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Watchable Wildlife
Meet the Critters that Call Arkansas Home
Arkansans share the state’s natural beauty with the wildlife that inhabit the forests and wetlands. But catching a glimpse of these animals in the wild isn’t as easy as finding them in a zoo. Here are some of the places to search and methods of tracking down some of Arkansas’s most sought-after wildlife.
Black Bears
Arkansas was once known as The Bear State due to its large population of black bears. The black bear’s numbers dwindled over the years as pioneers settled the state and vast wilderness areas diminished. By most estimates, there were only 50 black bears left in Arkansas in the 1930s. But through the restocking efforts of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the state’s population of black bears has increased to 3,000, according to current estimates.
Today, the best places to see a black bear in Arkansas are on the shorelines of rivers in east-central Arkansas, specifically the White River Refuge or the Trusten Holder Wildlife Management Area. Another good bet is one of the many secluded dirt roads in the Ozark or Ouachita Mountains. Two paved roads that cut through this area are the Talimena National Scenic Drive and the Arkansas 309/Mount Magazine Scenic Drive.
Elk
Like the black bear, the elk was once prevalent across the nation’s Midwest but dwindled as its natural habitat diminished. The eastern elk subspecies was native to Arkansas but became extinct in the late 1800s.
The U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission have cooperated to restock the state with other subspecies of elk and expand the animal’s habitat. By current estimates, there are 450 to 500 elk in the state.
The most reliable places to find elk are Newton and Searcy counties and National Park Service land along the Buffalo River’s upper and middle sections. Boxley Valley along Arkansas 43 and Arkansas 21 and the Erbie campground are also good places to check out. Elk may also be seen along roads leading east and west from the Arkansas 7 bridge at Pruitt and in fields near the Arkansas 123 bridge at Carver.
Birds
Arkansas made birding history in 2005 with a reported spotting of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker on the Cache River in eastern Arkansas. Since then, scientists, researchers and bird enthusiasts have flocked to the Arkansas Delta in the hopes of confirming the sighting of this elusive bird.
Bird watchers interested in sighting the majestic bald eagle are likely to spot one during winter in the Ouachitas. As one of Arkansas’s most notable avian attractions, the bald eagle can be found near Arkansas’s larger lakes and rivers.
The Big Woods Birding Opportunities Web site, developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, includes maps, information on trails and canoe access points, and links to lodging and camping information. Visit www.fws.gov/arkansas-es/bigwoodsbirding for more information. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission also provides information on opportunities to see the Ivory-billed Woodpecker and the bald eagle.
Others
There are many more animals worth looking for in The Natural State. Bald eagles and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker are two examples of the 310 observable species of birds. Butterflies are also a big hit, and the Mount Magazine Butterfly Festival, held annually every June, is a great way to see them. Visit Birdinginarkansas.com for more information on these and other watchable wildlife.
Information provided by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
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