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Wildlife - Version 22 vs Version 23
Sep 23, 2026, 09:29 AM
Added fox and squirrel sightings from official Mount Kalaga screenshots and an eel from an official Leonida Keys screenshot, all as tentative identifications
Oct 13, 2026, 10:15 PM
Added Rockstar's 170-plus species count, the native and invasive animals it named, the Rare, Discoverable and Legendary tracking categories, and fur and feather rendering details; updated the overview, invasive species section and summary table
11Overview22Grand Theft Auto VI's state of Leonida is home to a mix of urban, subtropical and marine animals. Around 20 species can be identified in the trailers and official screenshots, as listed on this page. Rockstar has not published a species count or a full list of animals.3+Grand Theft Auto VI's state of Leonida is home to a mix of urban, subtropical and marine animals. Rockstar says Leonida has over 170 animal species across land, air and sea, several of which have never appeared in a Rockstar game before. It has not published a full list; around 20 species can be identified in the trailers and official screenshots, and those are the species listed on this page.44What Rockstar Has Said6+Rockstar described Leonida's wildlife in a magazine cover story published on September 29, 2026. It named native Florida animals such as flamingos, manatees, pelicans and alligators, which share the state with invasive species including green iguanas, cane toads, feral cats and rhesus macaque monkeys. Coverage of the same story broke the total down further, with more than 60 types of birds and more than 30 land mammals.8+Rare, Discoverable and Legendary Animals10+Some animals can be tracked, and Rockstar sorts them into three categories: Rare, Discoverable and Legendary. It is keeping the identities of these harder-to-find animals secret. As of October 13, 2026, Rockstar has not said which species belong to each category, where they live, or what finding or tracking them rewards.12+Rendering and Fur14+Rockstar said the animals show iridescence, bioluminescence, translucency and different feather types, and that new hair and fur systems were built for coats and pelts. Michael Kane, Rockstar's vice president of dynamic art, was reported as saying that fur reacts to contact with people, mats and clumps with dirt, changes when wet, and comes in different colors and coat variations.16+Mammals618Leonida's mammal population spans apex predators, common woodland species, and urban scavengers. The following mammals have been confirmed from official trailers and screenshots.820SpeciesHabitatSourceNotesFlorida PantherMount Kalaga, deep GrassriversOfficial screenshotShown stalking a herd of deer in an official Rockstar screenshot. Critically endangered in real life.White-Tailed DeerGrassrivers, Mount KalagaTrailer 1, official screenshotVisible in the Grassrivers lake scene at roughly 0:21 in Trailer 1. Also appears in Mount Kalaga screenshots being hunted by panthers.Wild BoarGrassrivers swamps and forest edgesTrailer 1Spotted near a bush in the Grassrivers scene. Requires slow playback to identify clearly.RaccoonUrban areasTrailer 2Shown digging through a trash can in background scenes. Appears twice in Trailer 2.FoxMount Kalaga National ParkOfficial screenshot (tentative identification)Seen in the background, far left, of an official Mount Kalaga screenshot.SquirrelMount Kalaga National ParkOfficial screenshot (tentative identification)Seen climbing a tree at the far right of an official Mount Kalaga screenshot.1123Reptiles1224Florida's reputation as a hub for both native and invasive reptiles is fully reflected in Leonida. Alligators are the most prominently featured animal in the game's marketing, appearing in multiple trailer scenes.1426SpeciesHabitatSourceNotesAmerican AlligatorGrassrivers, urban pools, storesTrailer 1 (multiple scenes)The most visible animal in trailers. Appears in a lake (0:21), in a residential swimming pool (0:43), and inside a convenience store (0:48). The pool scene references real Florida nuisance alligator removal.Green IguanaUrban Vice City, the KeysTrailer 1, Trailer 2Invasive species. Shown on a homeless man's shoulder in Trailer 1. Appears in additional scenes in Trailer 2.Burmese PythonGrassrivers (wild), Keys home (pet)Trailer 1, Trailer 2Spotted hiding in tall grass in Trailer 1 (~0:20). Also kept as a pet by Jason and Lucia in their Keys home (Trailer 2). See the Invasive Species section below.Loggerhead Sea TurtleOffshore waters, KeysTrailer 1Three sea turtles visible near a white yacht at roughly 0:10 in Trailer 1.1628Birds1729Leonida's skies and