View Wildlife

Pronghorn are seen in warmer months in meadows within and around the park.

Kadi Franson

The canyons and plateau of Bryce Canyon National Park are home to many animals. Park boundaries mean little to the migratory hummingbirds, nesting Peregrine Falcon, Rocky Mountain Elk and Pronghorn which daily cross through the forested plateau and amphitheaters. The search for food and water leads them to the best place to find sustenance and shelter. Many animals share habitats. Ebb and flow of populations is interdependent on all the members of the wildlife community.

See a full species list at the bottom of this page.

Safety and Respect

• Treat wildlife with respect - you are a visitor in their home.

• Never feed wild animals - even a chipmunk can inflict a painful bite and possibly spread disease. Feeding them human food is also akin to animal cruelty in its likelihood to lead to maladaptive behaviors or even death.

• Keep a safe distance - use binoculars or, for photography, telephoto lenses.

• When venturing into venomous snake territory wear boots and loose-fitting pants.

• Stay on trails, and watch where you place your hands and feet – especially when sitting, climbing, or stepping on or over fences, large rocks, and logs.

• Hang food, garbage and anything with strong odors (toothpaste, bug repellent, soap, etc.) at least 10 feet off the ground and 6 feet from the trunk or use a bear-proof container. Never store food inside your tent.

• If a bear or Mountain Lion approaches you back away slowly. Avoid direct eye contact with a bear but maintain eye contact with a cat. In either case do not run. Raise your arms above your head to make yourself look larger than normal, make noise, and throw rocks or sticks.

Seasons

Spring comes late at these high elevations, with snow often remaining into April. Many of the park's inhabitants either hibernate or move to lower, less snow-covered elevations. While large mammals like Mule Deer can be seen year-round, pronghorn typically depart in fall and aren't seen again until snow has begun to melt in spring. Utah Prairie Dogs typically begin to depart underground for hibernation by November, and the first males are often seen reemerging in late February or early March. Other species are extremely uncommon--mountain lions are present but seldom seen, as are the park's black bears, which overwinter in dens and spend summers foraging in less-travelled forests. In warmer months, you're almost guaranteed to be confronted by a Unita chipmunk or golden-mantled ground squirrel scavenging near viewpoints or trail junctions. Remember to never feed or approach any wildlife in the park. 

Where to Look

Utah Prairie Dog Colonies: A threatened species, in the 1970s the Utah Prairie Dog was expected to go extinct by the year 2000. Thankfully reintroduction efforts here in the park in the 1980s have stabliized the largest population of Utah's only endemic (only found here) mammal. The smallest of the prairie dogs, 8,000 feet (2,438 m) is about as high as they'll live. From March through October you can pretty realiably find them near the entrances to their underground burrows in the meadow that crosses the main road immediately south of the Visitor Center. Another colony is found on the right-hand side of the road around Mile 2 of the park road. A third colony can be seen on the way to Sunrise Point after taking the second left turn past the Visitor Center. Be sure to observe them from road pull-offs but never enter these meadows. Not only do prairie dogs potentially carry fleas infected with plague, they can deliver a very powerful bite!
Prairie dogs provide food for most predators in the park, so observing a prairie dog colony is often the best way to see other species too. Listen for when the prairie dogs begin to chitter and "bark"--this may alert you to a predator along the treeline or soaring above.

Southern Scenic Drive: Travelling to Rainbow and Yovimpa Points at the southern end of the park takes you up to elevations of over 9,000 feet (2,743 m). At these high elevations, the park's ponderosa forests transition to mixed conifer woodlands of white fir, limber pine, douglas-fir, quaking aspen, and bristlecone pine. Snow levels are much higher here in winter, linger longer into spring, and provide more moisture for a dense understory. Wildlife is most often seen in meadows leading up to these higher views, such as the meadow around Mile 4 of the 18 mile park road. More often than not, wildlife sightings here are large mammals seen crossing the road. 

Bryce Amphitheater: The Bryce Amphitheater is defined by its ponderosa forests and the mixed juniper and ponderosa woodland below the rim. Here one sees chipmunks and ground squirrels in warmer months, and often small families of mule deer foraging above and below the rim. If you're out stargazing, you may be so lucky as to spot a ringtail--they've most often been seen near the Sunset Point parking lot.

Details

Activity

Wildlife Watching

Pets Allowed

Yes with Restrictions

• Pets are permitted on all paved surfaces in the park: campgrounds, parking lots, paved roads, paved viewpoint areas, on the paved trail between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point, and on the paved Shared Use Path between the park entrance and Inspiration Point.
• Pets are not permitted on unpaved trails or viewpoints, in public buildings or on public transportation vehicles. These regulations also apply to pets that are carried.
• Pets must be on a leash at all times; the leash must be no longer than 6 feet.
• Pet owners may not leave pet(s) unattended or tied to an object. Pets may not be left in vehicles while their owners hike. Be aware that idling and generator use is not permitted in park parking lots.
• Pets may not make unreasonable noise.
• Pet owners are required to pick-up after their pets (excrement and other solid waste).

Activity Fee

Yes

Park admission provides access to this activity.

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

Time of Day

Any Time

Accessibility Information

Viewpoints provide paved, flat surfaces accessible to all. Trails will vary. Visit our Accessibility page for more information.

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

Select a Park:

Bryce Canyon National Park

Select a Species Category (optional):

All Amphibians Birds Fish Mammals Reptiles Vascular Plants

Get Checklist Get Full List List Differences

Species attribute definitions

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Visit NPSpecies for more comprehensive information and advanced search capability. Have a suggestion or comment on this list? Let us know.