Kings Canyon National Parks includes three river systems, alpine lakes, waterfalls, canyons, claciated valleys, mountain meadows, conifer forests and groves of sequoias. The meadows are the best areas for spotting feeding black bears and mule dear. Bears are common from May to November. Deer generally stay in foothills during the winter and move into the middle elevations during the midsummer hot weather.
Mule deer are the prime prey sought by elusive mountain lion.
Pine martens, fishers and wolverines pursue squirrels and other smaller animals. Black bears may take fawns or eat carrion but subsist mostly on vegetation. Marmots and pikas inhabit the mountains. Coyotes, gray fox, bobcats, raccoons and ringtails patrol the foothills. Rae Lakes offers the opportunity to see California bighorn sheep.