Chico sits where the Sacramento Valley meets the Sierra and Cascade foothills, so its wildlife runs from wintering geese and eagles to black-tailed deer, coyotes, bobcats, rattlesnakes and spring-run salmon. This guide uses agency pages only and says what we could not confirm.
Checked October 30, 2026
- 1 million+waterfowl a year at Gray Lodge, per the state
- 7rattlesnake species in California
- Apr to Octmost rattlesnake bites
- Nov to Decwaterfowl peak at Sacramento River refuge
Animals You Might See
Where and when come from the source in the last column. “Might” is deliberate: a habitat range is not a sighting. Information as of October 30, 2026.
Deer, Bears, Lions and Other Big Animals
| Animal | Where and When, Per the Source | Safety Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black-tailed and mule deer | The Forest Service says mule deer are common in oak woodland and chaparral across California but absent from the Central Valley floor; black-tailed deer are the related group on the northern Pacific side. They favor stream bottoms in fall and south-facing slopes in winter. The page does not name Chico. Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge lists deer among its wildlife, and the state lists deer at the Oroville Wildlife Area. | Keep your distance. | Forest Service: mule deer; Sacramento River refuge; Oroville Wildlife Area |
| Black bear | The state agency counts about 61,000 black bears in California (2025 figures). We found no page placing bears near Chico, so local sightings are not confirmed. | Make noise on trails, keep your distance, do not run, make yourself large, use bear-resistant containers and never feed bears. Keep pets leashed. | CA Fish and Wildlife: black bear; CA Fish and Wildlife: living with bears; National Park Service: bear safety |
| Mountain lion | The state agency calls it North America’s second-largest cat: solitary, eating mostly deer. Attacks on people are rare, with six known fatal attacks in California since 1890. Specially protected since 1990. A long tail tells it from a bobcat. We found no page that counts lions near Chico. | Do not hike alone, keep children close at dawn and dusk, do not run, face it, look large and speak loudly, and fight back if attacked (National Park Service). | CA Fish and Wildlife: mountain lion; National Park Service: lion safety |
| Wild pig | The state agency says feral pigs descend from domestic pigs brought in the early 1700s plus wild boar hybrids, live in 56 of California’s 58 counties, mostly on private land, and are more nocturnal where hunted. The page does not mention Butte County. | Do not approach. | CA Fish and Wildlife: wild pig |
Coyotes, Foxes, Bobcats and Small Mammals
| Animal | Where and When, Per the Source | Safety Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coyote | The Forest Service says coyotes live in nearly every plant community, eat about 90 percent animal matter, and are active day and night with peaks at sunrise and sunset. The state agency says coyotes and foxes are becoming more visible in urban areas. | Never feed wildlife; food left out attracts animals and wildlife cannot be trapped and moved. Call 9-1-1 for an emergency. | Forest Service: coyote; CA Fish and Wildlife: coyotes |
| Bobcat | The Forest Service says bobcats are mostly active at dawn and dusk, hunt mainly cottontail rabbits, and use a mix of woodland, grass and chaparral in California studies. The state lists bobcat among wildlife at the Oroville Wildlife Area. | Keep small pets in at dusk and dawn (general guidance). | Forest Service: bobcat; Oroville Wildlife Area |
| Gray fox | The Forest Service says gray foxes are most common in mature chaparral at 1,000 to 3,000 feet and use riparian areas; one Central Valley study found riparian foxes eating pheasant, ground squirrels, voles and berries. They are mostly active at night and dusk and climb trees to escape. The state lists fox at the Oroville Wildlife Area. We found no page on red foxes in Butte County. | Foxes are among the animals most often found with rabies (CDC). Do not touch or feed one. | Forest Service: gray fox; Oroville Wildlife Area; CDC: rabies |
