Acadia National Park in Maine is home to over 200 miles of trails, 6 carriage roads, and countless breathtaking views. Wildlife can be found all over the park, but if you take a drive down the Park Loop Road to Cadillac Mountain, you’re likely to find a few creatures resting or grazing on the roadside.
The wildlife of Acadia is abundant, and it is possible to see animals that are rarely seen by people. Evolving from a forested land with native shrubs into a heavily grazed landscape to a harsh environment (bare rock and soil) has created unique animal life in Acadia.
We have been here on several camping and hiking trips. Here are a few animals we keep seeing whenever we go to this beautiful part of Maine.
Red Fox
Red Foxes are found in Acadia National Park. They are common throughout the state of Maine, especially in rocky areas and brushy fields.
Red Foxes are often seen near the park’s roadways and picnic areas. The Red Fox is a small canid with a coat of red or cinnamon-colored fur. It has large ears, a pointed muzzle and long tail that ends in a white tip.
Red Foxes can be found almost anywhere there are trees, from forests to city parks. They live in pairs or small groups called “packs” that consist of an adult male, an adult female and their young offspring.
Red Foxes are active at night when they hunt for food by sight rather than by smell. Their diet consists of small mammals such as rabbits and mice, birds and insects like grasshoppers and crickets.
Barred Owl
Barred Owls are found in Acadia National Park. They can be seen perched on trees, looking for prey. They perch on tree branches and swoop down to catch rodents and other small animals. They have a distinctive “hoo-hoo” call that makes them easy to recognize.
Barred Owls are an important part of the ecosystem of Acadia National Park because they help keep pest populations under control by eating mice, voles, chipmunks, squirrels and other small mammals.
White Tailed Deer
White-tailed deer are the most common large mammal, and can be found throughout Acadia National Park. The deer population has been growing steadily for decades, and they can be found in nearly every corner of the park.
White-tailed deer are a keystone species in Acadia National Park. They play an important role in maintaining the health of many habitats and other species that live here.
White-tailed deer are one of the most adaptable mammals on earth, so they can thrive in almost any habitat: forested mountains or coastal plains; northern boreal forests or southern arid deserts; grasslands or tropical rainforests; temperate deciduous forests or tropical evergreen forests.
Snowshoe Hare
Snowshoe hares are found in Acadia National Park and surrounding areas, including the Schoodic Peninsula. These small mammals are not to be confused with rabbits, which are also present in the park.
Snowshoe hares have white fur on their feet and hind legs that allows them to blend into the snow. They live under trees in a network of burrows that can stretch for miles.
The snowshoe hare is a very important food source for many animals. In winter, they eat bark and buds from evergreen trees.
Raccoons
Raccoons are found in Acadia National Park. They are nocturnal, so they are mostly active at night. They live in dens and use burrows for shelter.
Raccoons prefer to eat plants and animals, but they will eat almost anything if they have to. Raccoons will also eat insects, birds, and fish. They will eat small mammals as well as insects.
Raccoons have excellent senses of hearing and smell. They are able to hear a pin drop from about 30 feet away, which is why you may hear them outside at night digging through your trash bin or looking for food in your backyard.
Raccoons are very intelligent animals that can solve problems quickly and remember solutions for future use by other raccoons who might encounter similar problems in the future.
Striped Skunks
Striped Skunks are the most common skunk in Maine. They have a black body, white stripes on their back and a white tail tip.
Striped Skunks are found in Acadia National Park, they are also found in other areas of Maine and the Northeast region of the United States. These animals can be found all over Maine during the summer months and they are typically active at night.
The striped skunk will be seen digging for food, eating insects, rodents and other small animals. These animals are omnivorous so they eat both plants and meat in order to survive.
The striped skunk can be identified by its black body with white stripes running down the animal’s back. The tail will also be white at the end, which helps identify this animal from other species of skunks who do not have this marking on their bodies.
