Wildlife

There are a total of 77 mammal species in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, with a few larger species like black bears and Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Black bears are integral to the Sierra ecosystem and range through both parks, where they forage for natural foods. It's imperative to keep human food away from bears, which can engage in destructive and dangerous behavior to get food, such as ripping up cars and trailers. The change in foraging behavior can also lead to other habit changes and, ultimately, bear behavior toward humans. Bear encounters fueled by habituation can turn dangerous for humans -- and ultimately fatal for bears if they must be put down as a result. The park's population of federally endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is around 500, up from precipitously low levels of only 125 sheep in 1999. The population is at risk of disease from domestic sheep, predation by mountain lions, and reduced geographic distribution, among other things, but is now occupying the Great Western Divide for the first time in over 100 years. Amphibians, reptiles, and fish are also present at all elevations inside the park, some seasonally and some year-round. They range from the common western fence lizard to numerous non-native species such as the bullfrog and several types of fish that were introduced into naturally fish-free, high-elevation lakes and streams to make these areas more attractive to anglers.