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.
List of Different Types of Animals That Live in Alaska
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:
Green Sea Turtle
Leatherback Sea Turtle
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
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
State Land Mammal
Moose
State Marine Mammal
Bowhead Whale
State Dog
Alaskan Malamute
State Bird
Willow Ptarmigan
State Fish
King Salmon
State Insect
Four-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.
