Animals in Arkansas

Arkansas is a true heaven for wildlife, with great diversity in its terrain that offers all types of habitats. From the Ozark Mountains in the north to the Ouachita Mountains in the west and the Mississippi Delta in the east – the whole state is home to numerous large and small animals, including bears, foxes, bats, snakes, frogs, salamanders, and spiders.

At present, 56% of its total land is occupied by forests. And over 80% of these forests are national parks open to the public, with only the remaining 20% in private hands. Mount Nebo, Village Creek, Lake Ouachita, and Mount Magazine State Parks are just a few wildlife reserves where you can watch animals.

List of Different Types of Animals Found in Arkansas

Mammals

White-tailed Deer
American Black Bear
Raccoon
Virginia Opossum
Coyote
Mink
Bobcat
Red Fox
Gray Fox
Northern River Otter
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Southern Flying Squirrel
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
Eastern Mole
Nine-banded Armadillo
Eastern Chipmunk
Little Brown Bat
Eastern Pipistrelle Bat
Eastern Red Bat
Ozark Big-eared Bat
Virginia Big-eared Bat
Northern Long-eared Bat
Eastern Small-footed Bat
Indiana Bat
Eastern Mole
Striped Skunk
Eastern Spotted Skunk
Eastern Hog-nosed Skunk
Long-tailed Weasel
Southern Short-tailed Shrew
Eastern Shrew
Swamp Rabbit
Eastern Woodrat
Marsh Rice Rat
Southern Bog Lemming
Eastern Harvest Mouse

Birds

Northern Mockingbird
Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Bluebird
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Mallard
American Coot
American Wigeon
Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Reptiles

American Alligator
Copperhead
Timber Rattlesnake
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake
Western Pigmy Rattlesnake
Western Ribbon Snake
Diamondback Water Snake
Eastern Racer
Common Garter Snake
Western Skink
Five-lined Skink
Broad-headed Skink
Ground Skink
Southeastern Five-lined Skink
Western Fence Lizard
Side-blotched Lizard
Common Collared Lizard
Desert Spiny Lizard
Green Anole
Brown Anole
Western Painted Turtle
Northwestern Pond Turtle
Western Pond Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Red-eared Slider
Spiny Softshell Turtle
Desert Box Turtle
Ornate Box Turtle
Blanding’s Turtle

Amphibians

Ouachita Dusky Salamander
Western Redback Salamander
Marbled Salamander
Cave Salamander
Smallmouth Salamander
Spotted Dusky Salamander
Four-toed Salamander
Mole Salamander
Slimy Salamander
Eastern Tiger Salamander
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Slimy Salamander
Three-toed Amphiuma
Lesser Siren
American Bullfrog
Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
Pickerel Frog
Plains Leopard Frog
Northern Cricket Frog
Cajun Chorus Frog
Crawfish Frog
Spring Peeper
Cope’s Gray Treefrog
Gray Treefrog
Green Treefrog
American Toad
Fowler’s Toad
Gulf Coast Toad
Great Plains Toad
Couch’s Spadefoot Toad
Eastern Spadefoot
Plains Spadefoot
Sonoran Desert Toad
Western Narrow-mouthed Toad
Central Newt
Red River Mudpuppy
Ozark Hellbender

Fishes

Alligator Gar
Yellow-cheek Darter
Paleback Darter
Ouachita Madtom
Caddo Madtom
Ozark Cavefish
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Spotted Bass
White Bass
Striped Bass
Channel Catfish
Blue Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Crappie (Black and White)
Bluegill
Redear Sunfish
Longear Sunfish
Green Sunfish
White Crappie
Black Crappie
Northern Pike
Muskellunge
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Brook Trout
Spotted Gar
Bowfin
Chain Pickerel

Insects And Invertebrates

Brown Recluse Spider
Black Widow
Granddaddy Long Legs
Diana Fritillary Butterfly
Monarch Butterfly
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail
Green June Bug
Praying Mantis
Walking Stick
Mosquito
Firefly
Ladybug
Dragonfly
Grasshoppers
Honey Bees
Fire Ant
Beetles
Moths
Wasps
Crickets
Cicadas

State Animals of Arkansas

State Mammal	White-tailed Deer
State Bird	Northern Mockingbird
State Primitive Fish	Alligator Gar
State Insect	Honey Bee
State Butterfly	Diana Fritillary Butterfly

FAQ

1. What are the most dangerous animals in Arkansas?

Large predatory animals like black bears, coyotes, bobcats, and American alligators are among the most dangerous animals in the state. The list includes all the rattlesnakes and venomous insects like brown recluse spiders and black widows.

2. Are there any endangered animals in Arkansas?

Several animals found in this state have been classified as threatened or endangered, with the Ozark big-eared bat, Indiana bat, Ouachita madtom, Ozark hellbender, and Red-cockaded woodpecker, to name a few.

3. Are there any animals that are found only in Arkansas?

Arkansas is home to numerous fish species, with the yellow-cheek darter, pale-back darter, and Ouachita madtom found only in this state.