Zion National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🐏 Bighorn Sheep on Zion Slickrock
🌍 #225 Global · 3.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #39 in North America #16 in Desert & Scrub
Colorado Plateau, United States 572 spp. recorded

Zion National Park sits on the Colorado Plateau in southwestern Utah. Its landscape is a maze of deep canyons, towering sandstone cliffs and desert‑dry scrub that hugs the Virgin River corridor, setting it apart from the broader forested parks of the region.

37.286° N   113.022° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

California Condor ★
CR

California Condor

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gymnogyps californianus

20–30% · Possible
Bighorn Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

60–70% · Likely
Mule Deer ★
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

80–90% · Very likely
Spotted Owl ★
NT

Spotted Owl

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Strix occidentalis

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Rock Squirrel
LC

Rock Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Otospermophilus variegatus

80–90% · Very likely
Plateau Fence Lizard
Endemic

Plateau Fence Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus tristichus

70–80% · Very likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

60–70% · Likely
Uinta Chipmunk

Uinta Chipmunk

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamias umbrinus

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus uniformis

60–70% · Likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Common Side-blotched Lizard
LC

Common Side-blotched Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Uta stansburiana

50–60% · Likely
Canyon Tree Frog
LC

Canyon Tree Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Dryophytes arenicolor

50–60% · Likely
Spotted Towhee
LC Endemic

Spotted Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pipilo maculatus

50–60% · Likely
Sagebrush Lizard
LC

Sagebrush Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus graciosus

50–60% · Likely
Western Whiptail
LC Endemic

Western Whiptail

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Aspidoscelis tigris

50–60% · Likely
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aphelocoma woodhouseii

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Bighorn Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

60–70% · Likely
Mule Deer ★
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Rock Squirrel
LC

Rock Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Otospermophilus variegatus

80–90% · Very likely
Uinta Chipmunk

Uinta Chipmunk

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamias umbrinus

60–70% · Likely
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
LC Endemic

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus californicus

10–20% · With luck
Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

10–20% · With luck
White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
LC

White-tailed Antelope Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ammospermophilus leucurus

10–20% · With luck
Desert Cottontail
LC

Desert Cottontail

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Sylvilagus audubonii

10–20% · With luck
Utah Prairie Dog
EN Endemic

Utah Prairie Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cynomys parvidens

Insufficient data
Ringtail
LC Endemic

Ringtail

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Bassariscus astutus

10–20% · With luck
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

5–10% · With luck
Mountain Lion
LC

Mountain Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Puma concolor

5–10% · With luck
Pronghorn
LC Endemic

Pronghorn

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antilocapra americana

5–10% · With luck
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

California Condor ★
CR

California Condor

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gymnogyps californianus

20–30% · Possible
Spotted Owl ★
NT

Spotted Owl

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Strix occidentalis

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

60–70% · Likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Spotted Towhee
LC Endemic

Spotted Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pipilo maculatus

50–60% · Likely
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aphelocoma woodhouseii

50–60% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

50–60% · Likely
House Finch
LC Endemic

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

50–60% · Likely
Northern Flicker
LC Endemic

Northern Flicker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colaptes auratus

50–60% · Likely
Canyon Wren
LC

Canyon Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Catherpes mexicanus

40–50% · Likely
Yellow Warbler
LC Endemic

Yellow Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga petechia

40–50% · Likely
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
LC Endemic

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Polioptila caerulea

40–50% · Possible
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

30–40% · Possible
Wild Turkey
LC Endemic

Wild Turkey

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Meleagris gallopavo

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Plateau Fence Lizard
Endemic

Plateau Fence Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus tristichus

70–80% · Very likely
Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus uniformis

60–70% · Likely
Common Side-blotched Lizard
LC

Common Side-blotched Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Uta stansburiana

50–60% · Likely
Sagebrush Lizard
LC

Sagebrush Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus graciosus

50–60% · Likely
Western Whiptail
LC Endemic

Western Whiptail

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Aspidoscelis tigris

50–60% · Likely
Plateau Striped Whiptail
LC Endemic

Plateau Striped Whiptail

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Aspidoscelis velox

40–50% · Likely
Desert Spiny Lizard
LC

Desert Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus magister

30–40% · Possible
Gopher Snake
LC Endemic

Gopher Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Pituophis catenifer

30–40% · Possible
Desert Collared Lizard
LC

Desert Collared Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crotaphytus bicinctores

30–40% · Possible
Western Rattlesnake
LC

Western Rattlesnake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crotalus oreganus