| Raccoon | University of California says raccoons are nocturnal, 7 to 30 pounds, and eat fruit, nuts, small animals, pet food and garbage. | Droppings can carry roundworm eggs, with children at most risk; raccoons can carry rabies and distemper and can be aggressive when cornered. | UC Integrated Pest Management |
| Striped skunk | University of California says skunks are cat-sized, mostly active at dawn, dusk and night, do not hibernate, and eat insects, grubs, rodents, fruit and garbage. | Skunks are among California’s most common rabies carriers; one that acts tame or wanders by day may be rabid. Stamping and hissing is a warning before it sprays, up to 6 to 10 feet. Never feed. | UC Integrated Pest Management |
| Beaver | The state agency calls beavers the largest North American rodent (up to 40 pounds), strict herbivores and mostly nocturnal, and notes a beaver restoration program began in 2023. The page gives no Butte County detail. | No safety note. | CA Fish and Wildlife: beaver |
| Western gray squirrel and California ground squirrel | University of California says the western gray squirrel lives mostly in foothill and valley oak woodland and pine-oak forest and is active by day. The ground squirrel is day-active and colonial, forages within about 75 yards of its burrow, and most adults go inactive in the hottest period. | Ground squirrel fleas can carry plague; do not handle dead squirrels, especially in a die-off, and keep children and pets away. | UC: tree squirrels; UC: ground squirrels |
| Black-tailed jackrabbit | The Forest Service says jackrabbits are common in open grassland and cropland, especially alfalfa, and need shrubs or small trees for cover. | No safety note. | Forest Service: jackrabbit |
| Bats | The state agency says bats eat huge numbers of insects and roost in attics, barns, bridges, caves and tree cavities. | Never touch a bat with bare hands. If bitten or scratched, call local public health, and stay out of roosts. | CA Fish and Wildlife: bats |
Birds
| Animal | Where and When, Per the Source | Safety Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ducks and geese | Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge lists mallards, wood ducks and geese, with ducks arriving in large numbers in September and October, waterfowl peaking in November and December, thousands of geese, and evening fly-offs in November. Gray Lodge Wildlife Area in Gridley reports more than 1 million waterfowl each year and over 300 resident and migratory species. A November 2019 Altacal Audubon trip to Gray Lodge noted thousands of Ross’s and snow geese. That is a past trip report, not a promise. | Gray Lodge: October to February, stay in your vehicle on the 3-mile auto loop. | Sacramento River refuge; Gray Lodge Wildlife Area; Altacal Audubon |
| Herons, egrets and other waterbirds | The refuge lists herons, egrets, grebes and shorebirds. Altacal Audubon notes green heron, osprey, American white pelican and belted kingfisher at the Sacramento River near the Chico washout. | No safety note. | Sacramento River refuge; Altacal Audubon |
| Bald eagle | The Fish and Wildlife Service says fish are a staple and eagles gather near open water in winter, often below dams or along tributaries. The state lists the bald eagle as fully protected and state-listed. A December 2019 Altacal raptor survey near Oroville found bald eagles (a past trip report). | Do not disturb; federally protected. | US Fish and Wildlife: bald eagle; CA Fish and Wildlife: raptors; Altacal Audubon |
| Golden eagle | The Forest Service says golden eagles in California favor grasslands, shrubland and open blue oak woodland, eat rabbits, hares and ground squirrels, and can have a wingspan of about 7 feet. | Sensitive to people; fully protected in California. | Forest Service: golden eagle; US Fish and Wildlife: golden eagle |
| Red-tailed hawk and other raptors | The Forest Service says red-tailed hawks hunt from perches over open land, woodland edge and farmland, mostly for small mammals. The state names red-tailed hawk, osprey, peregrine falcon, great horned owl, barn owl and turkey vulture among California raptors; Swainson’s hawk is state-threatened, and burrowing owl and northern harrier are species of special concern. The refuge says raptors peak in December. | Do not handle or disturb raptors; all are protected. | Forest Service: red-tailed hawk; CA Fish and Wildlife: raptors; Sacramento River refuge |
