Arches National Park - Animals

Most animals in this desert climate are nocturnal; that is, they eat, drink and move about at night. Fifty-two kinds of mammals have been sighted in the park. Mule deer (shown in photo at right), bighorn sheep, cottontail rabbits, kit fox and ground squirrels are seen frequently. Birds are common certain times of the year and in certain locations. At least 186 kinds of birds have been seen in the Park. Common ones include pinyon jays, mountain bluebirds, red-tailed hawks and ravens. Visitors who leave their cars during the warm part of the year are almost guaranteed to see lizards! Shy midget-faded rattlesnakes are also present, but are seldom seen. Believe it or not, the hot temperatures (up to 114 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer are just one of the many harsh conditions for the animals that live here. Animal adaptations are also aimed at coping with the dryness, lack of food, and extreme temperature changes.

At Arches National Park, water sources for animals include potholes, springs, seeps, washes, and the Colorado River. Potholes are depressions in rock that collect rainwater and generally evaporate in a week or two. Seeps and springs are more reliable water sources. Most washes have flowing water only after rains. Afterwards, some water flows into the Colorado River and some seeps into the sandy wash bottoms, and the washes dry up. The Colorado River is the southern boundary of the park and is too far away to be useful to many animals that live in the park.