Ready to explore the wild side of Los Santos? Our definitive guide to animal locations in GTA Online reveals where to track down every creature for the Shoot Animals Photography Challenge-from elusive mountain lions prowling the forests to playful poodles roaming the city streets. Whether you’re aiming to unlock exclusive outfits, vehicles, or just want to complete the LS Tourist Board missions with ease, this comprehensive list covers all the hotspots across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. Get your camera ready and dive into the untamed corners of GTA Online like never before.
GTA Online animals list
GTA Online features a diverse list of animals that players can encounter and photograph as part of the LS Tourist Board’s daily Shoot Animals Photography challenges. The animal list includes boars, cats, chicken-hawks, cows, coyotes, crows, deer, great cormorants, hens, mountain lions, pigs, poodles, pugs, rabbits, and seagulls. These animals spawn in various locations across Los Santos and Blaine County, with domesticated animals like dogs commonly found in city suburbs and wild animals in rural or wilderness areas. Players are encouraged to keep their distance and use camera zoom or thermal scopes to capture photos without disturbing the animals. Successfully photographing these animals unlocks rewards such as the Declasse Park Ranger vehicle and the Zoophilist outfit.
Animals arrived in Los Santos with the Chop Shop update. Each real-world day, the LS Tourist Board selects three kinds of animal from a list of 15 for you to photograph. You’ll get an email to your phone with the list.
The available animals are:
- Boar
- Cat
- Chicken Hawk
- Cow
- Coyote
- Crow
- Deer
- Great Commorant
- Hen
- Mountain Lion
- Pig
- Poodle
- Pug
- Rabbit
- Seagull
The animals do have to be alive when you take the photo, so you’ll usually have to sneak up on them to get a good picture.
GTA Online animal spawn locations
In GTA Online, animals spawn in various locations across Los Santos and Blaine County, reflecting the diversity of wildlife from the single-player game. Domesticated animals like dogs and cats are commonly found in city neighborhoods, backyards, and streets, while wild animals such as boars, coyotes, mountain lions, and deer appear in rural and mountainous areas like around Mount Chiliad, Sandy Shores, and farms near East Los Santos. Some specific spots include the area near Raven Slaughterhouse for cows and pigs, and trails or dirt tracks for boars and coyotes. Since animal spawns are random, players may need to leave and revisit locations or switch sessions to find the desired species. Using a camera with zoom or thermal scope can help in spotting animals without disturbing them, which is essential for completing the Shoot Animals Photography challenges for the LS Tourist Board mission.
Animals in GTA Online spawn in general areas, so treat the maps below as places to start looking, not exact locations. Beyond that, when an animal spawns, it has a set route that it will follow. Sometimes, they’ll just hang out to get a drink, while other spawns will follow a set path to a different location.
Animals also have rules about when they spawn that have to do with time of day and the weather. Cats, for example, don’t spawn in the rain. We’ll try to note these rules below.
Where to find boars in GTA Online
Boars in GTA Online can be found primarily during daytime in Blaine County, especially in the hills and forests around Grapeseed and Paleto Forest. A reliable spot is the abandoned motel northwest of Sandy Shores, where boars often spawn in the courtyard or nearby areas. Another good location is the dirt road running alongside the train tracks north of the Sonora Desert airstrip, where players can sneak up on them for photography challenges. Additional boar spawns occur near Martin Madrazo’s Ranch in Grapeseed and in the Grand Senora Desert region. Approaching boars stealthily is recommended as they tend to flee if startled.
Boars tend to show up in out-of-the-way and hilly areas during the day. A good place to look for a boar is behind the abandoned motel in Sandy Shores.
Boars will run away as you approach them, so make sure to crouch.
Where to find cats in GTA Online
Cats in GTA Online are commonly found in urban neighborhoods throughout Los Santos and Blaine County. They appear mostly during the daytime and tend to avoid rain. The best spots to find cats include alleyways in city areas such as Sandy Shores, Strawberry (Franklin’s neighborhood), Vinewood Hills, and Rancho. Cats can often be seen lounging on fences, walls, or sneaking around bushes and alleys. Driving slowly through these residential and less trafficked areas increases the chances of spotting them. For photography challenges, it helps to be in an invite-only session and approach quietly, as cats will run away if disturbed.