Minks
Acadia National Park is home to a large population of mink. The mink is a carnivorous mammal that feeds on small animals such as birds, fish, and rodents.
Minks are nocturnal animals which means they are active at night and sleep during the day. They have very good hearing and an excellent sense of smell so they can hunt down prey without being detected by their prey’s senses.
Coyotes
Acadia National Park is home to a large number of coyotes. These predators often hunt at night, but they can also be seen during the day.
Coyotes are known to be curious animals, so they may approach people or other animals that appear weak or vulnerable. If you spot a coyote in Acadia National Park, keep your distance and don’t feed it.
Otters
Otters are found in Acadia National Park. They are very playful and active animals that can be seen playing in the water. Otters are usually found near water sources such as ponds, rivers, lakes, marshes and streams.
Some otters stay around their water source all year long while others migrate from one place to another depending on what food source is available to them at that time.
Bobcats
The bobcat is a small cat, with short tail, large ears and round face. In Acadia National Park, you may see them near the shoreline or in the woods.
The bobcat is an excellent hunter and can take down animals much larger than itself such as deer, rabbits or even squirrels. It is also an effective predator of mice and rats that live in barns or other buildings.
Bobcats have short dense fur, which is brownish-gray with black streaks on their backs and sides. Their underbelly is white or yellowish, but there are not many white spots. Their ears and tails are black, while their legs are brown or gray.
Black Bears
Black Bears are found in Acadia National Park. The bears are very wary of humans and rarely show themselves to visitors. However, if you come across a bear in the wild, please stay away from it and give it plenty of space.
The black bear is Maine’s most common large mammal and the only bear species native to the state. Black bears can be identified by their jet-black fur and their stocky build. They can be found throughout Maine in forested areas, but they prefer areas with some clearings so they can feed on grasses and berries when they’re available.
Black bears are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. In the spring through fall, black bears generally eat nuts, berries, insects and small mammals such as mice or squirrels. In wintertime they’ll eat anything that will give them calories including berries, acorns, grasses and even carrion (dead animals).
Beavers
Beavers are found along the lower reaches of the tidal Schoodic River, and can often be seen on the banks of Jordan Pond.
Acadia National Park is home to beavers, who build dams to create ponds and wetlands. The park’s beavers are found in the Blackwoods and Schoodic areas of the park.
Beavers are one of the largest rodents in North America. They are known for their distinctive tail, which is flat on top and paddle-shaped on the bottom.
Beavers have large front incisor teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives. They use these teeth to chew through trees and branches, creating dams and lodges that provide shelter from predators and cold temperatures.
10 FAQs About Acadia National Park Wildlife
Acadia National Park is home to some of the most beautiful and unique wildlife species in the United States. If you’re planning a trip to this stunning park, it’s important to know what animals you might expect to see while you’re there. Here we answer 10 of the most common questions about Acadia National Park’s wildlife – so that your trip can be as safe and enjoyable as possible!
Are There Moose In Acadia?
There are moose in Acadia National Park! They are however very rare and hard to find while camping or hiking there. Ranger Dusty Warner, one of Acadia’s veteran rangers, has only seen 3 live moose in the 20 years he has worked here. These moose were all transients; in other words, they had wandered over and did not stay on the islands for very long.
Are there Bears in Acadia National Park?
Did you know that some of the visitors to Acadia National Park really like to ask about black bears? They’re pretty cool animals, but the chances of actually seeing one in the park are only a little bit better than seeing a moose. However, unlike moose, there is a small group of black bears that live on the island permanently.
Even though they’re not always easy to spot, there are scattered reports every year of black bears roaming around on Mount Desert Island. These bears are really interesting creatures – they can climb trees and swim, and they have a great sense of smell that helps them find food in the wild.
If you’re lucky enough to spot a black bear in Acadia, it’s important to remember to keep your distance and not approach them. Just enjoy watching them from a safe distance and take some pictures to remember your encounter with one of the coolest animals in the park!
