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21 Animals That Call Zion National Park Home

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Author Alana Theron, BSc in Biodiversity and Ecology

21 Animals that call zion home.

Zion national park, in Utah, is home to a variety of animals. Lets take a closer look to at the animals that call Zion home.

Mule Deer

Mule deer. Image via depositphotos.

 Frequently seen in the park, especially at dawn and dusk.

Rock Squirrel

Rock Squirrel paused on rock outcrop. Image via depositphotos.

 Commonly observed in the canyon area.

Desert Bighorn Sheep

More details Among the largest hoofed mammals in the park, the desert bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis.
By Grand Canyon National Park – Grand Canyon Nat. Park: Desert Bighorn Sheep 3721, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96478442

 A symbol of the park, often seen on rocky cliffs.

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon overing above its prey. Image by Erik van Dijk on Unsplash.

 Known for its highspeed dives, nests in the cliffs.

Mexican Spotted Owl

Mexican Spotted Owl
Mexican spotted owl. Image by James Toose on Unsplash.

 Endangered species found in the park’s forests.

California Condor

California Condor in flight.
California Condor in flight. By Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA – God bless it! – california-condor-gymnogyps-californianus-078, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45477993

 The largest North American land bird, sometimes spotted in Zion.

Mountain Lion

cougar
Portrait of a cougar, mountain lion, puma, panther, striking a pose on a fallen tree, Winter scene in the woods, wildlife America. Image via depositphotos.com

 Elusive and mostly seen in the park’s backcountry.

Coyote

Coyote, Tule Lake, California
Coyote, Tule Lake, California. By USFWS Pacific Southwest Region – Coyote at Tule Lake NWR, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22826609

 Often heard at night, sometimes seen during the day.

Golden Eagle

A golden eagle. Image via depositphotos.

 Majestic birds of prey that can be seen soaring above the canyon.

Common Raven

Raven Raised by Human Acts Like Dog
Portrait of a Common Raven – Corvus corax Image via depositphotos.

 Intelligent birds, very common throughout the park.

Ringtail Cat

 Nocturnal and elusive, sometimes spotted by campers at night.

Tarantulas

Tarantula. Image via depositphotos.

 Often surprising to visitors, they are harmless and seen in the warmer months.

Western Rattlesnake

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. Image by Peter Paplanus, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 Encountered in the park’s lower elevations, caution advised.

Zion Snail

A Zion snail, Image via Zion National Park on X.

 An endemic species found only in the springs of Zion Canyon.

Utah Prairie Dog

Prairie Dog
Prairie Dog. Image by Wildphoto1 via Pixabay

 Endangered species seen in the park’s meadows.

Redtailed Hawk

red tailed hawk
Red-tailed hawks, known for their piercing scream and keen eyesight, are skilled hunters often seen soaring majestically over open fields and highways in search of prey. Image via Depositphotos

 Commonly seen circling above looking for prey.

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl. Image by Caroline Ebinger via Unsplash

 Notable for its deep hooting voice, found in forested areas.

Black Bear

black bear walking on grass
Black bear walking on grass. Image via Pexels

 Rare but occasionally spotted in the park’s remote areas.

Beaver

North American Beaver
North American beaver (Castor canadensis), also known as the Canadian beaver. Image by Wrangel via Depositphotos

 Can be found in the Virgin River and its tributaries within the park.

Gila Monster

gila monster
Gila Monster. Image by jessiegirl413 via Pixabay

 Rarely seen, this venomous lizard inhabits the southern part of the park.

American Kestrel

American kestrel (Falco sparverius) sitting on a mullein. Image via depositphotos.

 The smallest falcon in North America, often seen perched in open areas.

Conclusion

Zion National Park. Image via Depositphotos

The animals represent just a fraction of the biodiversity of Zion. Each animal plays an important role each contributing to their habitats in unique ways. I hope you enjoyed reading about the animals that call Zion home. To read more like this, check out the articles below:

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