Zion National Park Service 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Zion National Park 

Mammals 

Encountering 

Wildlife 

Key to this guide 

What wildlife will you see today? Watching animals in their natural environment is one reason 

we come to national parks. Free-roaming animals contribute to the wildness and uniqueness 

of Zion National Park. But, we must remember 

that this is their one and only home. Please treat 

them with the respect they deserve. Enjoy them 

from a distance. Animals will protect themselves, their territory, and their young if you get 

too close. Deer may kick suddenly and cause 

serious injuries. Turkeys can run at people and 

hop on cars. Even though it may seem harmless, 

Abundant: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and in relatively large numbers. 

Common: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat 

and season, but not in large numbers. 

Uncommon: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate season and habitat. May be common 

locally. 

Rare: Present but seldom observed, usually 

only seen a few times each year. 

Unconfi rmed: Reports of these species in the 

park are unconfirmed. Please report sightings 

with location/date/time, to the visitor center. 

Photos and GPS coordinates (with datum) are 

preferred. 

Bats 

(Chiroptera) 

Western Red Bat 

 California Myotis - Myotis californicus: 

Uncommon, lower elevations. 

 Western Small-footed Myotis - Myotis 

 ciliolabrum: Uncommon, higher elevations. 

 Long-eared Myotis - Myotis evotis:

 Uncommon, parkwide. 

 Fringed Myotis - Myotis thysanodes:

 Uncommon, parkwide. 

 Long-legged Myotis - Myotis volans: 

Uncommon, parkwide. 

 Yuma Myotis - Myotis yumanensis: 

Uncommon, parkwide, near water. 

 Western Red Bat - Lasiurus blossevillii: 

Uncommon, migrant, wooded areas. 

 Hoary Bat - Lasiurus cinereus: Uncommon, 

migrant, wooded areas. 

 Silver-haired Bat - Lasionycteris noctivagans: 

Uncommon, higher elevations. 

 Western Pipistrelle - Pipistrellus hesperus: 

Uncommon, lower elevations. 

 Big Brown Bat - Eptesicus fuscus: 

Uncommon, lower elevations. 

 Spotted Bat - Euderma maculatum:

 Uncommon, parkwide. 

 Townsend’s Big-eared Bat - Corynorhinus 

townsendii: Uncommon, in canyons. 

 Allen’s Big-eared Bat - Idionycteris phyllotis: 

Uncommon, likely to occur in forested areas. 

 Pallid Bat - Antrozous pallidus: Uncommon, 

in canyons, lower elevations. 

 Brazilian Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida brasiliensis: Uncommon, canyons to low desert. 

 Big Free-tailed Bat - Nyctinomops macrotis: 

Uncommon, canyons. 

 American Pika - Ochotona princeps: Rare, 

high elevation talus. 

 Desert Cottontail - Sylvilagus audubonii: 

Common, below 5,000 ft elevation. 

 Mountain Cottontail - Sylvilagus nuttallii: 

Uncommon, above 5,000 ft elevation. 

 Black-tailed Jackrabbit - Lepus californicus: 

Uncommon, parkwide. 

Pika, Rabbits, and Hares 

(Lagomorpha) 

feeding wild animals causes many problems. 

Squirrels will bite and carry diseases. Human 

food often makes animals sick and can even kill 

them. Most sadly, animals that are fed become 

less wild, and then something signifi cant has 

been lost, possibly forever. 

Viewing wildlife is often best in the morning 

and evening hours. In Zion’s hot, desert climate 

many animals are nocturnal or avoid the heat of 

the day. Slow down, be patient and don’t forget 

to listen — enjoy your wildlife encounters! 

Black-tailed Jackrabbit 
 

 

 

 

Rodents 

(Rodentia) 

Common Porcupine 

 Cliff Chipmunk - Neotamias dorsalis: 

Uncommon, middle elevations, near cliff s. 

 Least Chipmunk - Neotamias minimus: 

Uncommon, on plateau in shrubby areas. 

 Uinta Chipmunk - Neotamias umbrinus: 

Uncommon, on plateau in pine-fi r zone. 

 Yellow-bellied Marmot - Marmota fl aviventris: Uncommon, middle and upper elevations. 

 White-tailed Antelope Squirrel - Ammospermophilus leucurus: Uncommon, lower 

elevations. 

 Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel -

Spermophilus lateralis: Uncommon, higher 

elevations. 

 Rock Squirrel - Spermophilus variegatus: 

Common, rocky areas, parkwide. 

 Red Squirrel - Tamiasciurus hudsonicus: 

Uncommon, on plateau in pine-fi r zone. 

 Northern Flying Squirrel - Glaucomys sabrinus: Uncommon, higher elevations. 