20–30% · Possible
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
LC

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis elegans

20–30% · Possible
Ground Snake
LC

Ground Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Sonora semiannulata

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Canyon Tree Frog
LC

Canyon Tree Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Dryophytes arenicolor

50–60% · Likely
Arizona Toad
LC Endemic

Arizona Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus microscaphus

40–50% · Possible
Red-spotted Toad
LC

Red-spotted Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Anaxyrus punctatus

10–20% · With luck
Western Tiger Salamander
LC

Western Tiger Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ambystoma mavortium

10–20% · With luck
Great Basin Spadefoot
LC

Great Basin Spadefoot

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Spea intermontana

10–20% · With luck
Northern Leopard Frog
LC

Northern Leopard Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lithobates pipiens

10–20% · With luck
Woodhouse's Toad
LC

Woodhouse's Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus woodhousii

10–20% · With luck

Animal Events

🦅

California Condor Soaring Season

AugSepNov

Condors from the recovery program congregate and soar on thermals along Zion's high cliffs, most often seen above Angels Landing and Kolob Terrace.

California Condor
CR

California Condor

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gymnogyps californianus

20–30% · Possible
🐏

Bighorn Sheep Viewing

DecMar

Desert bighorn descend to lower, visible slickrock on the east side in the cooler months — early winter is the documented prime viewing window after the autumn rut.

Bighorn Sheep
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

60–70% · Likely
🦉

Mexican Spotted Owl Nesting Season

MarAprMayJun

Owl season runs when the owls mate and nest in Zion's cool, shaded slot canyons — the period they are most active and detectable.

Spotted Owl
NT

Spotted Owl

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Strix occidentalis

10–20% · With luck
🐸

Canyon Tree Frog Chorus

AprMayJun

During the spring breeding season a loud chorus of canyon tree frogs sounds from pools and streams in Zion's side canyons.

Canyon Tree Frog
LC

Canyon Tree Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Dryophytes arenicolor

50–60% · Likely
Arizona Toad
LC Endemic

Arizona Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus microscaphus

40–50% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
California Condor
40–50
10–20
10–20
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
10–20
Bighorn Sheep
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
40–50
40–50
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
Mule Deer
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
Spotted Owl
<5
<5
20–30
10–20
20–30
20–30
<5
<5
<5
10–20
<5
<5
Rock Squirrel
50–60
70–80
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
60–70
60–70
Plateau Fence Lizard
10–20
30–40
60–70
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
30–40
40–50
Common Raven
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
Uinta Chipmunk
40–50
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
80–90
20–30
Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard
10–20
10–20
10–20
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
5–10
10–20
American Robin
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
30–40
50–60
50–60
70–80
Common Side-blotched Lizard
10–20
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
60–70
60–70
20–30
5–10
Canyon Tree Frog
20–30
5–10
10–20
40–50
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
10–20
5–10
Spotted Towhee
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
20–30
30–40
30–40
40–50
Sagebrush Lizard
10–20
5–10
20–30
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
5–10
5–10
Western Whiptail
10–20
5–10
20–30
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
10–20
5–10
5–10
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay
40–50
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
Animal Events
🦅 California Condor Soaring Season
🐏 Bighorn Sheep Viewing
🦉 Mexican Spotted Owl Nesting Season
🐸 Canyon Tree Frog Chorus

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐏 Bighorn Sheep on Zion Slickrock

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
389
🐒 Mammals
115
🦎 Reptiles
45
🐸 Amphibians
23
572 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
21 Threatened 90 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
67%
📊
Coverage (144 species at ≥5% of 572 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
25%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (4 mammal, 4 reptile, 3 bird, 1 amphibian)
46% Global avg
94%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
93
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
4
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
20

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Zion National Park?

The most likely sightings are Mule Deer (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Rock Squirrel (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Plateau Fence Lizard (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Common Raven (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Bighorn Sheep (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 572 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Zion National Park for wildlife?

April has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see California Condor in Zion National Park?

Yes — about 24% of wildlife watchers report a California Condor sighting in Zion National Park, based on 420 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Bighorn Sheep in Zion National Park?

Yes — about 69% of wildlife watchers report a Bighorn Sheep sighting in Zion National Park, based on 357 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Mule Deer in Zion National Park?

Yes — about 89% of wildlife watchers report a Mule Deer sighting in Zion National Park, based on 925 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Spotted Owl in Zion National Park?

Yes — about 17% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Owl sighting in Zion National Park, based on 23 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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