New York, located in the northeastern region of the United States, boasts diverse geography with rich flora and fauna. The state is divided into two main parts – Upstate and Downstate New York. Downstate is the most populous part, with the New York City metropolitan area. Most of the wildlife is in Upstate New York, with the Great Lakes on one side and Lake Champlain on the other. This is also where the Adirondack Mountains and the Catskill Mountains are located. The state’s varied terrain includes dense forests, fertile farmlands, and stunning waterways like Lake Ontario and the Hudson River.
The Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Fire Island National Seashore are excellent places for wildlife watching in the state. Visiting the mountain ranges for a hike can also bring you closer to various wild animals.
List of Different Types of Animals Found in New York
All the animals in the list below are native to the state of New York.
Mammals
Eastern Moose
White-tailed Deer
Black Bear
Bobcat
Red Fox
Allegheny Woodrat
American Marten
North American Beaver
Fisher
Long-tailed Weasel
American Mink
Northern Short-tailed Shrew
Muskrat
New England Cottontail
Eastern Cottontail
Snowshoe Hare
Raccoon
American Badger
North American Porcupine
North American River Otter
Striped Skunk
Eastern Chipmunks
Eastern Gray Squirrels
Virginia Opossums
Star-nosed Mole
Woodland Jumping Mouse
Indiana Bat
Little Brown Bat
Northern Long-eared Bat
Harbour Seal
Harp SealÂ
Gray Seal
Other animals that used to live here, but have been extirpated include the Canada lynx, cougar, and gray wolf.
Birds
Eastern Bluebird
Piping Plover
Chimney Swift
Cerulean Warbler
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Screech Owl
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Reptiles
Eastern Box Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Eastern Painted Turtle
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
Timber Rattlesnake
Eastern Copperhead
Northern Ringneck Snake
Northern Water Snake
Eastern Garter Snake
Shorthead Garter Snake
Black Rat Snake
Eastern Milk Snake
Northern Black Racer
Eastern Hognose Snake
Northern Red-Bellied Snake
Smooth Green Snake
Northern Brown Snake
Eastern Ribbon Snake
Eastern Worm Snake
Queen Snake
Five-lined Skink
Northern Fence Lizard
Italian Wall Lizard
Northern Coal Skink
Amphibians
Eastern American Toad
Fowler’s Toad
Gray Treefrog
Northern Spring Peeper
American BullfrogÂ
Northern Leopard Frog
Redback Salamander
Eastern Red-spotted Newt
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Two-lined Salamander
Northern Redback Salamander
Fishes
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Northern Pike
Walleye
Chain Pickerel
Muskellunge (Muskie)
Pumpkinseed
Brook Trout
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Lake Sturgeon
Channel Catfish
Striped Bass
Summer Flounder
Black Sea Bass
Winter Flounder
Bluefish
Blackfish
Scup
Atlantic Cod
American Eel
Weakfish
Oyster Toadfish
Monkfish
Atlantic Menhaden
Alewife
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Smooth Hammerhead Shark
Spiny Dogfish
Blue Shark
Common Thresher
Insects and Invertebrates
Monarch Butterfly
Red-spotted Purple Butterfly
Karner Blue Butterfly
Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle
American Burying Beetle
Whitespotted Pine Sawyer
Boxelder BugÂ
Annual Cicadas
Cricket
Walkingstick
Firefly
Nine-spotted Ladybug
Grasshopper
Katydid
Grasshopper
Katydid
Bumblebee
Praying Mantis
Cockroach
Silverfish
Black And Yellow Garden Spider
Jumping Spider
Wolf Spider
State Animals of New York
State Mammal
North American Beaver
State Bird
Eastern Bluebird
State Freshwater Fish
Brook Trout
State Saltwater Fish
Striped Bass
State Reptile
Snapping Turtle
State Insect
Nine-spotted Ladybug
State Butterfly
Red-spotted Purple
FAQ
What are the most dangerous animals in New York?
Some potentially dangerous animals you are likely to come across, even in urban areas, are common snapping turtles, raccoons, and skunks. There are few large predators in the state, except black bears, which you are only likely to encounter if you visit their wild habitat. There are also venomous and deadly snakes like the timber rattlesnake, Massasauga, and eastern copperhead. Moose and white-tailed deer can also be pretty aggressive if provoked, especially if their babies are around.
What are some rare animals in New York?
Plenty of animals are considered threatened or endangered in the state of New York, which makes them quite rare. These include mammals like the Indiana bat, Allegheny woodrat, and all the whales. Protected bird species include the golden eagle, piping plover, and black rail, while insects include the Karner blue butterfly and American burying beetle.
What are some common invasive animals in New York?
Some of the most common invasive species threatening the native wildlife and ecosystem of the state are insects like the hemlock woolly adelgid, spotted lanternfly, and spongy moth. Fish like the round goby and crustaceans like the Chinese mitten crab are also considered invasive and nuisance.
What nocturnal animals are you likely to encounter in New York?
Bats, owls, raccoons, skunks, opossums, badgers, and foxes are a few of the animals in New York that you will likely encounter at night.