Cats are pretty common in the more urban areas of Los Santos, especially in the alleys off of main roads. Look for them when it’s not raining and, usually (but not always), in the daytime. You’ll often see them along the roads in Vinewood Hills, and there’s almost always one on the low wall east of the store in Sandy Shores.
Where to find chicken hawks in GTA Online
Chicken hawks in GTA Online can primarily be found flying around the Grand Senora Desert area, including locations like the Sandy Shores Airfield and nearby hills where they soar in the sky. Players can spot them by looking for birds with a shorter neck and sharper beak compared to similar birds like the Great Cormorant. For the Wildlife Photography Challenge, the Chicken Hawk is often assigned and can be photographed in these desert regions. Additionally, some players have reported finding them near farms around Grapeseed, though the Grand Senora Desert remains the most reliable spot. To increase chances of spotting them, changing sessions or revisiting the area may help as bird spawns can be random.
Chicken hawks are nondescript birds that you’ll often find soaring around Los Santos. You can tell them apart from other birds – like great cormorants and seagulls – by their short necks and broad wings.
If you can make it to the peak of Mount Chiliad, you’ll always find several of them circling around. If you don’t feel like trekking all the way out there, there are usually several of them above the airport on the southeastern shore of Alamo Sea near Sandy Shores.
Where to find cows in GTA Online
Cows in GTA Online can primarily be found on farms rather than in urban areas. Notable locations include the farm southeast of the Redwood Lights Track in the Grand Senora Desert and several larger farms in the Grapeseed neighborhood on the northeastern shore of the Alamo Sea. The Grapeseed Cow Farm, situated between Grapeseed Avenue, O’Neil Way, Seaview Road, and Joad Lane in Blaine County, is a key spot where multiple breeds of cows are present. Additionally, cows can be spotted around Raven Slaughterhouse in Cypress Flats, Los Santos. These locations are ideal for players looking to complete wildlife photography challenges or simply to encounter cows in the game world.
Unsurprisingly, you’ll mostly find cows on farms, not in the city itself.
You can find some at the farm southeast of the Redwood Lights Track in the Grand Senora Desert. There are several larger farms in the Grapeseed neighborhood on the northeastern shore of the Alamo Sea.
Where to find coyotes in GTA Online
Coyotes in GTA Online are primarily found in desert and rural areas, with Sandy Shores being one of the best-known locations to spot them. They often travel in packs and can be seen running across the Senora Freeway near the Davis Quartz Quarry, especially under the Senora Way bridge. The area around the Alamo Sea also offers good visibility due to its flat terrain and sparse vegetation, making coyotes easier to spot. For a guaranteed encounter, players can visit a location east of Sandy Shores and south of Grapeseed, where coyotes are known to spawn regularly. Approaching them stealthily is advised, as they are skittish and will run away if startled.
It’s hard to pin down the best place to look for coyotes in GTA Online because they’re just kind of everywhere. You’ll find them along basically every road that’s not in Los Santos proper, day or night.
The area all around the Alamo Sea is a good place to look – it’s flat and the vegetation is pretty sparse, so the coyotes are easier to spot. Try the beach on the south side near Sandy Shores or the northeast by Grapeseed.
Where to find crows in GTA Online
Crows in GTA Online can be found in three main locations: near Sandy Shores in the east, around Lago Zancudo in the west, and at the peak of Mount Chiliad. Additionally, they are commonly spotted flying around the Sandy Shores Airfield, often seen sitting on trailers by the hangar. These areas are key spots for players looking to complete the Wildlife Photography Challenge or simply to encounter crows in the game world.
There are only three places that crows spawn in GTA Online – in the east near Sandy Shores, Lago Zancudo in the west, and the peak of Mount Chiliad. They seem to only appear during the day.
Where to find deer in GTA Online
Deer in GTA Online can be found primarily in rural and forested areas outside the city, such as around Blaine County, Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness, and Paleto Forest. They tend to spawn along rural roads and mountainous regions during the daytime, often near places like the military base and Sandy Shores Airfield. Deer are generally skittish and will run away if approached too closely. These locations are ideal for players looking to complete wildlife photography challenges or hunting activities involving deer.
Deer, like coyotes, can be found basically everywhere that’s not the city. You’ll find them during the day along basically every rural road – just not in the desert south of the Alamo Sea. They don’t seem to spawn during rain and will always run away when you get too close.
