Native Animals of Idaho

By Janhvi Johorey, Psychologist specialized in animal therapy. Updated: June 4, 2020

The forests of Idaho are home to hundreds of wildlife species, with animals ranging from the majestic bald eagle to the tiny pygmy shrews and calliope hummingbirds. There are also threatened and endangered species in Idaho, such as the woodland caribou, the grizzly bear, the Canada lynx and the gray wolf.

The state animals of Idaho are the Appaloosa horse, the mountain bluebird, the cutthroat trout, the monarch butterfly and the peregrine falcon. In this AnimalWised article we will go over some of the most interesting native animals of Idaho, the Gem State.

You may also be interested in: Native Animals of Utah: Wildlife and Habitat

The Grizzly Bear
The Woodland Caribou
The Fisher
The North American Lynx
The Pygmy Rabbit
The Gray Wolf
Striped skunk
The mountain goat
Native Idaho birds
Native Idaho reptiles
Native Idaho fish

The Grizzly Bear

The grizzly or North American brown bear (Ursus arctos ssp.) is a subspecies of the brown bear, which has the largest range and distribution of all bears. However, the grizzly variety is considered threatened in the continental United States, including in Idaho, where it experiences loss of habitat and threats from hunters and poachers.

While the grizzly bear used to occupy North America west of the Great Plains, its range has now shrunk to the northern part of the Rocky Mountains and the Cascade Range. This amounts to less than 2% of the land it historically inhabited.

In Idaho, grizzly bears can be found near the eastern and northeastern borders, the recovery areas of Cabinet Yaak, Selkirk and Selway-Bitterroot, and the Yellowstone National Park, which is the home of the majority of bears in Idaho. They have also been sighted in the Mt. Rainier National Park. Scientists believe only 100 grizzlies live in Idaho.

Here you can learn all about escaping from a bear attack.

Native Animals of Idaho - The Grizzly Bear

The Woodland Caribou

The boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) is a large type of deer with brown hoofs, large antlers, and a lush neck mane.

This native animal of Idaho is considered one of the most threatened animals in all the US. Threats to this species include habitat encroachment and hunters. It is primarily found in forested mountainous areas and dense fir and spruce growing regions.

This caribou or reindeer subspecies can be found across northern Canada; it only reaches the US in some northernmost areas of Idaho and Washington. In Selkirk, the woodland caribou population is estimated at less than 100 individuals. However, it is a good progress since 1987, when the WWF estimated the population to be around 28 individuals.

Native Animals of Idaho - The Woodland Caribou

The Fisher

The fisher or pekan (Pekania pennanti) were almost eliminated from their native range in the early 20th Century, and they were considered endangered in Idaho. Fishers are still threatened by habitat fragmentation and falling breeding rates, and they are protected from hunting, but thanks to reintroduction efforts - especially in sites of northern Idaho - their numbers have been gradually rising since the 1960s.

Fishers are stocky, brown-coated mustelids - like ferrets and weasels - with a thick tail that inhabit the forested areas of North America below 1,800 m (5,900 ft). In the regions of Washington and Idaho, the fisher is one of the rarest carnivorous animals.

It nests in rotting trees or logs and feeds on shrews, hares, muskets, beavers, porcupines and squirrels as well as birds, fruits, and carrion; unlike what you may believe, they do not eat fish.

The North American Lynx

The Canada or North American lynx (Lynx canadensis) is a native animal of Idaho, where it is considered threatened due to loss of habitat and trapping. Along with the wolverine, the fisher and the marten, lynxes serve as useful barometers of ecological health. In Idaho, the lynx can be found in the north.

Lynxes are felids, and they look like fluffy wild cats. Their thick coat is pale brown or gray, with a black tip on its tail, black tufted ears and bushy paws. While they are moderately large, at 55 cm (22 in) tall at the withers and 18 kg (40 lb) heavy, Canada lynxes are smaller than other lynx species.

While it is rarer there, the Canada lynx is also one of the native animals of Utah.

Native Animals of Idaho - The North American Lynx

The Pygmy Rabbit

The pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) is a native species of Idaho that has become a matter of concern among wildlife conservationists in the state, as it is quite rare there. Predators such as badgers, coyotes, weasels and raptors, disease, and habitat loss have lowered its numbers.

It is the smallest of all rabbits and hares, measuring just 24 to 29 cm (9.5 to 11.5 in) long and weighing less than 500 g (1 lb): the pygmy rabbit fits in the hand! It has a brown or slate gray coloring, with short, white-trimmed ears and a tiny tail. Pygmy rabbits dig their own burrows and are herbivorous animals, relying on food such as sagebrush.

Native Animals of Idaho - The Pygmy Rabbit

The Gray Wolf

The gray, western or timber wolf (Canis lupus) can be found in the northernmost regions of North America, especially in Canada and Alaska. However, there are some populations in the contiguous United States, including Idaho, where it is a native animal.

There are more than 20 gray wolf packs in Idaho, with more than 200 individuals in total. However, the beautiful wolf faces loss of habitat, hunting, and ranchers defending livestock to the point that it has become a globally recognized wildlife symbol. It is protected under the Endangered Species Act in some states, and their population is growing as a result of conservation efforts.

Gray wolves are famous for being extremely faithful to their mates and devoted parents to their cubs, to the point that they can adopt orphaned wolves. Here you can learn more about their hunting habits and diet.

Striped skunk

The striped skunk (mephitis mephitis) is native all year round in the area of Idaho. Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, except for birds of prey, such as eagles, vultures or falcons. Like all skunks, they possess highly developed, musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and kept captive to breed them for their fur or kept as pets.

The mountain goat

The mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) is also native to this region. They are also known as rocky mountain goats as they are amazing climbers often seen on cliffs and even ice. An interesting fact about mountain goats is that they are the largest mamals found in their high-altitude habitats, which can exceed elevations of 13,000 feet. Mountain goats are herbivores and spend most of their time grazing

Daily movements reflect an individual's needs for foraging, resting, thermoregulation and security from predators or disturbance. Seasonal movements primarily reflect nutritional needs, reproductive needs, and climatic influences.

Native Animals of Idaho - The mountain goat

Native Idaho birds

We have spoken of many native mammals of the Idaho region. But, what about birds? There are many birds native to Idaho. These are a couple of examples: