Zion National Park

Wildlife of Zion

Zion is home to 68 mammal species, 291 bird species, and 44 species of reptiles and amphibians. Some - like mule deer and wild turkeys - are nearly guaranteed sightings. Others, like the California condor, are once-in-a-trip moments you'll never forget.

Desert bighorn sheep ram at Zion National Park

Bighorn sheep ram close-up with flowering manzanita, Zion

Two bighorn sheep rams on red sandstone, Zion National Park

Zion's Most Iconic Animal

Desert Bighorn Sheep

Ovis canadensis nelsoni

The desert bighorn sheep is Zion's signature wildlife encounter. Agile, sure-footed, and surprisingly unbothered by humans, these animals navigate sheer sandstone cliffs with a calm confidence that stops hikers in their tracks.

Bighorns were largely extinct in southwestern Utah by 1960, the result of overhunting and disease. In 1978, fourteen sheep were reintroduced into Zion - the herd has since grown to over 500 animals, one of the great conservation success stories in the American Southwest.

The males (rams) carry massive curved horns that can weigh more than 30 pounds - nearly as much as all their other bones combined. During the fall rut, rams charge each other at speeds up to 40 mph, their clashes echoing across the canyon walls. Females (ewes) and juveniles tend to form separate herds, and are often seen grazing on canyon ledges that seem impossibly narrow.

Best Spot East side near Checkerboard Mesa & Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy

Best Time Year-round; most active at dawn and dusk

Status Least Concern - thriving after reintroduction

Viewing tip: Slow down between the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel and the East Entrance. Bighorns frequently appear on the roadside rock faces and are often completely unperturbed by cars stopped to watch them.

Read the full bighorn guide →

Most Common Large Mammal

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

If you see only one animal at Zion, it will almost certainly be a mule deer. The park's canyon floor is prime habitat - sheltered, well-watered, and rich with vegetation - and deer move through it constantly. They're named for their large, mule-like ears, which swivel independently and give them exceptionally sharp hearing.

Mule deer in Zion are famously unbothered by people. It's not unusual to find them grazing in the Visitor Center parking lot, standing calmly beside the shuttle stops, or wandering through the campground at dusk as if they own the place - because, in a sense, they do. They were here long before the roads were.

Bucks grow and shed their antlers annually. By late summer, antlers are fully grown and covered in velvet; by fall rut the velvet is shed and bucks compete for does. Fawns are born in late spring and are often spotted in June and July, sometimes still spotted with white markings.

Best Spot Visitor Center area, Pa'Rus Trail, Zion Lodge meadows, parking lots

Best Time Dawn & dusk year-round - often seen midday in winter

Status Abundant - the most commonly seen large mammal in the park

Parking lot tip: Don't be surprised to pull into the Visitor Center or Zion Lodge parking area and find deer grazing right between the cars. They've learned that parking lots mean people - and people mean spilled food and landscaping. Keep your distance and never feed them.

Read the full mule deer guide →

Deer near parking area, Zion National Park

Wildlife in Motion

Watch Zion's Wildlife

A few favorites from our own footage - bighorn on the cliffs, mule deer along the river, eagles and turkeys on the canyon floor. Tap any clip to play.

See all our wildlife videos →

Who You Might Meet

Animals of Zion National Park

Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo

Surprisingly large and entertaining to watch, wild turkeys are nearly guaranteed sightings in Zion - especially in spring when the males (toms) fan their tail feathers and strut through the canyon in full display. Flocks of 10-20 birds are commonly seen foraging along the canyon floor trails and near the campgrounds.

Where: Canyon floor, near Visitor Center & campgrounds When: Spring & fall, morning

Full guide →

Rock Squirrel

Otospermophilus variegatus

The bold, chunky squirrel you'll encounter at nearly every trailhead and picnic area. Rock squirrels are large for ground squirrels - about the size of a small cat - and completely habituated to hikers. Don't feed them; they bite, and they can carry diseases. They're genuinely fun to watch as they dart between boulders.

Where: Trailheads, canyon walls, rocky areas throughout When: Daytime, spring through fall

Cliff Chipmunk

Neotamias dorsalis

Zion's most commonly seen small mammal - quick, curious, and everywhere. Cliff chipmunks are slightly larger and more gray-toned than the chipmunks most visitors are used to seeing, and they're perfectly adapted to Zion's rocky terrain. They're active all day long and especially numerous on the shadier canyon trails.

Where: Throughout the canyon, especially shaded trails When: Daytime, spring through fall

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Standing nearly four feet tall, the great blue heron is a dramatic presence along the Virgin River. They hunt by standing motionless in shallow water for minutes at a time, then striking at fish with a sudden, lightning-fast jab of their bill. Often spotted along the Pa'Rus Trail and Riverside Walk, where the river runs slow and clear - easy to miss until one lifts off with a slow, prehistoric wingbeat.