Where to find great cormorants in GTA Online
Great cormorants in GTA Online can primarily be found around bodies of water and specific wilderness areas. The best locations to spot these distinctive black birds with yellow beaks include Lago Zancudo and the nearby Zancudo River, where they often stand by the water’s edge. Additionally, Cassidy Creek north of Fort Zancudo and a small creek on the eastern edge of Murrieta Heights are good spots. For a more open area, the Grand Senora Desert and Mount Chiliad State Wilderness also host flocks of great cormorants flying in the sky. Players can also find a solitary great cormorant on a small island in the Pacific Ocean near the map’s eastern edge. These locations offer ample opportunities to photograph the birds for wildlife challenges in the game.
Great cormorants only spawn in a few places in GTA Online. The best place to find them is Lago Zancudo in the west. Cormorants have long necks, making them easy to distinguish from chicken, hawks, and crows. You’ll spot them both flying and standing along water.
Where to find hens in GTA Online
Hens in GTA Online can primarily be found in rural and suburban areas such as Rancho, Harmony, Sandy Shores, Grapeseed, and Paleto Bay. Notable specific locations include fenced yards near homes in the Grand Senora Desert and a coop behind the Ammu-Nation store in Sandy Shores. These areas typically host several hens roaming freely during the daytime, making them ideal spots for players participating in the Wildlife Photography Challenge. Players should be quick when approaching, as hens tend to scatter if startled. These locations are consistent with the game’s design of placing domesticated animals in more settled regions rather than wild areas.
Hens are another barnyard creature, so you’ll have to head to the rural areas of GTA Online to find them. During the day, head to the area south of Sandy Shores or up around Paleto Bay, and look for houses with chicken coops (or just chickens) in the yard.
Where to find mountain lions in GTA Online
Mountain lions in GTA Online can be found primarily in wild, forested, and mountainous regions such as the hiking trails around Mount Chiliad, the dirt road near Catfish View, and the mountainside east of the forest north of the observatory. They are more commonly encountered at night and are highly aggressive, so caution is advised when approaching them for photography or hunting purposes. Other notable spawn areas include Raton Canyon and regions near Fort Zancudo and Sandy Shores. Using thermal goggles can help spot them more easily in dense foliage. If mountain lions do not spawn immediately, switching sessions may improve spawn chances.
Mountain lions spawn in some of the more wild areas of GTA Online. They’re more common at night and also extremely aggressive, so you’ll have to be careful snapping their picture.
The hiking trails on and around Mount Chiliad and the dirt road leading down to Catfish View are good places to check.
Where to find pigs in GTA Online
Pigs in GTA Online can be found primarily around farming areas such as Grapeseed and Sandy Shores, located near the Great Senora Desert and Alamo Sea. Notable pig spawn locations include farms near Great Chaparral, Harmony, and the area around Vinewood Bowl accessible via Senora Road. These pigs often inhabit fenced pens on farms, making them relatively easy to spot during the daytime. For players participating in the Wildlife Photography Challenge, these locations are ideal for capturing pig photos to earn rewards. Some pig spawns are time-specific, appearing only during certain hours, typically between 8:00 and 20:00 in-game. Exploring these rural areas, especially farms in Blaine County, will increase your chances of finding pigs in GTA Online.
Pigs aren’t the same as the wild boars you see around the island. These are the farm animals and, as such, you’ll again be heading to the more rural areas of Los Santos and Blaine County.
For a picture of a pig, you’ll have to head to farms around Sandy Shores and Grapeseed – the areas around the Great Senora Desert and Alamo Sea – during the day.
Where to find poodles in GTA Online
Poodles in GTA Online are primarily found in the upscale areas of Los Santos, with the most reliable spot being around the Ponsonbys clothing store in Rockford Hills. Players should explore on foot during the daytime, as poodles only appear when it is sunny and not raining. Besides Rockford Hills, poodles can also be spotted in the Richman neighborhood and the Burton area, often seen being walked by NPCs near homes and apartment buildings. Finding a poodle may require patience, as their spawn is somewhat rare and cyclical, but careful searching around these locations will eventually yield success for the Wildlife Photography Challenge.
Poodles (and pugs) are pets that you’ll find walking the streets of Los Santos during the day. For poodles, check the West Vinewood neighborhood along the north edge of Los Santos proper or Del Perro Beach on the west shore.
