Explore Arches National Park

The Wildlife Flora and Fauna of Arches

The plants and animals in Arches have many adaptations that enable them to survive the climatic extremes. Some species are found only in this area. The diversity of organisms reflects the variety of available habitat, which includes lush riparian areas, ephemeral pools, dry arroyos, mixed grasslands and large expanses of bare rock.

Animals of Arches Mammals

Mammals includes: red fox, desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, mountain lion, bobcat, coyote, kit fox, gray fox, badger, porcupine, beaver, muskrat, ringtail, spotted and striped skunks, black-tailed jackrabbit, desert cottontail, rock squirrel, antelope ground squirrel, Colorado chipmunk, woodrat, and kangaroo rat.

Amphibians & Reptiles of Arches National Park

Several spiecies of toad (spadefoot, red-spotted, and Woodhouse's), Snakes include black-necked garter, coachwhip, gopher, and Western rattlesnake. Lizards include: leopard, side-blotched, Eastern fence, whiptail and Western collared lizard (pictured).

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Birds of Arches NP

Scrub and pinyon Jay, peregrine falcon, many kinds of sparrows, mallard, great blue heron, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, turkey vulture, great horned owl, nighthawk, mourning dove, black-chinned hummingbird, raven, black-billed magpie, mountain bluebird, dark-eyed junco, house fingh, red-winged blackbird.

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Tough love for our furry and feathered friends

When visiting, do not, under any circumstances, feed the wildlife or allow wildlife to obtain human food. Animals which obtain food from humans often become aggressive, will sometimes get ill or even die due to a change in diet, and most seriously stop foraging for natural foods and frequently starve to death in winter months when human food is no longer available.

Flora of Arches National Park

The list of plants consists of: Prickly pear cactus, Indian rice grass, bunch grasses, cheatgrass, lichens, mosses, liverworts, Utah juniper, Mormon tea, blackbrush, cliffrose, four-winged saltbrush, monkeyflower, mountain mahogany, stemless woollybase, evening primrose, sand verbena, yucca, and datura. Trees include ash, Gambel oak, pinyon pine, willow and box elder.

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