Where: Virgin River corridor, Pa'Rus Trail, Riverside Walk When: Year-round, most active at dawn

Coyote

Canis latrans

Coyotes are common throughout Zion but rarely seen in the busy main canyon during peak hours. They're most likely encountered at dawn or dusk along the Pa'Rus Trail and Watchman Trail areas, or heard howling from the canyon walls at night. Zion's coyotes are notably less bold than those in urban areas.

Where: Canyon floor, open meadows, lower canyon When: Dawn & dusk

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

A winter visitor to Zion, bald eagles migrate down from Canada and Alaska and spend the colder months along the Virgin River and its tributaries. Look for them perched high in the cottonwood trees along the canyon floor - their white head and tail and massive yellow bill make them unmistakable against the bare winter branches. Zion is a designated Important Bird Area, and the park's riparian corridor is prime wintering habitat.

Where: Virgin River corridor, cottonwood groves When: Winter (November-February)

Full guide →

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

The fastest animal on earth - peregrine falcons can reach 240 mph in a hunting stoop (dive). Zion's sheer sandstone walls are prime nesting territory, and the falcons breed here each spring. Watch for them perched on cliff ledges or making dramatic vertical dives over the canyon. Certain trails close seasonally to protect active nests.

Where: High canyon walls throughout the park When: Year-round; most active in nesting season (spring)

Full guide →

California Condor

Gymnogyps californianus

One of the most dramatic wildlife sightings in North America. With a wingspan approaching 10 feet, a condor circling overhead is unmistakable. By 1987 only 27 remained on earth; a captive breeding program brought them back, and Zion has been an active nesting site since the late 1990s. In 2019, the 1,000th chick in the recovery program fledged right here in Zion.

Where: Angels Landing, Big Bend, Kolob Terrace Road near Lava Point When: Most commonly spotted in thermal updrafts midday

Full guide →

Eastern Collared Lizard

Crotaphytus collaris

One of Zion's most striking reptiles - males are a vivid turquoise-green with a distinctive black-and-white collar. Collared lizards are fast, alert, and will run bipedally on their hind legs when startled. Commonly seen sunning on warm sandstone boulders on the east side of the park and along the lower canyon trails.

Where: Sunny sandstone outcrops, east side of park When: Spring-fall, midday warmth

Gray Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Zion's gray foxes are elusive and almost entirely nocturnal - a nighttime encounter is a genuine treat. Smaller than a coyote, the gray fox has a salt-and-pepper coat with rusty flanks, a black-tipped tail, and large, alert eyes well-suited to low light. They're one of the few wild canids in North America capable of climbing trees, using their semi-retractable claws to escape predators or raid bird nests. During the day they den in rocky crevices, hollow logs, or dense brush throughout the canyon.

Where: Canyon edges, rocky scrub, Springdale area at night When: Nocturnal - dusk through dawn

Ringtail

Bassariscus astutus

Zion's official state mammal of Utah - a small, cat-sized creature with enormous eyes, fox-like ears, and a spectacular striped tail longer than its body. Ringtails are strictly nocturnal and rarely seen, but they're throughout the park. Occasionally spotted near canyon campsites after dark, or heard scrambling along cliff faces. Sometimes called a "miner's cat" for their historical use as mousers in mining camps.

Where: Rocky canyon areas throughout When: Nocturnal - night only

Two of Zion's rarest residents have their own in-depth guides: the elusive mountain lion and the threatened Mexican spotted owl.

How to See More Wildlife

Time of day matters most. The majority of Zion's mammals are most active in the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. Midday is the least productive time for mammal sightings - but it's when raptors like condors and falcons ride thermal updrafts and are easiest to spot in the sky.

Move slowly and quietly. Zion's canyon bottom trails are busy, and most wildlife retreats from groups moving quickly and noisily. Solo walkers or small groups who pause frequently see far more animals than those power-hiking to a destination.

Look up and across. Bighorn sheep and peregrine falcons are almost always spotted on cliffs above eye level. Scanning the canyon walls - not just the trail ahead - dramatically increases your chances of a sighting.

The east side is underrated. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway corridor (between the tunnel and the east entrance) consistently produces bighorn sheep, collared lizards, and golden eagles. Most visitors drive through without stopping.

Wildlife Ethics

Never feed wildlife - it's illegal, dangerous to the animals, and makes them aggressive toward future visitors.
Stay 25 yards from most wildlife and 100 yards from predators. If an animal changes its behavior because of you, you're too close.
Keep food stored - in your car or a sealed container, never left at a campsite or trailhead.
Condor tags matter - if you see a tagged condor acting lethargic or appearing ill, report the tag number to a park ranger. Lead poisoning from spent ammunition is the primary cause of condor deaths and is still an ongoing threat.

Gear We Recommend

Gear for Wildlife Watching

Binoculars, field guides, and essentials for spotting and identifying Zion wildlife. Best of Zion earns from qualifying Amazon purchases, at no extra cost to you.