Why do we love looking at all that wildlife cuteness? “Studies by neuroscientists have found evidence that staring at cute things can boost one’s mood and concentration,” says Tracy Bagatelle-Black, MA, an associate marriage and family therapist. So don’t feel too guilty if you take a break from homeschooling or working from home to stare at baby goats. Besides, you can turn it into a learning experience to teach your children about nature all from the comfort of your home. In no particular order, these are the 25 best animal live cams that will definitely add a smile or sense of wonder to your day:
1. Warrior Canine Connection Puppy Cam
One word: puppies. Another word, these are future service dogs in the puppy playroom at Warrior Canine Connection, a Maryland nonprofit organization supporting wounded veterans.
2. Kitten Rescue Los Angeles Kitten Cam
Puppies are adorably cute but many cat lovers would argue that the Kitten Rescue Los Angeles kitten cam is the epitome of cuteness overload.
3. Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute Lion Cam
If you’re a big cat person, you’ll love the lion live cam at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. Click here to watch the lion live cam.
4. Channel Islands National Park Bald Eagle Cam
Soar along with nesting bald eagles! This live cam overlooks the cozy nest of a bald eagle family on Santa Cruz Island. Jak and Audacity have been using this nest since 2013/14. In 2020, they laid eggs on 2/21, 2/29, 3/4, and 3/7, but all broke shortly after being laid. Keep an eye out for another breeding attempt in the next week or two.
5. Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo Snow Leopard Cam
As if bald eagles weren’t exotic enough! Check out the livestream of these absolutely gorgeous baby snow leopards from Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo. The zoo is home to two snow leopards, Miska and Kang Ju, who are part of an international breeding program to help preserve the species.long the lines of exotic animals, check out the livestream of these absolutely gorgeous baby snow leopards from Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo
6. Edinburgh Zoo Panda Cam
Who doesn’t like giant pandas? If it’s you, don’t tell us, just keep scrolling for more animal cuteness! Everyone else check out the Edinburgh Zoos very popular cam capturing the antics of Yang Guang, the zoo’s 7-year-old male panda. Click over to the zoo’s website to view the pandas.
7. Smithsonian’s National Zoo Panda Cam
You don’t have to head across the pond to see pandas, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo has not one, but two panda cams for the full panda-riffic experience. Click here to watch the National’s Zoo’s giant pandas.
8. Kansas City Zoo Penguin Cam
If watching the rockhopper penguins roaming through the visitor-less Shedd Aquarium (which sadly doesn’t have a penguin live cam) left you wanting more, check out this busy penguin cam from Kansas City. It’ll remind you of the pre-coronavirus hustle and bustle of walking through the city.
9. Chesapeake Conservancy Osprey Cam
Meet Tom and Audrey, a pair of ospreys who return to nest each year at the home of “The Crazy Osprey Family” on Kent Island off Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Audrey returned on March 20, 2020 and Tom should be arriving any time.
10. Monterey Bay Aquarium Jelly Cam
Talk about soothing? After a hard day of working from home (or just watching the news), tune in to Monterey Bay Aquarium’s live Jelly Cam where you can watch sea nettles drift and pulse in the briny water. If that doesn’t lull you to relaxation faster than the Roku aquatic life screen, check out sharks, sea otters and eight other live cams from the northern California aquarium.
11. Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary Crane Cam
From late February to early April, over 600,000 sandhill cranes stop over in Central Nebraska’s Platte River valley before resuming their northward migration. “People can now see the cranes from anywhere in the world,” said Bill Taddicken, director of Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary. Want to get even closer, try spending the night in one of the sanctuary’s rustic overnight photo blinds nestled near major roosts.
12. Georgia Aquarium Puffin Cam
Need to brighten up your day? Check out the bright beaks on these diving seabirds. Click here to watch the Georgia Aquarium’s puffin live cam.
13. Smithsonian National Zoo Naked Mole-Rat Cam
File this one under things you can’t unsee, Smithsonian National Zoo’s Naked Mole-rat cam. You’re welcome. Click here to watch the naked mole rat live cam.
14. Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Asian Elephant Cam
Meet Spike, Ambika, Shanthi, Bozie, Kamala, Swarna and Maharani, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Asian elephants and watch them frolic both inside the Elephant Community Center and outside in their yards. Click here to watch the Asian elephant live cam.
15. Baby Goat Live Stream
If your own kids are driving you nuts, check out these cute baby goats, also known as kids on the Goat Milk Stuff’s baby goat live stream. The farm family in Scottburg, Indiana, raises baby goats and uses extra milk to make soap, cheese, candles and other products. And here’s one more baby goat live stream in case you just can’t get enough. This one is from the Beekman 1802 Farm in Sharon Springs, New York.
16. Africam Naledi Cat Eye Cam
Visit a secluded waterhole in Africa (from the comfort of your couch) and check out the big five of Africa—lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. This camera is set up at the eye level of a leopard to give a unique view of the scale of the animals that frequent the waterhole.
17. Studio City, California Hummingbird Feeder
If you’ve never seen a hummingbird up close and personal, check out this backyard live cam. The amateur operator says she’s been feeding hummers in her backyard for eight years!
18. San Diego Zoo Koala Cam
Spoiler alert: Koalas are not bears! They may look cute and cuddly (just look at this live cam!) but they’re actually marsupials, think kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and possums. Grab a stalk of bamboo, sit back and watch these guys (and gals) frolic in the Southern California sun. Click here to watch the koala live cam.
19. Hattiesburg Zoo Sloth Cam
Don’t tell Kristen Bell that Hattiesburg Zoo has a sloth cam! (Remember her sloth birthday meltdown!) Even if your love of sloths is four steps below Kristen Bell’s, it’s worth checking in on Chewy, Mo and Maple after the sun goes down (sloths are nocturnal) to see them at their most active (which, for a sloth, is still very slow). Click here to watch the sloth live cam.
20. Animal Adventure Giraffe Cam
Giraffes, rhinos, and more! Enjoy this live view of the African Plains habitat that comes to you from the Kijamii Overlook at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Click here to watch the giraffe live cam.
21. Hedgehog and Bird Feeder Live Cam
22. Houston Zoo Rhino Cam
What’s going on in the rhino yard at the Houston Zoo right now? The zoo’s animal cam is live from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. CT. Click here to watch the rhino live cam.
23. Romanian Wildlife Live Feed
Foxes and boars and deer, oh, my. Check out this amazing live wildlife feed from one of the more gorgeous places I’ve been fortunate to see in person, Transylvania, Romania.
24. Monterey Bay Aquarium Shark Live Feed
If you can’t wait until Shark week, here’s a shark feed.
25. St. Augustine’s Alligator Farm Zoological Park
This live cam overlooks the swamp in St. Augustine, Florida, where native herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills and wood storks seek the security of the swamp to roost and raise their young. Keep an eye out for alligators basking in the sun and tune in for feeding demonstrations at noon and 3 p.m. ET. Here are 15+ ways to help during the coronavirus pandemic.
