Animals

Animals are a central feature of the American wilderness. Fauna comes in a variety of shapes and sizes and occupy wild areas throughout the gameplay. Some animals have been domesticated by the inhabitants of the American west, and serve as pets, transportation or livestock. Other animals cluster together in the wild in packs, herds and flocks.

Predatory animals will attempt to hunt and kill other animals, human NPCs, as well as the player and his Horses.

All species of animals can be hunted and killed. Many of these animals can be skinned, and have their pelt sold to merchants for cash.

In multiplayer, the map shows locations where certain types of animals are most common by displaying distinct icons.

Species
There are approximately 40 species of animal that inhabit the gameplay world of Red Dead Redemption:


 * American Buffalo
 * Armadillos
 * Alligators
 * Bats
 * Beavers
 * Bighorn Sheep
 * Boars
 * Bulls
 * Bucks
 * Cats
 * Cattle
 * Chickens
 * Coyotes
 * Cougars
 * Crows
 * Deer
 * Dogs
 * Donkeys
 * Ducks
 * Elk
 * Foxes
 * Goats
 * Grizzly Bears
 * Hawks
 * Horses
 * Moose
 * Mules
 * Owls
 * Pigs
 * Raccoons
 * Rabbits
 * Rattlesnakes
 * Skunks
 * Vultures
 * Wolves

Rare Spawns
Rockstar Games has confirmed that certain animal species have rare spawns. A confirmed example includes a large Grizzly Bear with noticeable scars and flesh wounds. Rewards and skinnable items from these rare spawns are unknown at this time.

So far, these are the list of rare spawn found in-game:


 * Khan the Jaguar – Located in the Ojo Del Diablo hills area south of Chuparosa, south of the road. Use bait if you have difficulty finding him, but don’t bother with your knife — just bust a cap in him.


 * Lobo the Wolf – Located near the Eastern edge of the Aurora Basin lake, Northwest of Tall Trees. Use bait/gun, as above.


 * Gordo the Boar – Located in the Stillwater Creek area, north of the road, south of the River, and Southwest of Thieves’ Landing. Use bait, gun, etc.


 * Brumas the Bear – Located in the Nekoti Rock area. Lives in a cave at the top of a mountain, Northeast of the Aurora Basin lake. Shoot him and take his pelt to complete the Master Hunter Level 10 challenge.

Achievements
There are several known achievements that are associated with interacting with animals:
 * Bearly Legal: Kill and skin 18 grizzly bears.
 * Buckin Awesome: Break the Kentucky Saddler, American Standardbred, and the Hungarian Half-bred.
 * Unnatural Selection: Kill one of every animal species in the game in any game mode.
 * Manifest Destiny: Kill the last buffalo in the Great Plains in Single Player. - This is a possible Secret Achievement, so it has yet to be confirmed.