Plants and Wildlife

More than 400 native plant species live in the park, along with diverse animal life.

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Plants and Wildlife Details

The stony Bryce Amphitheater can seem relatively devoid of life, but looks can be deceiving. In fact, Bryce Canyon National Park is home to more than 400 native plant species and diverse wildlife, including big mammals like mountain lions and black bears. The relative hostility of this part of southern Utah to human habitation has historically meant less loss of animal habitat and, thus, greater diversity of wildlife in the park. Bryce Canyon National Park has three life zones: you'll find dwarf forests of pinyon pine and juniper at the lowest elevations, Ponderosa Pines in the middle elevations, Douglas fir and white fir trees on the Paunsaugunt Plateau, and 1,600-year-old Great Basin Bristlecone Pines in some of the harshest environments of the park. Birds -- 170 species of them -- lizards, snakes, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, black bear, elk, and pronghorns are among the park's animal inhabitants; visitors are most likely to see mule deer, however. Endangered species that make the park their home include the Utah Prairie Dog, the California Condor, and the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher.

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