock)

Manatee in Florida (Shutterstock)

Manatees (also known as sea cows) are big, docile, aquatic herbivores that live in slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays and any coastal areas that have seagrass and freshwater plants for them to feed on. Not to be confused with dugongs, manatees are found as far afield as West Africa and the Amazon. In the States they’re mainly concentrated in Florida, where a sub-species of the West Indian manatee is commonly sighted. From snout to tail, they can measure more than three metres long and weigh up to 1.5 tonnes. West Indian manatees are currently listed by the (IUCN) as vulnerable, with their numbers having slowly declined worldwide due to habitat loss, boating accidents, pollution and other man-made issues.

Where to see: Manatees are commonly spotted around Florida, including Homosassa Springs, Tarpon Springs, and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge where it’s also possible to paddle alongside these placid animals in clear-bottomed kayaks. At Crystal River you can even swim with them. The Antillean subspecies of West Indian manatee can be encountered at Puerto Rico’s Condado Lagoon.

3. Prairie dog

Prairie dog in USA (Shutterstock)

Prairie dog in USA (Shutterstock)

Despite possessing a dog-like bark, prairie dogs are actually a kind of rodent. All five prairie dog species (black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison’s, Utah and Mexican) in the US are members of the Scuiridae (squirrel) family, and they are all biological relatives of groundhogs, chipmunks and marmots. These adorable burrowing mammals live in North America’s grasslands in tight-knit family groups called coteries. Scientists have determined that their vocabulary is highly advanced – they’re able to share detailed descriptions of any incoming human or animal threats. There used to be hundreds of millions of prairie dogs in the US but their historical range has shrunk to less than 5% of what it once was. Their existence is a miracle in itself, as their brief mating ‘season’ happens only once a year, with females going into estrus for just one hour.

Where to see: Badlands NP in South Dakota has colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs, the most common species in the US, with many more found nearby at Roberts Prairie Dog Town. They are also seen in Theodore Roosevelt NP in North Dakota and around Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. For a chance to spy Utah prairie dogs, the rarest and smallest of the five species, head to Bryce Canyon NP.

4. Brown bear

Mother and cub in Alaska (Shutterstock)

Mother and cub in Alaska (Shutterstock)

Like a lion stalking across the Serengeti, there’s a certain magic to seeing a brown bear, also known as a grizzly, in the wild. But they are complicated creatures. Debate persists as to whether grizzlies (Ursus arctos horribilis), loosely defined as those bears that live inland, are the same species as brown bears (Ursus arctos) or a distinct sub-species. One bear that definitely fits into the latter category is the Kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi), which lives on the Alaskan archipelago after which it takes its name. It is thought by some to be bigger even than a polar bear, making it the largest land predator on the planet. Brown bears have powerful jaws and sharp claws, and the largest are able to stand up to three metres tall on their hind legs. They should only be seen from a distance and travellers are recommended not to keep food in their tent or car, as this is one uninvited guest that you don’t want to share a sandwich with.

Where to see: A huge percentage of America’s brown bears roam Alaska, where Katmai NP is renowned for its population of over 2,000 bears. They are also found in smaller numbers across the American North-west, including Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington, with bears often sighted around Yellowstone and Glacier national parks.

5. Alligator

Alligator in Myakka River State Park, Florida (Shutterstock)

Alligator in Myakka River State Park, Florida (Shutterstock)

Said to have first appeared around 84 million years ago, American alligators are living dinosaurs. Hunted to near extinction in the 1900s, their numbers have been steadily increasing since they were listed as an endangered species in 1967. Certainly, few animals have such a toothsome ‘smile’: an alligator’s jaws contain around 70 to 80 teeth at any one time, and these regrow as they wear and fall out – they can get through as many as 3,000 in a lifetime. With male ’gators measuring up to four and a half metres, their long, powerful tails help motor them through the water, making these fearsome reptiles effective hunters of fish, snakes, turtles, birds and land mammals, though they’re also known to snack on fruit.

Where to see: Take a guided boat tour of Florida’s Everglades NP; this is classic ’gator territory with over 200,000 living in the sprawling wetlands. But even that’s just a drop in the ocean compared with the wider state: some 1.5 million alligators live in Florida. They are also found across North Carolina, eastern Texas and Georgia, with the latter’s Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge a good location for sightings.

6. Mustang

Wild-roaming horses in Nevada (Shutterstock)

Wild-roaming horses in Nevada (Shutterstock)

Like the bald eagle, free-running wild horses have taken on an almost mythic status in the US as a distillation of the classic American ideals of strength, freedom and independence. However, the last genuinely wild horses here died out 10,000 years ago; today’s American mustangs are actually descendants of escaped domestic horses brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 1600s, meaning they’re technically not ‘wild’ but ‘feral’. More than 85,000 currently roam free across ten western US states, and their numbers are growing each year. Seeing these muscular animals galloping across America’s grand, open landscapes is a potent combination.

