Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest, is the 9th largest state in the US. It has the Columbia River flowing along its northern border, while the Snake River marks the eastern border. The state meets the Pacific Ocean on its western side. The state also hosts parts of the Blue Mountain and Klamath Mountain regions. The Cascade Range also extends through Oregon.
Thanks to its diverse geography, the state’s landscape consists of rugged coastlines, lush forests, high desert plateaus, and volcanic peaks.
Renowned for its stunning natural beauty, Oregon’s wildlife is no less amazing, with animals like black bears, cougars, bighorn sheep, and hundreds of birds, frogs, lizards, and fishes calling it their home.
The Crater Lake National Park, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge are only a few places you can visit to get a closer look at the state’s flora and fauna.
List of Different Types of Animals Found in Oregon
Mammals
Bighorn Sheep
Mountain Goat
Moose
Black-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer
Elk
Pronghorn
Cougar
Gray Wolf
Black Bear
Coyote
Bobcat
Gray Fox
Red Fox
Raccoon
American Beaver
American Badger
Striped Skunk
Spotted Skunk
Long-tailed Weasel
North American Porcupine
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Douglas Squirrel
Western Gray Squirrel
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Brush Rabbit
American Pika
Little Brown Bat
Big Brown Bat
Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
River Otter
Fisher
American Mink
California Sea Lion
Harbor Seal
Steller Sea Lion
Pacific White-sided Dolphin
Dall’s Porpoise
Common Minke Whale
Humpback Whale
Grizzlies, bison, wolverines, and Canada lynxes lived in this state until their populations got extirpated. Some animals, like the bighorn sheep and mountain goats, have a stable population after being reintroduced.
Birds
Western Meadowlark
Anna’s Hummingbird
American Goldfinch
House Finch
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Sandhill Crane
American White Pelican
Osprey
Turkey Vulture
Reptiles
Painted Turtle
Western Pond Turtle
Northern Alligator Lizard
Western Skink
Western Fence Lizard
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake
Gopher Snake
Ring-neck Snake
Eastern Racer
Common Kingsnake
Rubber Boa
Common Garter Snake
Terrestrial Garter Snake
Amphibians
Tiger Salamander
Rough-skinned Newt
Black Salamander
Oregon Slender Salamander
Pacific Tree Frog
Great Basin Spadefoot Toad
Western Toad
Northern Leopard Frog
Oregon Spotted Frog
Fishes
Chinook Salmon
Coho Salmon
Steelhead Trout
Rainbow Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Brook Trout
Northern Pikeminnow
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Black Crappie
White Crappie
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Northern Pike
Channel Catfish
Blue Catfish
White Sturgeon
Green Sturgeon
Surfperch
Halibut
Pacific Herring
Sardine
Salmon Shark
Pacific Sleeper Shark
Brown Catshark
Spiny Dogfish
Though there are several sharks native to the waters off the Oregon coast, they are not commonly encountered by regular beachgoers.
Insects and Invertebrates
Oregon Swallowtail
Oregon Silverspot Butterfly
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Mourning Cloak Butterfly
Western Boxelder Bug
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Western Tent Caterpillar
Western Flower Thrips
Douglas-fir Tussock Moth
Western Honey Bee
Bumblebee
Western Carpenter Ant
Western Paper Wasp
Western Yellowjacket
Pacific Coast Iris Borer Moth
Oregon Spotted Sphinx Moth
Common Green Lacewing
Western Boxelder Leafhopper
Meadowhawk Dragonfly
Giant House Spider
Western Black Widow
Dungeness Crab
State Animals Of Oregon
State Animal
American beaver
State Bird
Western Meadowlark
State Raptor
Osprey
State Fish
Chinook salmon
State Insect
Oregon swallowtail
State Crustacean
Dungeness crab
State Seashell
Oregon hairy triton
FAQ
1. What are the most dangerous animals in Oregon?
Oregon has several large to medium predatory carnivores, including cougars, black bears, gray wolves, and coyotes. Additionally, there are deadly venomous snakes and spiders like the northern Pacific rattlesnake, black widow, and brown recluse.
2. Are there any endangered animals living in Oregon?
Over a dozen native animals are considered to be threatened or endangered, including the gray wolf, white-tailed deer, snowy plover, northern spotted owl, and western pond turtle.
3. What are some common invasive animals in Oregon?
The Virginia opossum and nutria are two invasive mammals, while the American bullfrog is an invasive amphibian in Oregon. Some more animals threatening the native ecosystem are the common snapping turtle, Chinese mitten crab, Asian carp, and Silver carp.
