Beautiful Glacier National Park
Animals in the Park

This is one of the largest National Parks in the lower 48 states.
Glacier National Park was designated as a protected area in 1910.
Here wildlife is free to roam over an area of a million acres.
Glacier Park animals have free movement to and from Canada and the Flathead National Forest.
Glacier National Park animals also wander thru the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Great Bear, and Scapegoat areas on Montana.

Glacier Park Animals

The Park has many acres of lush forests, meadows, and Lakes. There are over 700 miles of well kept trails for hiking, along which you will find many tumbling water falls.
It certainly is a hikers paradise.



Our wonderful Glacier National Park is home to many different species of
animals and birds. Most species have been here for thousands of years. Due
to the unrestricted movement, and natures ecosystem, there are at least 70
species of animals who are at home here, and hundreds of types of birds.

Glacier Park Animals

There never was an abundance of Caribou or Bison in Glacier National Park. As of now only the Lynx and Grizzlies are threatened animal species. The Grey Wolf is endangered, and Fishers and Wolverines are rarely found, but are present.

 
Click on Black Bear photo to see video.

There are about 350 Grizzlies {brown bear} in Glacier National Park.
 These are huge predators, and an adult male may weigh from 300
to 850 pounds. Females range in weight from 200 to 450 pounds. Grizzlies
have a large hump on their back and between their shoulders,
as opposed to black bears. They have a large head and claws as long as a mans finger.
Even as large as these animals may be, they are extremely fast
runners, and can reach speeds of 35 to 40 miles an hour for short distances.
There is an old saying that the only way to survive being chased by a grizzly, is to be able to out run the hiker with you.
But in reality, bears live a very solitary life, and will avoid being near
humans, if at all possible. These Animals have very keen hearing and will
probably be long gone, before you even know they were there.
 Bears do hibernate during the winter and may live up to 30 years. Big Horn Sheep live in the high altitudes of Glacier National Park.
They have a brown coat with white underneath their bodies and around their
eyes. The males have massive horns which spiral backwards. Their hooves are
hard, making them excellent climbers and jumpers. They easily climb steep
rocks to escape predators.

Mountain Goats are also very sure footed, and seem to have skid proof pads on their feet. These animals are also seen in the very high altitudes. They can be seen standing on rock ledges, where nothing else could go. They are mostly white with a beard, and weigh from 150 to 300 pounds.

Grey wolves or Timber Wolves are also found in Glacier National Park. They too are in the high Alpine areas. Wolves are very territorial, and elusive. They defend their boundaries, of maybe 10 to 20 square miles, with a vengeance, even from other wolf packs. They may live 8 to 16 years .

Cougars are also very elusive animals and rarely seen. These are found in the mountainous areas of Glacier National Park. They are very large cats, brown in color and very strong. They are extremely territorial, and defend their boundaries. Since they are very fast, they can chase and kill much larger animals for food.
They have been known to kill even moose. The female has a distinct scream, that is frightening to hear, especially at night.

A century ago it was thought that there were no more Wolverines in Glacier National Park, but as of last count, there is a healthy Wolverine population. Protection of wildlife in the Park since 1910, has brought back these almost extinct animals. Glacier National Park is the only National Park in the world where visitors have a chance of seeing Wolverines in their natural habitat.

Animals in Glacier National Park, written by Verna Parks.