Where to see: More than half of North America’s wild-roaming mustangs are found in Nevada. The Virginia Range, between Virginia City and Reno, is a standout area with around 2,000. Other stomping grounds include the Outer Banks barrier islands in North Carolina and Theodore Roosevelt NP in North Dakota.

7. Bald eagle

The bald eagle is the national emblem of the USA (Shutterstock)

The bald eagle is the national emblem of the USA (Shutterstock)

The regal bald eagle has been the national bird and emblem of the United States since 1782, when Congress placed it on the Great Seal; it has since appeared on flags, money, passports and in government buildings. But long before any of this, they were considered sacred to many Native American cultures. It’s easy to see why this magnificent bird has inspired so many, with its distinctive white (feathered, not bald) head and bright yellow beak, massive wings and the ability to dive at 100mph. Habitat destruction, hunting and pesticides once decimated its numbers, but modern-day protection measures mean that they’re once again flying high.

Where to see: Alaska’s Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve has the USA’s largest gathering of bald eagles. Each October and November, up to 4,000 eagles congregate at the 194 sq km area in Haines for the valley’s annual salmon run. However, bald eagles can be seen across the US, including Klamath Basin on the Oregon-California border, Starved Rock State Park in Illinois, and Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. The San Juan Islands in north-west Washington have one of the highest densities of resident nesting bald eagles.

8. Leatherback turtle

Leatherback turtle in the US Virgin Islands (Shutterstock)

Leatherback turtle in the US Virgin Islands (Shutterstock)

Another survivor from the age of the dinosaur, leatherbacks have lived on Earth for 100 million years. They’re the largest turtles in the world and the only ones without a hard shell; instead, they have a tough, flexible, leathery skin. These giant reptiles grow to nearly two metres long, using their four broad flippers to propel themselves through the water and down to depths of up to 1,200m. Leatherbacks are known to migrate huge distances (as much as 16,000km per year) between nesting and feeding grounds. They are currently listed by the IUCN as vulnerable, with numbers declining due to hunting, egg theft, accidental bycatch in fishing nets and the loss of nesting beaches.

Where to see: St John in the US Virgin Islands has a reputation for reliable leatherback sightings, especially at Trunk Bay Beach where turtles are known locally as ‘trunk turtles’ (or ‘trunks’ for short). Along the coast, Maho Bay is another hotspot. Around the contiguous US, leatherbacks can be seen along the Pacific coasts of California, Oregon and Washington, and on Florida’s Atlantic coast.

Read next The world's best places to see sea turtles

9. American bison

American bison in Yellowstone (Shutterstock)

American bison in Yellowstone (Shutterstock)

What a sight it must have been to see bison filling America’s Great Plains. This land was once home to as many as 100 million, but as the pioneers swept west in the 1800s they were driven to near extinction by white hunters. Today, thanks to a century of conservation efforts, the mighty bison (also known as buffalo) is roaming once more across US national parks and on Native American reservations. The American bison even recently joined the bald eagle as an official US national symbol. With its immense bulk and power, pointed horns and the ability to run at speeds of up to 35mph, this is another animal to respect from a distance.

Where to see: Montana-based non-profit American Prairie reintroduced bison to the state in 2005 after a 120-year absence; the biggest herd can now be seen on Sun Prairie. Bison can also be spotted in Yellowstone NP, or visit Theodore Roosevelt NP in North Dakota, which has hundreds of roaming bison. Calving season typically begins from April onwards.

10. Big horn sheep

Big horn sheep in Joshua Tree National Park (Shutterstock)

Big horn sheep in Joshua Tree National Park (Shutterstock)

There can’t have been much inspiration in the air on the day that bighorn sheep were named. Native to North America, the giant curled horns of males, or rams, weigh up to around 14kg, as much as all their other bones combined. Although they’re not as nifty on their feet as mountain goats, these agile creatures can climb up steep, rocky terrain to keep away from predators. Bighorns are also one of two wild sheep species with large horns in North America, alongside Dall sheep.

Where to see: Colorado is estimated to have more than 7,000 bighorns, more than any other state. Head to Horseshoe Park in Rocky Mountain NP where those in charge of handing out names have outdone themselves again with the Sheep Lakes, two areas where bighorn sheep are often seen. They can also be sighted throughout the American South-west, including the Grand Canyon and the Mojave and Sonoran deserts where you can encounter a desert-adapted subspecies of bighorn.

11. Coyote

A howling Coyote (Shutterstock)

A howling Coyote (Shutterstock)

In his animated battles with Roadrunner, Wile E Coyote survived self-inflicted dynamite blasts and falling boulders. The real-life coyote is also an impressive survivor. One of the most persecuted animals in the US, they have historically been treated as a threat to livestock, so were poisoned and shot in their millions. They continue to be freely hunted but have somehow survived and spread out across mainland USA – and even into cities. A striking canid, smaller than a wolf, it’s a significant animal in many Native American cultures, representing qualities such as stealth and craftiness. Like wolves, their howls provide an eerie, evocative soundtrack to the night.

Where to see: Coyotes are found across the continent, including Maine’s Acadia NP, South Dakota’s Wind Cave NP, Colorado’s Rocky Mountain NP, Wyoming’s Grand Teton NP and Yellowstone NP (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho). There are large numbers in Southern California, with coyotes even frequently spotted on the streets of Los Angeles.

12. Moose

Moose in Denali National Park, Alaska (Shutterstock)

Moose in Denali National Park, Alaska (Shutterstock)

Despite being associated more with Canada than the US, moose can be found across the northern regions of the States, from Maine to Washington and up into Alaska. Moose are the largest living member of the deer family, though they’re almost horse-like in size and appearance. Despite their bulk and heft, they’re able to run at 35 mph and they’re fine swimmers, capable of holding their breath underwater. The males’ mighty antlers are used to impress females and fight off rivals. They then shed their clunky headgear at the end of the year, as it’s not so useful during winter.

Where to see: Up to 200,000 Alaska moose are found across Southcentral and Interior Alaska, including Denali NP; plenty are also seen around Anchorage. Outside Alaska, Maine has the largest concentration in the lower 48 states, with Moosehead Lake a particularly busy area – as is neighbouring New Hampshire’s Moose Alley. Elsewhere, Yellowstone NP (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho), Grand Teton NP (Wyoming) and Glacier NP (Montana) are good bets for sightings.

13. Black bear

Black bear in northern Minnesota (Shutterstock)

Black bear in northern Minnesota (Shutterstock)

The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is North America’s smallest bear. But that doesn’t mean you’d want a wrestling match with one any time soon; adult males measure nearly two metres tall when standing upright and weigh up to 300kg. Widely found across the US and Canada’s forested areas, black bears have strong, curved claws that make them speedy tree-climbers. They’re also excellent swimmers, with their big paws working as effective paddles.

Where to see: Black bears are the most widely distributed bears in the States. Great Smoky Mountains NP on the Tennessee-North Carolina border has around 1,500; they’re also often seen in Yellowstone NP (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho). Alternatively, head up to the Anan Wildlife Observatory in south-east Alaska’s Tongass National Forest where black bears typically gather around Anan Creek to gorge on salmon.

14. Pronghorn antelope

Pronghorn antelope in Wyoming (Shutterstock)

Pronghorn antelope in Wyoming (Shutterstock)

Just as the prairie dog isn’t a dog, the pronghorn antelope isn’t an antelope. Nor is it a wild goat, which is what the Lewis and Clark Expedition originally thought they’d discovered back in the early 1800s. Native to North America, these hoofed animals are the fastest land mammal on the continent, able to hit top speeds of around 60mph. To put this in perspective, this makes them the second fastest animal in the world, behind only the African cheetah – although pronghorns are able to sustain their runs for far longer. Their pace, binocular-like eyesight and ability to take giant leaps have contributed to their survival on America’s grasslands.

Where to see: High numbers of pronghorn are found in Wyoming, in and around the Red Desert and Yellowstone NP. Each spring and autumn, hundreds migrate between Grand Teton NP and their winter range in the Green River Valley of south-western Wyoming. They’re also seen around the Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve and other parts of Snake River Plain in central Idaho. Additionally, pronghorn can be sighted in Montana, Utah, Colorado and Arizona.

15. Orca

Orcas around San Juan Islands (Shutterstock)

Orcas around San Juan Islands (Shutterstock)

Despite being known as ‘killer whales’, orca are in fact the largest member of the dolphin family, a subsection of cetacean known as Odontoceti (or ‘toothed whales’). These distinctive black-and-white giants, who can weigh up to six tonnes, are one of the world’s most powerful and skilful predators, known to hunt fish, seals, sea lions, penguins, sea turtles, sharks and even whales. They often work in collaborative pods – using echolocation to communicate – herding fish together and feasting on the resulting buffet, which explains why they’re sometimes called the ‘wolves of the sea’.

Where to see: Your most reliable bet for seeing wild orca is in the waters around the San Juan Islands (particularly around San Juan and Orcas islands), off the northern tip of Washington state. You can also find them in south-east Alaska around Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula and at Prince William Sound. At certain times of the year you can see them in California, particularly around Monterey Bay. Keep your fingers crossed for ‘breaching’ – it’s a sight to behold when these behemoths leap out of the ocean.

Read next The best places to see orcas in the wild

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