wetlands host a variety of bird species, with flamingos being among the most visually prominent animals in the trailer footage.1931SpeciesHabitatSourceNotesAmerican FlamingoGrassrivers wetlandsTrailer 1A large flock appears in the Grassrivers lake scene (~0:20-0:21). One of the most recognizable wildlife moments in the trailer.Brown PelicanCoastal and marine areasTrailer 1A formation of pelicans is shown flying low over the ocean (~0:12-0:19).Herring GullBeaches, coastal docksTrailer 1Visible in the opening scene of Trailer 1.Whooping CraneGrassrivers wetlandsTrailer 1 (tentative identification)Juvenile birds with cinnamon-brown necks spotted at lower left around 0:20 in Trailer 1. Endangered in real life.Mottled DuckGrassrivers lakesTrailer 1 (tentative identification)Small ducks visible in the lake near the flamingo flock (~0:21).2133Marine Life2234The waters surrounding Leonida are home to several confirmed marine species. The ocean ecosystem appears to include both passive wildlife and potential hazards for players exploring underwater areas.2436SpeciesHabitatSourceNotesSharks (multiple species)Offshore waters, marinasTrailer 1, Trailer 2 screenshotsMultiple shark species indicated. A bull shark has been specifically identified. Tentative identifications also include a tiger shark near surfers (~0:11 in Trailer 1) and a great white near a marina in Trailer 2 screenshots.Bottlenose DolphinCoastal watersTrailer 1A pod of four dolphins visible near a yacht at roughly 0:11 in Trailer 1.West Indian ManateeShallow coastal watersTrailer 1Spotted at approximately 0:35 in Trailer 1 in shallow water near Vice Beach. The Florida manatee is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee.EelLeonida Keys reefsOfficial screenshot (tentative identification)Seen at the far left of an official Leonida Keys diving screenshot.2638Urban and Domestic Animals2739Vice City and other urban areas host their own category of animals. These appear primarily as ambient background details that add life to the city environment.2941AnimalLocationDetailsBodega CatVice City storefrontsA cat is seen sitting on an ATM cleaning itself while Jason buys beer in Trailer 2.ChihuahuaBeaches, urban areasA small dog running with pedestrians on a beach at roughly 0:22 in Trailer 1.RottweilerUrban areasVisible in poster form during a police raid scene in Trailer 2. Multiple dog breeds are expected.Pet Burmese PythonJason and Lucia's homeKept as a domestic pet in the protagonists' Keys residence. Visible inside their house in Trailer 2.3143Invasive Species3244GTA VI specifically highlights Florida's real-world invasive species problem through two confirmed species. The Burmese python is the most prominent. It appears both in the wild, hiding in the tall grass of the Grassrivers (Trailer 1), and as a domestic pet in Jason and Lucia's home (Trailer 2). In real life, the Burmese python invasion of the Florida Everglades began in the 1990s after irresponsible exotic pet owners released them. Studies have documented catastrophic declines in native mammal populations: raccoons dropped by 99.3%, opossums by 98.9%, and bobcats by 87.5% in affected areas.45+GTA VI highlights Florida's real-world invasive species problem. Rockstar names green iguanas, cane toads, feral cats and rhesus macaque monkeys among Leonida's invasive animals, and two invasive species are clearly visible in the trailers. The Burmese python is the most prominent. It appears both in the wild, hiding in the tall grass of the Grassrivers (Trailer 1), and as a domestic pet in Jason and Lucia's home (Trailer 2). In real life, the Burmese python invasion of the Florida Everglades began in the 1990s after irresponsible exotic pet owners released them. Studies have documented catastrophic declines in native mammal populations: raccoons dropped by 99.3%, opossums by 98.9%, and bobcats by 87.5% in affected areas.3446The green iguana is the second confirmed invasive species. It appears in both trailers and is explicitly labeled as non-native to Florida. Unlike the python, which is primarily a wilderness animal, iguanas are common in urban Vice City settings, appearing on sidewalks, fences, and rooftops.48+The green iguana is the second invasive species seen in the trailers, and it is also on Rockstar's own list of Leonida's invasive animals. It appears in both trailers and is explicitly labeled as non-native to Florida. Unlike the python, which is primarily a wilderness animal, iguanas are common in urban Vice City settings, appearing on sidewalks, fences, and rooftops.3749POACH3951The Protection of Animals and Controlled Hunting (POACH) is a law enforcement agency in Leonida that