| Wild turkey | The Forest Service says turkeys use mature open oak and pine-oak forest with grassy openings, need water daily, and eat seeds, fruit and insects. The page gives no California introduction details. | Give them room; do not feed. | Forest Service: wild turkey |
| Songbirds of Bidwell Park | Altacal Audubon lists acorn woodpecker, oak titmouse, yellow-breasted chat, Bullock’s oriole, Anna’s hummingbird, Wilson’s warbler, belted kingfisher and green heron around the Yahi Trail and Horseshoe Lake. | No safety note. | Altacal Audubon |
| Sandhill crane and white-tailed kite (Oroville area) | Altacal Audubon trip reports from December 2019 and February 2018 near Oroville found sandhill cranes, white-tailed kite, northern harrier and burrowing owl. Past trip reports. The state lists white-tailed kite and osprey at the Oroville Wildlife Area. | Do not disturb. | Altacal Audubon; Oroville Wildlife Area |
Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians and Insects
| Animal | Where and When, Per the Source | Safety Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rattlesnakes | The state agency says California has 7 rattlesnake species, they generally retreat if not provoked, hunt mostly rodents, are most active at dawn, dusk and night in spring and summer, and most bites happen from April to October. The page covers rattlesnakes in general, not Bidwell Park; we found no City of Chico page on snakes. | Wear sturdy boots and long pants, stay on trails, avoid tall grass, check logs and rocks, keep dogs leashed and never handle a snake, even a dead one. If bitten call 9-1-1, remove rings and watches, and use no tourniquet, ice, cutting or sucking. Poison Control: 800-222-1222. | CA Fish and Wildlife: rattlesnakes |
| Western pond turtle | The Fish and Wildlife Service says it lives in streams, ponds, lakes and wetlands, nests on nearby uplands, can live up to 50 years, and juveniles are eaten by bullfrogs and non-native fish such as bass. Sacramento River refuge lists turtles among its wildlife. | Leave turtles where you find them. | US Fish and Wildlife: pond turtle; Sacramento River refuge |
| Spring-run Chinook salmon | The state agency says adults enter the Sacramento River from late March through September, hold in cool water in summer and spawn from mid-August to early October. Remnant runs persist in Butte Creek. The page does not mention Big Chico Creek. Listed threatened (state and federal) in 1999. The Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville has viewing windows for salmon and steelhead. | Follow current fishing rules. | CA Fish and Wildlife: Chinook salmon; Lake Oroville State Recreation Area |
| Green sturgeon | The state agency says the southern population spawns mostly in the upper Sacramento River, is federally threatened, and may not be taken in California. All sturgeon fishing is banned on the Sacramento River from the Highway 162 bridge to Keswick Dam. | Do not fish for sturgeon in that reach. | CA Fish and Wildlife: green sturgeon |
| Feather River and Lake Oroville fish | The Oroville Wildlife Area page says the Feather River has salmon, steelhead, shad and striped bass, and nearby ponds hold largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish, channel catfish and black crappie. State Parks lists largemouth and smallmouth bass, Chinook salmon, catfish, Mackinaw, sturgeon, brown trout and white crappie at Lake Oroville. | A fishing license is required; mussel inspection is required at Lake Oroville; check black bass slot limits. | Oroville Wildlife Area; Lake Oroville State Recreation Area |
| Valley elderberry longhorn beetle | The Fish and Wildlife Service says it is about 2 cm long, red and dark green, lives on elderberry shrubs in Central Valley riparian areas and foothill oak woodland, and has been federally threatened since 1980. Adults emerge about March through June. The Sacramento River refuge lists it among its threatened species. | Do not damage elderberry shrubs. | US Fish and Wildlife: elderberry beetle; Sacramento River refuge |
Where to Watch
These places have an official page that names the animals.
- Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge: Per the refuge: 24 of 30 units open for hiking and fishing, daily from 2 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset, no recreation fee. (source)
- Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, Gridley: Per the state: open sunrise to sunset, CDFW Lands Pass for age 16 and up, a 3-mile auto loop in winter, a wetland trail and two hides. Phone 530-846-7500. (source)
- Oroville Wildlife Area: Riparian woodland on the Feather River; the state lists deer, coyote, fox, bobcat, osprey and white-tailed kite. The Afterbay Outlet boat ramp and campground are closed until summer 2027. Phone 530-538-2236. (source)
- Lake Oroville and the Feather River Fish Hatchery: Wildlife viewing, fishing and the hatchery windows, per State Parks. (source)
- Bidwell Park: Altacal Audubon lists the park’s birding spots; see our park guide for trails and rules. (source)
Staying Safe Around Wildlife
Each note below comes from the agency it names, read October 30, 2026. Check the current rule with that agency before you rely on it; general guidance is labelled as such.
- Do not feed wildlife. The state agency says never feed bears or other wildlife, and feeding big game is prohibited in California (CA Fish and Wildlife).
- Rattlesnakes: see the table above. Check with the City of Chico about Bidwell Park signs and closures; this is not confirmed here.
- Mountain lions and bears: see the table above.
- Sick or injured wildlife: contact a local wildlife rehabilitator; most are volunteers, are not open 24 hours and do not transport animals. In an emergency call 9-1-1 (CA Fish and Wildlife).
- Rabies: the CDC says over 90 percent of animal rabies cases are in wildlife, and bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes are most often found rabid. Stay away from wild animals, wash any bite with soap and water, and see a doctor right away (CDC).
- Ticks: walk in the center of trails, use an EPA-registered repellent, treat gear with 0.5 percent permethrin and check your body within two hours; ticks are most active April to September (CDC).
- Mosquitoes and West Nile virus: use repellent, wear long sleeves and limit time outdoors at dusk and dawn; there is no vaccine for people (CDC).
What We Could Not Verify
- Rattlesnake and coyote guidance from the City of Chico for Bidwell Park. The City site did not answer; check with the City of Chico Parks Division.
- Whether black bears or mountain lions are regularly seen near Chico. The sources give statewide counts or habitat, not local sightings. Local sightings not confirmed.
- Ringtail, river otter, great horned and barn owl details, gopher snake, kingsnake and western fence lizard, steelhead, rainbow trout, striped bass and Sacramento pikeminnow: not confirmed for this area; check the official page.
- Whether spring-run Chinook use Big Chico Creek, and any Llano Seco unit page. Check with CDFW and the Fish and Wildlife Service.
- How many sandhill cranes and snow geese use the valley this winter. Altacal Audubon trip reports are past counts, not forecasts; check with Gray Lodge and the refuge.
- Current open and closed status of the Oroville Wildlife Area boat ramp and Gray Lodge trails; check with CDFW before you go.
- Wildlife specific to Paradise and the Ridge and the Lassen foothills: not confirmed; check the official page.
More Guides
Questions People Ask
What animals live around Chico?
Agency pages place deer, coyotes, bobcats, gray foxes, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, wild turkeys, eagles, hawks, rattlesnakes, pond turtles and, in winter, huge flocks of ducks and geese across the Chico region. Local sightings of bears and mountain lions are not confirmed.
Are there rattlesnakes in Bidwell Park?
Not confirmed here; check with the City of Chico. The state says California has 7 rattlesnake species, most bites happen April to October, and snakes generally retreat if not provoked. Stay on trails and watch where you step.
Are there bears near Chico?
The state counts about 61,000 black bears in California. We found no page that counts bears near Chico. If you see one, stay calm, do not run and never feed it.
Where can I see snow geese near Chico?
Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge reports waterfowl peaking in November and December, and Gray Lodge Wildlife Area in Gridley reports more than 1 million waterfowl a year. Check each before you go.
When can I see salmon near Chico?
The state says spring-run Chinook spawn in the Sacramento River from mid-August to early October, and the Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville has viewing windows for salmon and steelhead.
Is it safe to feed deer or coyotes?
No. The state says never feed wildlife, food left out attracts animals, and feeding big game is prohibited in California.
What should I do if I see a mountain lion?
Do not run. Face it, look large, speak loudly and leave it a way out. If it attacks, fight back, per the National Park Service.
