Thirty-four different types of land mammals live within the two-million-acre refuge, including both open tundra and boreal forest-adapted species. The list below includes their common, Iñupiaq, and scientific names.

Rodents

  • Arctic ground squirrel / Siksrik (Urocitellus parryii)
  • North American red squirrel / Saqalataayiq (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
  • Muskrat / Kigvaluk (Ondatra zibethicus)
  • Beaver / PaÅ‚uqtaq (Castor canadensis)
  • North American porcupine/ Iluqtaq (Erethizon dorsatum)
  • Greenland collared lemming / QilaÅ‹miutauraq (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus)
  • Nearctic brown lemming / AviÅ‹aq (Lemmus trimucronatus)
  • Northern redback vole / Aviññaq (Myodes rutilus)
  • Meadow vole / Aviññaq (Microtus pennsylvanicus)
  • Tundra vole / Aviññaq (Microtus oeconomus)
  • Singing vole / Aviññaq (Microtus miurus)

Insectivores (shrews)

  • Masked shrew / UgruÅ‹naq (Sorex cinereus)
  • Dusky shrew / UgruÅ‹naq (Sorex obscurus)
  • American pygmy shrew / UgruÅ‹naq (Sorex eximus)
  • Barren ground shrew / UgruÅ‹naq (Sorex ugyunak)
  • Holarctic least shrew / UgruÅ‹naq (Sorex minutissimus)
  • Tundra shrew / UgruÅ‹naq (Sorex tundrensis)

Lagomorphs (hares)

  • Tundra hare / Ukallisugruk (Lepus arcticus)
  • Snowshoe hare / Ukalliq (Lepus americanus)

Felids (cats)

  • Canada lynx / Nuutuuyiq (Lynx canadensis)

Canids (foxes and wolves)

  • Gray wolf / AmaÄ¡uq (Canis lupus)
  • Arctic fox / Qusraaq (Vulpes lagopus)
  • Red fox / Kayuqtuq (Vulpes vulpes)

Ursids (bears)

  • Black bear / IyyaÄ¡riq (Ursus americanus)
  • Brown bear / AkÅ‚aq (Ursus arctos)

Mustelids

  • Marten / Qapvaitchiaq (Martes americana)
  • Shorttail weasel or ermine/ TiÄ¡iaq (Mustela erminea)
  • Least weasel / TiÄ¡iaq (Mustela nivialis)
  • Mink / TiÄ¡iaqpak (Neovison vison)
  • Wolverine / Qapvik (Gulo gulo)
  • River otter / Pamiuqtuuq (Lontra canadensis)

Cervids (deer)

  • Moose / Tinniikaq (Alces alces)
  • Barren ground caribou/ Tuttu (Rangifer tarandus)
  • Muskox / UmiÅ‹mak (Ovibos moschatus)