functions as the state's wildlife regulatory body. The acronym itself is the joke: an anti-poaching agency named after the act it is fighting. POACH is Leonida's satirical version of the real-world Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.4153POACH officers operate primarily in the Grassrivers region. One trailer scene shows a POACH employee in a Vapid police SUV pursuing what appear to be poachers hauling alligators in a pickup truck. A separate scene shows a POACH officer recovering an alligator from a residential swimming pool, directly referencing Florida's real nuisance alligator removal services.4355POACH appears to function as a specialized law enforcement faction, similar to how standard police respond to crimes. Harming wildlife or engaging in poaching activities in the Grassrivers likely triggers a wanted-level response from POACH officers rather than standard police.4557Hunting and Fishing4759Both hunting and fishing have been confirmed as activities in GTA VI.4961Hunting appears in trailer footage with NPCs carrying out their own hunts, and the predator-prey ecosystem is visible in official screenshots showing panthers stalking deer herds in Mount Kalaga National Park. The poaching scenes (alligators tied to a truck bed with POACH in pursuit) suggest players can hunt illegally and face enforcement consequences. Mount Kalaga is specifically identified as a hunting area.5163Fishing is confirmed through an official screenshot showing Jason holding a fishing rod on a boat. Players can fish from boats, kayaks, docks, and shorelines. Jason and Cal Hampton are shown fishing together in Trailer 2.5365Animal Behavior5567GTA VI appears to feature an active predator-prey AI ecosystem rather than purely ambient animals. An official Rockstar screenshot shows a herd of deer being actively hunted by Florida panthers in Mount Kalaga, indicating that predators track and pursue prey independently of the player.5769Alligators demonstrate environmental intrusion behavior, wandering into human spaces. They are shown entering a convenience store and a residential swimming pool in Trailer 1, posing threats to NPCs. This matches real Florida, where alligator encounters in urban and suburban areas are common.5971Smaller animals exhibit ambient behaviors: raccoons forage through trash cans, cats clean themselves on ATMs, and birds fly in formations along the coast. Sharks appear offshore as silhouettes beneath the waves, a hazard during ocean exploration.6173The Extended Look added two confirmed interactions: a context-sensitive interaction menu works with animals as well as people, and a dog is petted during the opening mission.6375Habitat Distribution6577RegionBiomeNotable SpeciesGrassriversSubtropical wetlands (Everglades analog)Alligators, flamingos, deer, wild boar, Burmese pythons, whooping cranes, mottled ducks, panthersMount Kalaga National ParkHighland forest and canyonsWhite-tailed deer, Florida panthers, various birdsVice CityUrban metropolitanRaccoons, iguanas, cats, dogs, alligators (occasional intrusions)Leonida KeysTropical island chainIguanas, manatees, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, pelicans, gullsOffshore / OceanOpen waterMultiple shark species, dolphins, sea turtles, manatees, pelicans6779Wildlife Systems at a Glance6880FeatureGTA VISpecies identifiedAround 20 from trailers and official screenshots; no official countHuntingActivity with POACH enforcementFishingConfirmed (boats, kayaks, docks, shorelines)Predator-prey AIActive ecosystem (panthers hunt deer herds)Urban wildlifeCats, dogs, raccoons, iguanas, rats, pigeons, alligator intrusionsInvasive speciesBurmese python, green iguanaWildlife enforcementPOACH agency (pursuit mechanics not described as of September 12, 2026)Animal interactionContext menu for animals; dogs can be petted (Extended Look)81+FeatureGTA VISpecies identifiedOver 170 according to Rockstar; around 20 identified from trailers and official screenshotsHuntingActivity with POACH enforcementFishingConfirmed (boats, kayaks, docks, shorelines)Predator-prey AIActive ecosystem (panthers hunt deer herds)Urban wildlifeCats, dogs, raccoons, iguanas, rats, pigeons, alligator intrusionsInvasive speciesBurmese python and green iguana seen in footage; Rockstar also names cane toads, feral cats and rhesus macaque monkeysWildlife enforcementPOACH agency (pursuit mechanics not described as of September 12, 2026)Animal interactionContext menu for animals; dogs can be petted (Extended Look)Tracking categoriesRare, Discoverable and Legendary; species not yet revealedRenderingIridescence, bioluminescence, translucency, feather types, new hair and fur systems