Wildlife of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is a chaparral city — its canyons and the Santa Monica Mountains support mountain lions, bobcats, mule deer and California quail within sight of downtown. Coastal wetlands like Ballona hold herons and shorebirds, and the LA River (yes, really) has become a stop for migrating warblers, egrets and osprey.
Best timeMarch – May for spring migrants, October – December after the first rains bring the hills back to life.
- 1P-22, LA's most famous mountain lion, lived alone in Griffith Park for a decade.
- 2The LA River supports 200+ bird species despite being mostly concrete.
- 3Ballona Wetlands is the last coastal marsh in the LA basin.
Signature species
Curated for Los Angeles, California, each tagged with its IUCN Red List status.
- LC
Mountain lion
Puma concolor
Local population isolated by freeways.
- NT
California gnatcatcher
Polioptila californica
- EN
Least Bell's vireo
Vireo bellii pusillus
- VU
Western pond turtle
Actinemys marmorata
- LC
California quail
Callipepla californica
IUCN codes — EX extinct · EW extinct in wild · CR critically endangered · EN endangered · VU vulnerable · NT near threatened · LC least concern · DD data deficient
Dos & don'ts
Local etiquette that keeps wildlife wild.
Do
- Drive slowly through Malibu and Topanga at dusk — wildlife-vehicle strikes are common.
- Support wildlife crossings on the 101.
- Keep distance — use zoom or binoculars, never bait animals closer.
- Stay on marked trails to avoid trampling nests, burrows and plants.
Don't
- Don't leave pet food or trash out — it attracts coyotes and bears.
- Don't disturb monarchs overwintering in Pacific Palisades.
- Never feed wildlife — human food changes behaviour and shortens lives.
- Don't share exact locations of nests, dens or rare species online.
Spotted here lately
Live from iNaturalist — research-grade observations within 60km, last 30 days.
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