Where to find pugs in GTA Online
Pugs in GTA Online can be found primarily in the city of Los Santos during daytime and clear weather, as they do not appear when it is raining. The best locations to spot pugs include Rockford Hills near the Ponsonbys clothing store, Richman golf course, and Vespucci Beach. In Rockford Hills, walking around the block near the clothing store, barber shop, and Luxury Autos showroom increases your chances of encountering a pug calmly sitting or being walked by NPC owners. These dogs come in black or vanilla fur and can be photographed for the Wildlife Photography Challenge to earn cash rewards.
Pugs, like poodles, are pets that you’ll find on sidewalks in Los Santos neighborhoods during the day. Pugs are more common in the northwest of Los Santos in Richman and Rockford Hills.
Where to find rabbits in GTA Online
Rabbits in GTA Online can be found primarily in wilderness and suburban areas across the map. Key locations with high rabbit spawn rates include Palomino Highlands, Pacific Bluffs, Banham Canyon, and the Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness. These areas offer the best chances to spot rabbits, especially when participating in the Wildlife Photography Challenge. It is advisable to avoid urban centers like Los Santos and desert regions such as Grand Senora Desert and Sandy Shores, where rabbits rarely appear. Checking the LS Tourist Board in Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness can help identify which animals, including rabbits, are part of the daily photography challenge. Using a camera with zoom or a thermal scope can improve spotting these small, quick animals in their natural habitat.
Rabbits are another creature that’s pretty ubiquitous throughout the rural areas of GTA Online – basically, you’ll find them anywhere that isn’t Los Santos or the desert. They’re small and they can be hard to spot, so look for them during the day when it’s not raining. And make sure you sneak up on them because they’re very skittish (and have a tendency to run into traffic).
Where to find seagulls in GTA Online
Seagulls in GTA Online can be found primarily along the coastlines during the daytime. Notable locations to spot them include Del Perro Beach, Paleto Bay, Procopio Beach, Sandy Shores, and Vespucci Beach. These birds are commonly seen flying near the ocean and the Alamo Sea, making beach areas the best places to look for them.
Where are the rarest animals in GTA Online to complete challenges
The rarest animals in GTA Online, crucial for completing the Shoot Animals Photography Challenge, include:
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Crows: The rarest birds, spawning mainly near Lago Zancudo by Fort Zancudo military base and around Sandy Shores airfield.
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Great Cormorants: Found mostly in the Lago Zancudo region and near East Los Santos.
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Pugs: Among the rarest dogs, spawning only in select locations such as Mirror Park, Rockford Hills, and Vespucci Beach.
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Chicken Hawks: Harder to find, commonly flying over Blaine County and the Grand Senora Desert near Martin Madrazo’s Lock-up.
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Mountain Lions: Rare wild predators found around Mount Chiliad and other open mountainous areas.
These animals tend to have limited spawn points and require patience and exploration in specific regions like Blaine County, Mount Chiliad, and select urban spots to photograph them and complete challenges for rewards such as cash, RP, and exclusive gear.
What are the top locations to find the rarest animals in GTA Online
The top locations to find the rarest animals in GTA Online for completing challenges are:
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Lago Zancudo region near Fort Zancudo: This area is prime for spotting rare birds like crows and great cormorants, which are among the rarest avian species in the game.
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Sandy Shores and the nearby airfield: Another hotspot for rare crows and mountain lions, as well as some elusive desert wildlife like the boar.
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Grapeseed and surrounding pig farms: The best place to find pigs, which are relatively rare compared to other farm animals.
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Blaine County and Grand Senora Desert: Known for chicken hawks flying overhead, particularly near Martin Madrazo’s Lock-up and the Palomino Freeway.
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Los Santos urban areas like Mirror Park, Rockford Hills, and Vespucci Beach: Rare dog breeds such as pugs spawn here, making these neighborhoods essential for dog photography challenges.
For mountain lions, the mountainous regions around Mount Chiliad and Fort Zancudo are key, while ocean wildlife like dolphins and fish are found by exploring farther out in the ocean. Switching sessions can help if animals don’t spawn immediately.
These locations cover the rarest animals needed to complete the Shoot Animals Photography Challenge and unlock exclusive rewards in GTA Online.
