What lives in Capitol Reef

Animals people ask about
Black bear
Ursus americanus · Occasional
Coyote
Canis latrans · Uncommon
Mountain lion
Puma concolor · Rare
Bobcat
Lynx rufus · Rare
Canada lynx
Lynx canadensis
Elk
Cervus canadensis · Rare
Bighorn sheep
Ovis canadensis · Uncommon
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
Rattlesnakes
Crotalus oreganus concolor · Common · any rattlesnake species
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Rare
California condor
Gymnogyps californianus
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos · Rare
By group
Species counts
- Mammals
- 62
- 73 listed
- Birds
- 242
- 249 listed · 7 non-native
- Reptiles
- 17
- 21 listed
- Amphibians
- 5
- 6 listed
- Fish
- 13
- 15 listed · 6 non-native
Endangered Species Act
3 threatened or endangered species
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynx | Lynx canadensis | Threatened | ||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Occasional | Threatened | |
| Mexican Spotted Owl | Strix occidentalis lucida | Rare | Threatened |
Mammals
All 62 mammals recorded in Capitol Reef
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-tailed Jackrabbit | Lepus californicus | Common | ||
| Canyon Mouse | Peromyscus crinitus | Common | ||
| Common Gray Fox | Urocyon cinereoargenteus | Common | ||
| Desert Cottontail | Sylvilagus audubonii | Common | ||
| Western Pipistrelle | Parastrellus hesperus | Common | ||
| Yellow-bellied Marmot | Marmota flaviventris | Common | ||
| Allen's Big-eared Bat | Idionycteris phyllotis | Uncommon | ||
| American Badger | Taxidea taxus | Uncommon | ||
| Big Brown Bat | Eptesicus fuscus | Uncommon | ||
| Big Free-tailed Bat | Nyctinomops macrotis | Uncommon | ||
| Bighorn Sheep | Ovis canadensis | Uncommon | ||
| Brazilian Free-tailed Bat | Tadarida brasiliensis | Uncommon |
Show the other 50 mammals ↓The other 50
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brush Mouse | Peromyscus boylii | Uncommon | ||
| California Myotis | Myotis californicus | Uncommon | ||
| Cliff Chipmunk | Neotamias dorsalis | Uncommon | ||
| Coyote | Canis latrans | Uncommon | ||
| Deer Mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | Uncommon | ||
| Desert Woodrat | Neotoma lepida | Uncommon | ||
| Fringed Myotis | Myotis thysanodes | Uncommon | ||
| Great Basin Pocket Mouse | Perognathus parvus | Uncommon | ||
| Hoary Bat | Aeorestes cinereus | Uncommon | ||
| Hopi Chipmunk | Neotamias rufus | Uncommon | ||
| Long-eared Myotis | Myotis evotis | Uncommon | ||
| Long-legged Myotis | Myotis volans | Uncommon | ||
| Mule Deer | Odocoileus hemionus | Uncommon | ||
| Northern Grasshopper Mouse | Onychomys leucogaster | Uncommon | ||
| Northern Raccoon | Procyon lotor | Uncommon | ||
| Ord's Kangaroo Rat | Dipodomys ordii | Uncommon | ||
| Pallid Bat | Antrozous pallidus | Uncommon | ||
| Pinon Mouse | Peromyscus truei | Uncommon | ||
| Red Fox | Vulpes vulpes | Uncommon | ||
| Rock Squirrel | Otospermophilus variegatus | Uncommon | ||
| Silver-haired Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | Uncommon | ||
| Spotted Bat | Euderma maculatum | Uncommon | ||
| Townsend's Big-eared Bat | Corynorhinus townsendii | Uncommon | ||
| Western Harvest Mouse | Reithrodontomys megalotis | Uncommon | ||
| Western Small-footed Myotis | Myotis ciliolabrum | Uncommon | ||
| White-tailed Antelope Squirrel | Ammospermophilus leucurus | Uncommon | ||
| Yuma Myotis | Myotis yumanensis | Uncommon | ||
| American Black Bear | Ursus americanus | Occasional | ||
| American Beaver | Castor canadensis | Rare | ||
| American Bison | Bos bison | Rare | ||
| Bobcat | Lynx rufus | Rare | ||
| Bushy-tailed Woodrat | Neotoma cinerea | Rare | ||
| Elk | Cervus canadensis | Rare | ||
| Mountain Lion | Puma concolor | Rare | ||
| North American Porcupine | Erethizon dorsatum | Rare | ||
| Striped Skunk | Mephitis mephitis | Rare | ||
| American Water Shrew | Sorex palustris | |||
| Botta's Pocket Gopher | Thomomys bottae | Probably Present | ||
| Common Muskrat | Ondatra zibethicus | |||
| Crawford's Desert Shrew | Notiosorex crawfordi | |||
| Ermine | Mustela erminea | Probably Present | ||
| Long-tailed Vole | Microtus longicaudus | |||
| Long-tailed Weasel | Mustela frenata | |||
| Lynx | Lynx canadensis | Threatened | ||
| Montane Vole | Microtus montanus | |||
| Mountain Cottontail | Sylvilagus nuttallii | Probably Present | ||
| Northern Flying Squirrel | Glaucomys sabrinus | Probably Present | ||
| Pronghorn | Antilocapra americana | |||
| Ringtail | Bassariscus astutus | |||
| Western Spotted Skunk | Spilogale gracilis |
Birds
242 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
242 birds — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper's Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | ||
| Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | ||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Aegolius acadicus | ||
| White-throated Swift | Aeronautes saxatalis | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | ||
| Chukar | Alectoris chukar | Non-native | |
| Black-throated Sparrow | Amphispiza bilineata | ||
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | ||
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | ||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | ||
| Snow Goose | Anser caerulescens | ||
| American Pipit | Anthus rubescens | ||
| Sandhill Crane | Antigone canadensis | Probably Present | |
| Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay | Aphelocoma woodhouseii | ||
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ||
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Archilochus alexandri | ||
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Sagebrush Sparrow | Artemisiospiza nevadensis | ||
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | ||
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | ||
| Burrowing Owl | Athene cunicularia | ||
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | ||
| Redhead | Aythya americana | ||
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | ||
| Juniper Titmouse | Baeolophus ridgwayi | ||
