Bald eagles, wolves, grizzly bears and other top predators require a rich diversity of plants and animals lower on the food chain to survive. As biologists look more closely at the complex connections between different species they are discovering more and more about the North Cascades ecosystem. As you explore the North Cascades you may be lucky enough to see some of the wildlife that live here. Wildlife sightings cards are available at all ranger stations to report animals you may see. Books and other resources to help you identify and learn about plants and wildlife are available through all National Park and Forest Service visitor centers.
Rangers lead guided walks most weekends and provide other naturalist services.
The animals below require large amounts of habitat to survive. Protecting the resources they need also protects the resources for thousands of smaller, less wide-ranging animals. Mountain Lion Seeing all but seldom seen, the stealthy mountain lion prowls the forests and mountains of the North Cascades. The solitary mountain lion, or cougar, is the largest cat in Washington and the second largest in North America. Mountain lions once ranged across much of North America but large-scale eradication programs decimated the animals' numbers in many regions.