Animals in Alaska

Despite being the coldest state in the country, Alaska is home to hundreds of fascinating mammals, birds, and even a handful of reptiles and amphibians. The most common and notable of its large mammals would be the multiple species of bears, along with the moose, dall sheep, caribou, and gray wolf. At the same time, small animals like the pygmy shrew, Arctic ground squirrel, and snowshoe hare have also adapted to the extreme climate.

The bitter winters have not deterred the fish either, with numerous salmons, trouts, and other species inhabiting the Alaskan waters.

Most of the animals in the following list are native to the state unless mentioned otherwise.

Animals in Alaska (AK)

List of Different Types of Animals That Live in Alaska

Mammals

Birds

There are plenty of birds that live in this state, primarily inhabiting the coastal regions.

  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Black-billed Magpie
  • Steller’s Jay
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk
  • Red-tailed Hawk
  • Rough-legged Hawk
  • Northern Harrier
  • Northern Goshawk

Reptiles

The cold climate of Alaska makes it unsuitable for reptiles. And yet, there has been multiple sigtings of sea turtles between 1963 and 2020 in the waters off the state’s coast. The 4 species found here are:

Amphibians

Like reptiles, amphibians need to be better equipped to tolerate the harsh cold of Alaska. Only a few species of frogs and salamanders live here, and they are:

  • Pacific Chorus Frog
  • Red-Legged Tree Frog
  • Columbia Spotted Frog
  • Wood Frog
  • Western Toad
  • Northwestern Salamander
  • Long-toed Salamander
  • Rough-Skinned Newt

Fishes

  • Chinook Salmon
  • Sockeye Salmon
  • Coho Salmon
  • Pink Salmon
  • Chum Salmon
  • Rainbow Trout
  • Lake Trout
  • Dolly Varden
  • Arctic Char
  • Grayling
  • Northern Pike
  • Pacific Halibut
  • Yelloweye Rockfish
  • Black Rockfish
  • Trout-perch
  • Lingcod
  • Walleye Pollock
  • Alaska Plaice
  • Arctic Lamprey
  • Pacific Herring
  • Atka Mackerel
  • Alaska Blackfish
  • Broad Whitefish
  • Northern Pike Minnow
  • Pacific Sand Lance
  • Slimy Sculpin

Insects and Invertebrates

  • Eskimo Arctic Butterfly
  • Four-spot Skimmer Dragonfly
  • Treeline Emerald Dragonfly
  • Dungeness Crab
  • Red King Crab
  • Tanner Crab
  • Alaska Hermit Crab
  • Spot Prawn
  • Northern Pink Shrimp
  • Giant Pacific Octopus
  • Red Sea Cucumber
  • Black Katy Chiton
  • Gumboot Chiton
  • Sitka Periwinkle Snail
  • Pinto Abalone

State Animals of Alaska

Alaska State Animals
State Land MammalMoose
State Marine MammalBowhead Whale
State DogAlaskan Malamute
State BirdWillow Ptarmigan
State FishKing Salmon
State InsectFour-spot Skimmer Dragonfly

FAQ

1. What are the most dangerous animals in Alaska? 

Most large animals can be dangerous to humans, even the moose, if it perceives any immediate threat. Other animals that may pose a greater danger include the grizzly, polar bear, wolves, and killer whale.

More on Animals in This State

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