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| Bohemian Waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus | ||
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | ||
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | ||
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | ||
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | ||
| Common Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | ||
| Zone-tailed Hawk | Buteo albonotatus | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | ||
| Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | ||
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | ||
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | ||
| Lapland Longspur | Calcarius lapponicus | ||
| Western Sandpiper | Calidris mauri | ||
| Wilson's Warbler | Cardellina pusilla | ||
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | ||
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ||
| Canyon Wren | Catherpes mexicanus | ||
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Vaux's Swift | Chaetura vauxi | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Lark Sparrow | Chondestes grammacus | ||
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ||
| American Dipper | Cinclus mexicanus | ||
| Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | ||
| Marsh Wren | Cistothorus palustris | ||
| Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Threatened | |
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | ||
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | Non-native | |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | ||
| Western Wood-Pewee | Contopus sordidulus | ||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Corthylio calendula | ||
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | ||
| Steller's Jay | Cyanocitta stelleri | ||
| Blue Grouse | Dendragapus obscurus | ||
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | ||
| Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | ||
| Ladder-backed Woodpecker | Dryobates scalaris | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker | Dryobates villosus | ||
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | ||
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | ||
| Cordilleran Flycatcher | Empidonax difficilis occidentalis | ||
| Hammond's Flycatcher | Empidonax hammondii | ||
| Dusky Flycatcher | Empidonax oberholseri | ||
| Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | ||
| Gray Flycatcher | Empidonax wrightii | ||
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | ||
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | ||
| Prairie Falcon | Falco mexicanus | ||
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | ||
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | ||
| American Coot | Fulica americana | ||
| Wilson's Snipe | Gallinago delicata | ||
| Common Loon | Gavia immer | Probably Present | |
| MacGillivray's Warbler | Geothlypis tolmiei | ||
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Northern Pygmy-Owl | Glaucidium gnoma | ||
| California Condor | Gymnogyps californianus | Probably Present | |
| Pinyon Jay | Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus | ||
| Cassin's Finch | Haemorhous cassinii | ||
| House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | ||
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ||
| Black-necked Stilt | Himantopus mexicanus | ||
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | Icteria virens | ||
| Bullock's Oriole | Icterus bullockii | ||
| Hooded Oriole | Icterus cucullatus | ||
| Scott's Oriole | Icterus parisorum | ||
| Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | ||
| Varied Thrush | Ixoreus naevius | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed) | Junco hyemalis caniceps | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) | Junco hyemalis hyemalis | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Pink-sided) | Junco hyemalis mearnsi | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) | Junco hyemalis oreganus | ||
| Northern Shrike | Lanius borealis | ||
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler | Leiothlypis celata | ||
| Lucy's Warbler | Leiothlypis luciae | ||
| Tennessee Warbler | Leiothlypis peregrina | ||
| Nashville Warbler | Leiothlypis ruficapilla | ||
| Virginia's Warbler | Leiothlypis virginiae | ||
| Franklin's Gull | Leucophaeus pipixcan | ||
| Black Rosy-Finch | Leucosticte atrata | ||
| Gray-crowned Rosy Finch | Leucosticte tephrocotis | ||
| Marbled Godwit | Limosa fedoa | ||
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | ||
| American Wigeon | Mareca americana | ||
| Gadwall | Mareca strepera | ||
| Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | ||
| Western Screech-Owl | Megascops kennicottii | ||
| Lewis' Woodpecker | Melanerpes lewis | ||
| Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Non-native | |
| Lincoln's Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | ||
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | ||
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | ||
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | ||
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | ||
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Myiarchus cinerascens | ||
| Clark's Nutcracker | Nucifraga columbiana | ||
| Long-billed Curlew | Numenius americanus | ||
| Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | ||
| Sage Thrasher | Oreoscoptes montanus | ||
| Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | ||
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | ||
| Northern Waterthrush | Parkesia noveboracensis | ||
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Non-native | |
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Lazuli Bunting | Passerina amoena | ||
| Blue Grosbeak | Passerina caerulea | ||
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | ||
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | ||
| American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | ||
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | ||
| Common Poorwill | