Itasca State Park has been designated a site of Outstanding Biodiversity Significance by the Minnesota DNR's Minnesota Biological Survey. This designation recognizes areas that contain the best occurrences of the rarest species, the most exceptional examples of rare native plant communities, and/or the largest, most ecologically intact and functional landscapes. Approximately 59 of Minnesota's 75 native mammals (79%) and 235 of the state's 443 native bird species (53%) have been observed in the park.
For more than a century, field scientists at Itasca Station have studied the natural systems of Itasca State Park and the surrounding region. Their research has resulted in comprehensive species lists for the park. The tabs below link to these species catalogs, many of which include notes on abundance and habitat.