Pipe Spring National Monument - Animals

Pipe Spring National Monument by National Parks Service

Animals living within Pipe Spring National Monument are masters of survival. Years of cattle grazing in this area have used up food sources, changing the ecosystem and pushing out the deer and antelope. Desert cottontail rabbits, antelope ground squirrels and other small animals live among the sagebrush and cactus; where, in turn, they are prey for coyotes and bobcats. Some mammals only travel through Pipe Spring's 40 acres; and others only appear at night. Both leave signs of their passage. Porcupine scratches mark a pinyon or a juniper tree. Footprints of a passing bobcat impress the soft soil. Moth wings remain on window sills after Pallid bats dine. Summers, many reptiles are visible. Desert spiny lizards scurry along the walkways; and occasionally, a rattler or gopher snake winds its way from one place to another. Many birds, such as western tanagers and mountain bluebirds, use the spring and the trees of this oasis as a resting place in their migratory path from one home to the next. Others nest and breed before moving on, (Say's Phoebe) and some make Pipe Spring their home (Gambel's quail). With many visitors' attention drawn to the domesticated animals of the park, sometimes opportunities to view wildlife quietly slip away.

Inhabitants of this area viewed the animals in different ways. For the Kaibab Paiute, the deer, rabbits, and other small animals were clothing, tools, and food. They learned from the animals and respected them as part of the environment. Pioneers reported their heart stopping encounters with rattlesnakes curled up different places in the house and a coyote coming in a door left open for cooling and sitting by a sleeping child's bed. Gophers, coyotes and rattlesnakes were a nuisance only conquered by killing them.

According to Paiute traditions, the animals, plants and people of long ago spoke the same language. They taught the Paiute their stories. Each told stories of their origin, characteristics, the life value to be learned from them, and the delicate balance of nature. Sadly, the animals, plants and people all had their ways of ruling and each wanted their own way used - wanted to be supreme. Coyote tricked everyone to his way by changing the one language to different languages. Animals, plants and people can no longer understand each other, but their stories are still passed down from generation to generation. The Paiute young still learn the life value each animal and plant has to offer.