When you think of a city-centre park in the heart of Manhattan, wildlife might not be the first word that comes to mind. But with 843 acres of meadows, forests and lakes, this urban park is deceptively biodiverse. A 2013 survey of the park's wildlife found a total of 571 species.
Some animals are year-round inhabitants, while others visit over the summer. Central Park is a common stopping point for birds on their migration south, so you have the chance to see these too. Birds, including sparrows, goldfinches and blue jays, are the most common inhabitants of the park – throughout its history, more than 303 avian species have been spotted.
The park is also home to ten species of mammals, with squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks and opossums inhabiting the park.
With seven main lakes and ponds peppered across Central Park, there are plenty of fish, too, with fishing permitted in the Harlem Meer, the Lake and the Pond. All fishing is catch-and-release only, however, so the practice doesn’t diminish the numbers in these bodies of water.
Animals that live in New York’s Central Park
Red-eared slider
Turtles are the most common inhabitant of the waters of Central Park, mostly located in the aptly named Turtle Pond, a two-acre pond created in 1937 as part of the construction of the Great Lawn. Five different species of turtle inhabit the pond, including red-eared sliders (the most common), snapping, painted, musk and box turtles. In the winter, turtles burrow into the mud at the bottom of the pond to stay warm.
Coyote
Originally based exclusively in the west of the US, coyotes have spread throughout the eastern states since the 1900s, due to a decline in predators and the transformation of farmland into suburbs. Researchers estimate that there are around 20 coyotes living in New York City, with several living in Central Park, including a well-known pair nicknamed 'Romeo and Juliet', due to their regular visits to Delacorte Theater, home of Shakespeare in the Park.
Red-tailed hawk
A magnificent red-tailed hawk by the name of Pale Male used to call Central Park its home. He hatched in 1990, arrived in Central Park in 1991 and is believed to have lived until 2023, named by the author Marie Winn because of his very light head. During his life, he became something of a New York legend, with birdwatchers setting up telescopes to observe his nest at 927 Fifth Avenue.
Birds are the most commonly found inhabitants of Central Park, with red-tailed hawks appearing alongside owls, chickadees, woodpeckers and lots of ducks.
Eastern grey squirrel
Squirrels are the most common mammal found in Central Park, notably the eastern grey. The park is believed to be home to around 2,373 eastern grey squirrels, based on the 2019 Squirrel Census.
Virginia opossum
Instead of finding permanent living areas, Virginia opossums set up temporary dens in the hollows of trees and buildings, using their tails to balance as they climb tall trees. These nocturnal creatures are North America’s only marsupial, and are found in Central Park all year round.
Eastern chipmunk
Often seen in parks across New York City, eastern chipmunks prefer the forested areas of Central Park, which provide seeds and nuts for them to feed on and help them hide from predators. While they are found in the park throughout the year, they’re particularly easy to spot in summer when they are more active, collecting nuts and seeds to store for the winter, when they remain in their burrows.
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Raccoon
Raccoons are one of the more common mammals in the park – but are also considered to be the most dangerous to encounter, because they can carry rabies.
A throng of raccoons at the edge of the Pond in Central Park became something of a tourist attraction, when they were seen emerging as dusk fell hoping to find parkgoers armed with enticing snacks. These animals are New Yorkers at heart, found in all five boroughs of New York – often raising families in the cavities of old, large trees, of which the city is home to many.
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