Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon are all located in the Great Basin Desert. Here in the desert when it rains, it does so in volumes, the soil cannot absorb the moisture so quickly leaving the terrain dry. A desert is an arid place that receives, on average, less than 10 inches of rain or snow a year. The few snows in the winter help maintain a better balance, but still the hot dry days lead to evaporation. The Great Basin Desert is called a cool desert due to at least half of its moisture coming from the winter snow. Many of the animals have learned to adapt to the high temperatures and the scarcity of water by being active at night or burrowing into the ground during the hottest parts of the day. Appreciate the diversity of these creatures, they are quite adept to living through the winter as well as the hot summers. The animals here have adapted physical characteristics so they may live and thrive in such an environment. Plants, like animals have adapted to the hot desert climate. The Cactus is a great example of how a plant will hoard water for its survival. The shallow, wide root system of the cactus enables the plant to soak up rain water more efficently and their sharp spines help the leaves to conserve water by minimizing transiration.

Hiking many of the hikes in Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon involve a change in elevation. This allows for many different microenvironments or natural life zones.

Although the parks are in the desert the animals are diverse like the plant life. Seventy-five species of Mammals are found in Zion alone. The mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is a common site in the park compared to the secretive and nocturnal mountain lion. There has never been an attack by a lion in the park. The coyote (Canis latrans) and the Gray Fox (Urocyon cineroargenteus) can be seen once in a while.Squirrels are perhaps the most seen mammals in Zion. Rock Squirrels (Spermophilus variegatus) and the White-tailed antelope ground squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus) are common. The tiny little Least chipmunk (Eutamias minimus) can be seen rushing about in rocky areas as well as wooded areas. Other common mammals include the beaver (Castor canadensis), the porcupine (Erethizion dorsatum), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis). The black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), a hare can jump at 35 mph.

Those long ears of the jackrabbit help keep the animal cooler by providing a large surface area of radiating body heat. The warmed blood is circulated and cooled in the thin tissue of the ears. The smaller desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) is slower moving with a busy white tail. The cottontail will hold very still when it feels it is in danger and then dart out looking for saftey.

Taking a look at the photo of the deer left, you see the big ears, a characteristic of the Mule Deer. The antler of the mule deer branch and then branch again once more. In the winter the Mule Deer sheds it antlers and within a couple of weeks will begin to gorw a new set. Deer are seen often in Zion Park feasting on the grass. The deer in the photo sat still while many people got out of their vehicles to take its picture.

The bighorn sheep is becoming a rarely seen animal, but is often sighted in Zion along the switchbacks. Once an abundant animal in the southsest, but the species has been hunted to this end result. Many of the Parks are trying to reintroduce the bighorn into the area. The male weighs in at around 300 or a little less with the ewe a bit smaller. Both sexes have the characteristic curved horns on their heads.

There are two-hundred-seventy-one species of birds. The rare California Condor is among them. This magnificent bird was known to the ancient ones as the Thunderbird, huge, being the largest land bird of all. In 1980 there were only 27 left, a few years later those that lived were bred and released. Their radio transmitters tell us they are in places such as Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon and the Grand Staircase Monument. There are currently less than 200 birds now in existence.

The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is the most common of the Hawks in Zion and in the Rocky Mountain area. The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is a small and very pretty falcon. A few other interesting birds include the western kingbird (Tryannus verticalis), Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens), and the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus).

Thirty-two reptiles, with only the great basin (Crotalus virdis lutosus) rattle snake being dangerous. When a rattlesnake feels in danger it will vibrate its tail causing the horny segments to rub up against each other.

Reptiles are ectotherms, animals who's body temperature changes with the environmental temperature and therefore must find shade during to tday to keep from becoming too hot.

Lizards are all along the trails and it is of interest how they change when hiking a trail which changes greatly in elevation. Lizard will mostly likely be the most observed animal in the Parks.

Commonly seen is the eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus elongatus), identified by the blue blotches on his underbelly. The western whip-tail lizard (Cnemidophorus tigris) and the Plateau are identified by their long tails.

The horned lizard (Phrynosoma spp.) not as common in Zion, but quite interesting. The horned toad (really a lizard) has a unique way of warming its body, it will flatten its body and turn perpendicular to the warmth of the sun.

This creature inflates when in danger and hisses. The horned lizards flatten their bodies and turn perpendicular to the suns warmth and then parallel to cool down. flat and wide body, often called a horny toad.

Some common amphibians include: The Canyon Tree Frog, a small dusky colored frog which has a beautiful bird like call that is heard in early spring. The great basin spadefoot toad (Spea intermontana). A nocturnal toad with greenish gray coloring. The red spotted toad (Bufo Punctatus) identified by its reddish bumps on the ski and its small size. The northern Leopard frog (rana pipiens), a nocturnal frog identified by its back and forth flee when startled. There are also 8 species of fish in the area.

Almost eight-hundred native species of plant life are found in Zion. Plants must also adapt to the hot summers and cold winters of the Parks.

The Cactus is a good example of this efficiency, hoarding water and keeping it from evaporating by a thick wax coat. The sweet prickly pear jelly, made from the flower of the Prickly pear cactus, is found in many shops around Zion Park.

Many of the plant life in the parks have adapted by forming deep, long roots, while others are perennials.

The Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) lines the Virgin river of Zion. Tall trees, with roundish leaves. The evergreens, Juniper and Pine, are widespread. The Juniper has a bluish berry like fruit which takes 2 years to mature. The bark is fibrous, peeling off easily. The early settlers made us of the easily frayed material for things like diapers and bedding. The Single-leaf Pinyon is the common pine seen on the rocky mountain sides in Zion. Just like the wildlife the plant life changes with elevation. At about 5,000 feet the Pinions and Junipers are found, above that is the Pine and Oak, then the Fir and Aspen and at the top the Spruce and Fir are found.

There is poison ivy in the park, along with the more common sacred datura (Datura wrightii). Datura is visible all over the park, even from your car. Datura has hallucinogenic qualities used by the ancient Indians that visited the Zion area.

Never touch either of these plants; some people have severe allergic reactions to them that would make for a very unpleasant experience.

Along the wetter sections of hikes the maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum & capullus) can be found. These are dainty fronds on a strong length of black stem.

Another delicate plants is the white tufted evening primrose (Oenothera casespitosa). The flowers are large and white, opening at night. Another primrose is the pale evening primrose (Oenothera pallida), smaller that the evening primrose.

Palmer Penstemon (Penstemon palmeri) is common, flowers are like small white cups. The Utah penstemon (Penstemon utahensis) has a lobed flower tube, the flowers are red. The Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja) grows in dry areas, often seen along the road. The red bracts look like colored leaves.

Cactus often seen include the Prickly Pear, the Claret Cup Cactus and the Purple Torch named after its purple flowers. The fruits can be made in to jelly and used in many dishes in Mexico. The Yucca has the tall blades adapted to channeling water to its roots. Lichens are found throughout the parks, an indication of clean air, being sensitive to oxides of nitrogen and sulfur. Finding lichens in a city would be unlikely. Lichens are a combination of algal cells and fungal filaments living together in what is called a symbiotic relationship.

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