We did see one for a good 15 mins!
Are There Grizzly Bears In Acadia?
There are no grizzly bears in Acadia, or in the whole state of Maine. Grizzly bears used to live in a big area from Canada to Mexico, but people moved west and it made it harder for them to live there. Now, there are only a few states in the west and Canada where they can still be found. Maine is too far east for grizzly bears, so they’ve never lived there
Are There Snakes In Acadia?
Snakes are not commonly seen in Acadia National Park, but they do exist. The two species of snakes that are most often seen in the park are the garter snake and the milk snake. Both of these snakes are harmless to humans and are actually beneficial, as they help to control populations of rodents and other small animals.
If you do see a snake while hiking or camping in Acadia, it is best to leave it alone and give it space.
Other snakes found in Acadia are the smooth green snake, redbelly snake, ringneck snake and eastern milksnake.
Are There Otters In Acadia?
Otters are not commonly seen in Acadia National Park, but they have been known to inhabit the park on occasion. If you’re hoping to spot an otter during your visit, your best bet is to look for them near bodies of water such as lakes or streams. Keep your eyes peeled for these playful creatures frolicking in the water or basking on the shore! We did see a few though!!
Are There Mountain Lions In Acadia?
Did you know that Acadia National Park used to be home to some really amazing animals, like gray wolves and mountain lions? These animals are also known as predators because they hunt other animals for food.
Gray wolves are very big and have gray fur. They are also known as timber wolves or western wolves. They used to live in the forests and grasslands of North America, including Acadia National Park. However, people hunted them a lot in the past, and their population decreased. As a result, they are no longer found in Acadia National Park, or in most of the eastern United States.
Mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas, used to roam the forests of North America too. They are very big and have golden-brown fur. Mountain lions are very good at hunting and are able to climb trees and swim to catch their prey.
Like gray wolves, people hunted them a lot and their population decreased. Now, they are also not found in Acadia National Park or in most of the eastern United States.
Although gray wolves and mountain lions are no longer found in Acadia National Park, the park is still home to many other amazing animals like moose, black bears, and bald eagles.
Are There Dolphins In Acadia?
Dolphins are not commonly seen in Acadia National Park, but they have been known to swim in the waters off the coast of Maine. If you’re hoping to see a dolphin during your visit to Acadia, keep your eyes peeled for any signs of them in the water. Also, be sure to ask Rangers and other park staff if they have any recent reports of dolphin sightings.
Can you see whales from Acadia National Park?
Yes, you can see whales from Acadia National Park! In fact, whale watching is one of the most popular activities in the park. There are several different species of whales that can be seen in the waters off Acadia, including humpback whales, fin whales, and minke whales. The best time of year for whale watching is typically from June to October.
Are There Bald Eagles In Acadia?
There are indeed bald eagles in Acadia National Park! These magnificent birds can often be seen soaring over the lakes and rivers of the park, or perched atop a tree. While they are most active in the early morning or late afternoon, they can sometimes be seen hunting or fishing during the day. If you’re lucky enough to spot one of these majestic creatures, be sure to take a moment to enjoy the experience.
Are there Puffins in Acadia National Park?
Yes, you see puffins in Acadia. The Maine ocean islands provide the only nesting sites for Atlantic puffins in the United States. Eastern Egg Rock in the midcoast region, Seal Island and Matinicus Rock at the mouth of Penobscot Bay, and Machias Seal Island and Petit Manan Island off the downeast coast provide habitat for more than 4,000 puffins each summer.
Conclusion
Acadia National Park is greatly endeared to millions of land lovers and nature enthusiasts. The same appeal can be multiplied with the addition of stunningly beautiful Acadia National Park animals that are frequently spotted by hikers, campers and visitors.
The fauna of Acadia is diverse, and all the animals listed above are found in this national park. Acadia is a beautiful place to visit if you’re an animal lover, so if you get the chance we highly recommend it.
