Hooves and Horns: Ungulates of North America’s National Parks

What, you may be asking, is an ungulate? You’ve actually known them all along, but perhaps just didn’t know them by their official moniker. Among the ungulates that are native to North America are bighorn sheep, bison, caribou, Dall sheep, mountain goats, moose and white-tailed deer. What do they all have in common? Hooves (and, sometimes, horns).

These large, hooved mammals are found across approximately 98% of all U.S. National Park Service lands. So, if you’re traveling with Nat Hab on a national park nature trip, you’re very likely to see one. The ungulate population is heavily managed within these protected lands, with methods ranging from reintroduction and feeding to protect or increase populations in some areas, to culling , fencing and contraception to control populations in others. The management techniques vary by species, with, say, feral peccaries being handled differently than elk.

Why is so much effort put into ungulate management within our national parks? With 220 species of ungulates across the world—including 12 species native to North America—these mammals serve a vital role in their ecosystems, both as prey for top predators and as a primary consumer of vegetation. To successfully manage their ungulate populations, parks must factor in how much the animals forage and where they migrate, as well as the population demographics.

Today, we’ll reveal what native North American ungulates you may see on your travels with Nat Hab and learn some fun facts about each! Although we mention specific trips and national parks where you’re likely to encounter them, you can expect to see many of these animals are multiple destinations across the U.S. and Canada.

Mule Deer

On our Insider’s Journey into Yosemite, you’ll glimpse the laid-back mule deer (at least as compared to its jittery cousin, the white-tailed deer). The mule deer are the park’s most-seen large mammal and are recognizable by their distinctive ears, shaped like a mule’s. Look for them at elevations of 3,500 to 8,500 feet—although they sometimes venture as high as 10,000 feet or above. They prefer to stay as high as possible when migrating; the only limitation is the snowpack, which, when deeper than 18 inches, makes it difficult for the ungulates to find food. Though they may seem low-key, keep a respectable distance from mule deer—more visitors to Yosemite have been injured by these animals than by bears!

Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep

While in Yosemite, keep an eye out for the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, which, not so long ago, was on the verge of extinction. A subspecies of bighorn sheep, the Sierra Nevada population fell prey to hunting practices that were allowed during the park’s early days. Nearly all were killed in the first 25 years after Yosemite’s opening. Several efforts have tried to reestablish the Sierra Nevada bighorn population, starting in 1986, but that small herd didn’t make it, due to mountain lion predation and harsh winters.

In 1995, the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep landed on the endangered species list. In 2015, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife translocated 13 sheep into the Cathedral Range, followed by five additional rams in 2016, and two more in 2017. Today, three herds roam the Cathedral Range, part of a total population of more than 600 throughout the Sierra Nevadas.

Bison

If you’re visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks with us, you’ll be privy to an incredibly successful ungulate survival story. The iconic Yellowstone bison has seen more than its share of strife. Back in the early 1800s, there were approximately 65 million bison roaming North America’s Great Plains (think about that for a second: the Great Migration of the Serengeti comprises less than 2 million!). The hunting, poaching and intentional elimination of these mammals, which the Native American communities had relied upon heavily, decimated the population, leaving fewer than 1,000 bison remaining by 1890.

It wasn’t until 1886, 14 years after Yellowstone National Park was created, that the U.S. Army intervened to guard the park’s natural resources. Thanks to protective measures and management, the bison population reached 1,500 in 1954, continuing to grow through the 1970s and 1980s thanks to cool, wet summers and mild winters, and plentiful grasses.

When you’re in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, you’re likely to get up close (though not too close, please) and personal with these majestic beasts. An adult bull can grow to six feet tall at shoulder and weigh 2,000 pounds. During the spring and summer, look for newborns in the Lamar Valley and Firehole area of Yellowstone. Remember, as always, to keep a safe distance; bulls can charge at speeds of 30 miles per hour.

Elk

Elk play a key role in shaping the environment of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, affecting plant growth and even impacting stream temperatures. Before the reintroduction of wolves into the area, the elk population had exploded, negatively influencing the ecosystem by overbrowsing willows. These plants provide critical habitat for numerous species and help stabilize stream banks. Now that elk numbers have returned to a more sustainable level, willows have rebounded, and the mammals’ impact is more positive. These large ungulates are still the most abundant big game animals in Yellowstone, making up more than 90% of the wolves’ winter diet. Additionally, many scavenger animals, like coyotes, survive off these kills.

The elk is also a star ungulate in Grand Teton National Park, easily seen at Willow Flats between mid-May and mid-June (calving season). You won’t be able to enter the area during this time, but there are nearby viewing areas and pull-outs.

Moose

A bit north of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, our Nat Hab adventure to Glacier National Park introduces you to the mighty moose. Keep an eye out for these massive mammals along the edges of waterways, where they’re often browsing and munching their way through the willows. Thanks to their exceptionally long legs, moose can move easily through water, as well as deep snow.

