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21 Animals That Call The Great Basin Home

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Author Alana Theron

animals that call the great basin national park home.

Let’s discover the top animals that call the Great Basin National Park home, each playing an essential role in the environment.

1. Bighorn Sheep

Desert Bighorn sheep. Image via depositphotos.

Great Basin National Park is home to a healthy bighorn sheep population known for their impressive curved horns and rugged mountain habitat.

2. Mountain Lion

A mountain lion. Image via depositphotos.

Also known as cougars, these elusive predators roam the park’s higher elevations, preying on deer and other wildlife.

3. Mule Deer

Mule deer. Image via depositphotos.

Commonly spotted in the park’s valleys and foothills, mule deer are well-adapted to the harsh conditions of the Great Basin.

4. Bobcat

Bobcat
Bobcat. By No machine-readable author provided. Calibas assumed (based on copyright claims). – No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=645490

With its distinctive tufted ears and spotted fur, the bobcat is a skilled hunter throughout the park’s diverse ecosystems.

5. Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) flying. Image via Depositphotos

Majestic and robust, golden eagles soar above the park’s mountains, hunting for small mammals and birds.

6. Pronghorn Antelope

Pronghorn antelope. Image via depositphotos

Fleet-footed and agile, pronghorn antelope can be seen sprinting across the open plains of the Great Basin.

7. Kit Fox

kit Fox
Kit Fox in Utah. Image by USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Kit_Fox_Utah._Photo_Credit_USFWS_Clint_Wirick_%2852461966359%29.jpg

These small foxes are well-adapted to desert environments and can be found throughout the park, hunting for rodents and insects.

8. Sage Grouse

greater sage grouse
Image by Jennifer Strickland, USFWS.

Known for their elaborate mating displays, sage grouse inhabit the sagebrush steppe of the Great Basin National Park.

9. Great Basin Rattlesnake

Great Basin Rattlesnake
Great Basin Rattlesnake. Image by De’Andre Bush via Unsplash

A venomous snake species found in rocky outcrops and brushy areas, the Great Basin rattlesnake plays a vital role in the park’s ecosystem.

10. Black Bear

Black Bear. Image via Pexels.

Though less common than other large mammals in the park, black bears can occasionally be spotted in forested areas, foraging for food.

11. Desert Bighorn Beetle

Pitted darkling beetle (Adesmia cancellata). Image via depositphotos.

This large beetle species is endemic to the Great Basin and plays a crucial role in the park’s ecosystem by decomposing organic matter.

12. Western Toad

Western toad. Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Found near water sources in the park, western toads are important indicators of ecosystem health and are known for their distinctive calls during the breeding season.

13. Pika

Large eared Pika, Ochotona macrotis. Image via depositphotos.

These small, round mammals are adapted to high-altitude environments and can be found in rocky areas throughout the park, gathering vegetation for winter food stores.

14. Northern Harrier

Female Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus, or northern harrier hunting above a meadow during a cold winter. Image via depositphotos.

With its distinctive white rump patch, the northern harrier is a common sight in the park’s grasslands, hunting for small mammals and birds.

15. Desert Cottontail

A Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) sitting in the sand in Arches National Park, Utah. Image via depositphotos.

Well-camouflaged against the desert landscape, desert cottontails are a common sight in the lower elevations of Great Basin National Park.

16. Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

 Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel. Image via depositphotos.

These charismatic squirrels are often seen darting among rocks and vegetation in the park’s forests and meadows.

17. Clark’s Nutcracker

Clark’s Nutcracker. Image via depositphotos.

Known for its intelligence and role in dispersing seeds of pine trees, Clark’s nutcracker is a common sight in the park’s coniferous forests.

18. Mountain Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird. Image via depositphotos.

With its vibrant blue plumage, the mountain bluebird adds a splash of color to the park’s landscapes, nesting in cavities and foraging for insects.

19. American Pika

Image by Shawn.ccf via deposit images. American Pika in Canada

Similar to the pika, the American pika is adapted to high-altitude environments and can be found in rocky areas throughout the park.

20. Rocky Mountain Elk

Rocky Mountain Elk
Elk (Cervus canadensis) are highly adaptable animals. Image by Byron Johnson via Unsplash

These majestic herbivores roam the park’s forests and meadows, particularly in the northern reaches of Great Basin National Park.

21. Long-eared Owl

A Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) sitting on a tree against the blue sky. Sunny day. Image via depositphotos.

Nocturnal hunters with distinctive long ear tufts and long-eared owls can be found in forested areas of the park, preying on small mammals and birds.

Conclusion

These animals each play a unique role in the ecosystem of the Great Basin, contributing to the habitat.  I hope you enjoyed reading about the top 21 animals that call the Great Basin home. To read more like this, check out the articles below:

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