Sources
- California Fish and Wildlife, black bear: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Black-Bear (checked October 30, 2026)
- California Fish and Wildlife, black bear safety: https://wildlife.ca.gov/HWC/Black-Bears (checked October 30, 2026)
- California Fish and Wildlife, mountain lion: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Mountain-Lion (checked October 30, 2026)
- California Fish and Wildlife, wild pig: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Wild-Pig (checked October 30, 2026)
- California Fish and Wildlife, coyotes: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Living-with-Wildlife/Coyotes (checked October 30, 2026)
- California Fish and Wildlife, beaver: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Beaver (checked October 30, 2026)
- California Fish and Wildlife, bats: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Bats (checked October 30, 2026)
- California Fish and Wildlife, raptors: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Birds/Raptors (checked October 30, 2026)
- California Fish and Wildlife, Chinook salmon: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Fishes/Chinook-Salmon (checked October 30, 2026)
- California Fish and Wildlife, green sturgeon: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Fishes/Green-Sturgeon (checked October 30, 2026)
- California Fish and Wildlife, rattlesnakes: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Reptiles/Rattlesnake (checked October 30, 2026)
- California Fish and Wildlife, Gray Lodge Wildlife Area: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Gray-Lodge-WA (checked October 30, 2026)
- California Fish and Wildlife, Oroville Wildlife Area: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Oroville-WA (checked October 30, 2026)
- Forest Service FEIS mule deer: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/animals/mammal/odhe/all.html (checked October 30, 2026)
- Forest Service FEIS coyote: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/animals/mammal/cala/all.html (checked October 30, 2026)
- Forest Service FEIS bobcat: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/animals/mammal/lyru/all.html (checked October 30, 2026)
- Forest Service FEIS gray fox: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/animals/mammal/urci/all.html (checked October 30, 2026)
- Forest Service FEIS jackrabbit: https://research.fs.usda.gov/feis/species-reviews/leca (checked October 30, 2026)
- Forest Service FEIS wild turkey: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/animals/bird/mega/all.html (checked October 30, 2026)
- Forest Service FEIS red-tailed hawk: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/animals/bird/buja/all.html (checked October 30, 2026)
- Forest Service FEIS golden eagle: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/animals/bird/aqch/all.html (checked October 30, 2026)
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento River refuge: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sacramento-river (checked October 30, 2026)
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, golden eagle: https://www.fws.gov/species/golden-eagle-aquila-chrysaetos (checked October 30, 2026)
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, bald eagle: https://www.fws.gov/species/bald-eagle-haliaeetus-leucocephalus (checked October 30, 2026)
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, western pond turtle: https://www.fws.gov/species/western-pond-turtle-actinemys-marmorata (checked October 30, 2026)
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, elderberry beetle: https://www.fws.gov/species/valley-elderberry-longhorn-beetle-desmocerus-californicus-dimorphus (checked October 30, 2026)
- California State Parks, Lake Oroville: https://parks.ca.gov/LakeOroville/ (checked October 30, 2026)
- UC IPM, raccoons: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/raccoons/ (checked October 30, 2026)
- UC IPM, skunks: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/skunks/ (checked October 30, 2026)
- UC IPM, tree squirrels: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/tree-squirrels/pest-notes/ (checked October 30, 2026)
- UC IPM, ground squirrels: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/ground-squirrel/pest-notes/ (checked October 30, 2026)
- Altacal Audubon, birding sites: https://www.altacal.org/Birding-Sites (checked October 30, 2026)
- National Park Service, mountain lion safety: https://www.nps.gov/articles/mountain-lion-safety.htm (checked October 30, 2026)
- National Park Service, bear safety: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm (checked October 30, 2026)
- CDC, rabies: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/about/index.html (checked October 30, 2026)
- CDC, tick prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/prevention/index.html (checked October 30, 2026)
- CDC, West Nile virus: https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/prevention/index.html (checked October 30, 2026)
On The Map
Cite this page: It's Chico, “Chico Wildlife: Deer, Coyotes, Eagles, Snow Geese, Snakes and Safety”, itschico.com/guides/wildlife/ (updated ). By the It's Chico editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.