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Meet the Residents of Zion National Park!



Every shared green space-no matter how big or small-has a
purpose. 

Local public parks are the perfect place to incorporate the outdoors
into our day-to-day lives. They're ideal for enjoying the fresh
air with friends and family, playing with a canine companion, or
reading a good book.

National parks offer incredible opportunities to view stunning
landscapes, embark on a challenging hike, and learn more about
America's rich, colorful, and complicated history. 

But these green spaces aren't just for
people-they're home to countless animal species who thrive
and survive amid habitat loss, increasingly severe weather, and the
changing climate. These protected grounds allow us to better
appreciate and understand wildlife safely and respectfully, reminding
us why these cherished spaces need to be protected. 

Zion National Park is one of these spaces. Ranging in elevation from
3,000 feet at its southern edge to over 8,000 feet on the highest
domes-more than a vertical mile-this park spans a huge
range of habitats and, thus, hosts some uniquely diverse fauna.

Here are just a few of the critters that call Zion National Park their
home:

Mexican Spotted Owl. Photo: twildlife/iStock.

With impressive 4-foot wingspans, Mexican spotted owls are one of North America's largest owl species. These secretive birds nest or roost in tight canyons--like the ones found in Zion--and hunt nocturnally, cruising plateau forests for small mammals. TPL projects have helped preserve habitat corridors for these rare owls.

Bighorn Sheep. Photo: NaturesThumbPrint/iStock.

Zion's herd of about 450 bighorns graze their way uphill in
spring, following the emergence of new green grasses. According to
park staff, they are easiest to spot from the exit of the tunnel on
the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway to the East Entrance, or in Zion Canyon
in the fall.

California Condors. Photo: Luca Stewart/iStock.

California condors are one of North America's largest-and
rarest-bird species. A condor nest on a cliff in Zion Canyon has
produced just two chicks in the past three years. The best place to
see them is around Big Bend. Peregrine falcons also nest on cliffs in
Zion; the park closes cliffs with nests to climbers until the young
birds are fledged.

Native Fish. Photo: Roger Tabor (USFWS)/Flickr

The Virgin River in Zion is unique among desert rivers: it retains
healthy populations of native fish species, in part because the
river's flows-which can oscillate from low and clear to
torrential flash floods in mere hours-are not altered by
main-stem dams. These native species include endemic Virgin spinedace,
speckled dace (pictured), desert suckers, and flannelmouth suckers.

For over 25 years, Trust for Public Land has worked to ensure that
recreational access in and around Zion National Park remains
uncompromised. In 2019-Zion's centennial year-TPL
preserved an 880-acre property on the park boundary, including the
last unprotected mile of the Zion Narrows Trail. The deal ensures
access to this treasured wilderness experience in perpetuity.

You can read more about Zion, including our ongoing work to protect
and expand one of the world's most iconic national parks, here.
>> 

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Your partnership empowers our work to protect public lands and connect
communities to wildlife and green spaces nationwide. Together, we are
creating a future where everyone can experience the strength, joy, and
belonging that the outdoors provide.

With gratitude,
Trust for Public Land

P.S. It's Endangered Species Day! By making your first gift to
TPL today, you'll help fuel progress on projects that protect
public lands-helping restore and secure habitats for endangered
species today and for years to come.

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Connecting everyone to the outdoors. We create parks and protect
public land where they're needed most so that everyone will have
access to the benefits and joys of the outdoors for generations to
come.

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