 Botta’s Pocket Gopher - Thomomys bottae: 

Uncommon, canyons and lower elevations. 

 Northern Pocket Gopher - Thomomys talpoides: Uncommon, upper elevations. 

 Great Basin Pocket Mouse - Perognathus 

parvus: Uncommon, middle and upper 

elevations. 

 Little Pocket Mouse - Perognathus longimembris: Unconfirmed, mid to high elevations. 

Report sightings; photos helpful. 

 Long-tailed Pocket Mouse - Chaetodipus 

formosus: Uncommon, lower elevations. 

 Merriam’s Kangaroo Rat - Dipodomys 

merriami: Uncommon, sandy areas, lower 

elevations. 

 Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat - Dipodomys 

microps: Unconfirmed, sandy areas, lower 

elevations. Report sightings; photos helpful. 

 Ord’s Kangaroo Rat - Dipodomys ordii: 

Uncommon, sandy areas, middle elevations. 

 American Beaver - Castor canadensis: 

Uncommon, along water courses. Report 

sightings; photos helpful. 

 Western Harvest Mouse - Reithrodontomys 

megalotis: Uncommon, parkwide. 

 Brush Mouse - Peromyscus boylii: Uncommon, low and middle elevations. 

 Canyon Mouse - Peromyscus crinitus: 

Uncommon, low and middle elevations. 

 Cactus Mouse - Peromyscus eremicus: 

Uncommon, low and middle elevations. 

 Deer Mouse - Peromyscus maniculatus:

 Unommon, parkwide. 

 Piñon Mouse - Peromyscus truei: Uncommon, piñon-juniper zone. 

 Northern Grasshopper Mouse - Onychomys 

leucogaster: Uncommon, middle elevations. 

 Southern Grasshopper Mouse - Onychomys torridus: Uncommon, lower elevations. 

 Bushy-tailed Woodrat - Neotoma cinerea: 

Uncommon, rocky areas. 

 Desert Woodrat - Neotoma lepida: Uncommon, low and middle elevations. 

 House Mouse - Mus musculus: Uncommon, 

buildings. Non-native. 

 Gerbil - Meriones unguiculatus: Uncommon, 

Non-native. Report sightings; photos helpful. 

 Long-tailed Vole - Microtus longicadus: 

Uncommon, grassy areas, upper elevations. 

 Montane Vole - Microtus montanus: Uncommon, grassy areas, upper elevations. 

 Common Muskrat - Ondatra zibethicus: 

Uncommon, along water courses in Zion 

Canyon. 

 North American Porcupine - Erethizon 

dorsatum: Uncommon, parkwide. 

Shrews  Merriam’s Shrew - Sorex merriami: Uncon-  American Water Shrew - Sorex palustris: 

(Insectivora) firmed, may occur in arid areas. 

 Montane Shrew - Sorex monticolus: UncomUncommon, along streams in canyons. 

 Crawford’s Desert Shrew - Notiosorex 

mon, higher elevations. crawfordi: Uncommon, lower regions of 

Zion Canyon. 

Carnivores 

(Carnivora) 

 Coyote - Canis latrans: Uncommon, 

parkwide. 

 Kit Fox - Vulpes macrotis: Unconfi rmed, 

lower elevations. Report sightings; photos 

helpful. 

 Red Fox - Vulpes vulpes: Rare, parkwide. 

 Gray Fox- Urocyon cinereoargenteus: 

Uncommon, low and middle elevations. 

 American Black Bear - Ursus americanus: 

Rare migrant, high country. Please report 

sightings. 

 Ermine - Mustela erminea: Uncommon, high 

elevations. Report sightings; photos helpful. 

 Ringtail - Bassariscus astutus: Common, 

parkwide. 

 Northern Raccoon - Procyon lotor: Uncommon, lower elevations. Report sightings; 

photos helpful. 

 Long-tailed Weasel - Mustela frenata:

 Uncommon, parkwide. 

 American Badger - Taxidea taxus: Rare, 

parkwide. 

 Western Spotted Skunk - Spilogale gracilis: 

Uncommon, rocky areas, lower elevations. 

 Striped Skunk - Mephitis mephitis: Uncommon, parkwide. 

 Mountain Lion - Puma concolor: Uncommon, parkwide. Please report sightings. 

 Bobcat - Lynx rufus: Uncommon, parkwide. 

Even-toed Ungulates 

(Artiodactyla) 

 Elk - Cervus canadensis: Uncommon, higher 

elevations. 

 Mule Deer - Odocoileus hemionus: Common, 

parkwide. 

 Bighorn Sheep - Ovis canadensis: Uncommon, east side on steep rocky areas. Reintroduced. Please report sightings and location. 

Bighorn Sheep 

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