This trip includes a visit to Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park, and while there aren’t as many moose up there as in Glacier proper, you may see one in the low-lying wetland areas. Moose are a stealthy bunch, despite their 1,000-pound bodies, often moving undetected through brush and forest. If you’re hiking, you may find yourself suddenly coming upon one! If that happens, just keep as much space as possible between you and them and enjoy the view.

Mountain Goats

Speaking of Canada, the rugged Canadian Rockies are one of our favorite places to spot mountain goats. Despite the name, these athletic alpinists aren’t actually goats at all! Instead, these members of the bovidae family are more closely related to antelope and cattle. Bring your binoculars to get a peek at them from the gondola at Lake Louise in Banff National Park or while heli-hiking in the awe-inducing Bugaboos. Mountain goats thrive in these high-altitude environments. with hooves that are adapted to traverse precipitous peaks: the sharp outer rim grips the rock ledges, while the rubbery sole provides traction on both steep and slippery surfaces.

Caribou

Perhaps you’re heading to Alaska, where you’ll have opportunity to see another ungulate, the caribou. These “deer of the North” were used for ages by Indigenous cultures for food and clothing. Caribou are considered a social herd animal and are found both on open tundra and in the boreal forest, making Alaska their true happy place. While they can be a bit unpredictable to find, the herds often head to the Alaska coast during the summer, where they can hang out on the tidal flats—far from the pesky black flies that penetrate the interior.

Both male and female caribou have antlers, which differentiates them from all other deer species. They’re able to put up with the harsh Arctic temperatures thanks to their dense coat of hollow, club-shaped hairs, which have thicker tips than bases. This creates a nearly invincible coat with a thin, curly underwool and thickly packed outside layer.

Musk Ox

During our Alaska wildlife safari, you’ll also visit the Large Animal Research Station at the University of Alaska, where you’ll have the opportunity to see musk ox. These shaggy bovines wandered the planet during the Ice Age, sharing space with sabertooth tigers and wooly mammoths. Today there are about 3,500 musk oxen living in Alaska, including within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. You’ll have the chance to explore the reserve, with its blend of perfect ungulate conditions: open pasture and boreal forest.

Dall Sheep

Venture, too, into Alaska’s Denali National Park, where you may glimpse Dall sheep, moose and caribou. Learn about Dall sheep conservation and how intimately linked the population is with the park, as well as sheep in Alaska and Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Pronghorn

Moving from the boreal forests, vast grasslands and Arctic tundra, we head south to the canyons of the United States. Our Canyons Adventure takes you to the edge of the Grand Canyon, deep into Red Rock Country and to the pink pinnacles and soaring sandstone ramparts of Bryce and Zion national parks.

While you’re here, look for the pronghorn. It’s often referred to as the “pronghorn antelope,” although it’s more closely related to the giraffe than a true antelope! You’ll have to keep a keen eye out, because the pronghorn is the fastest land animal in North America, sprinting at 60 miles per hour and cruising comfortably at 45 miles per hour. There are an estimated 500,000 pronghorns across the western United States, down from 35 million in the early 1800s.

Bighorn Sheep

You’re also likely to glimpse speedy bighorn sheep while you’re in this region. They’re best known in these parts for their quickness and for their jousting matches with competitors—when they collide with another animal, they generate hundreds of pounds of force!

Key Deer

On we go to a more humid climate, the Florida Keys, where you’ll meet the adorable Key deer. This is the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer. The largest bucks only reach about three feet tall at the shoulder and weigh about 80 pounds. Females are generally two feet tall and weigh just 65 pounds.

The Key deer are native to the Florida Keys and are small due to their island habitat—an evolutionary phenomenon known as “island dwarfism.” It’s believed that this is a survival adaptation when faced with an environment that holds limited resources. These cute critters are excellent swimmers, which allows them to travel easily between the 26 islands of their territory. The National Key Deer Refuge was established in 1957 to protect the small population of remaining deer, which had been driven nearly to extinction in the 1940s. Today, the current population is estimated at 700 to 800 adult and sub-adult deer, certainly a resounding success.

Bonus Ungulate: Manatees

Would you believe that the Florida manatee is an ungulate? Technically, they’re considered a subungulate, which means they might be an evolutionary offshoot of a primitive ungulate. The manatee, or sea cow, as well as whales and dolphins, have developed enlarged claws that form hoofs. While boat collisions had reduced the manatee population in Florida, conservation and educational efforts have helped it rebound from just over 1,000 to more than 6,000 individuals – effectively downgrading the manatee from endangered to threatened.

From white-tailed deer and moose in Acadia National Park, to the muskoxen of Alaska, our Nat Hab adventures showcase the 12 native ungulate species of North America. If it’s a hoofed or horned mammal you’d love to see, our expert wildlife guides know where they’re likely to be and when—and the best, most respectful ways to see them. We hope you’ll journey with us to meet and marvel at the ungulates of North America!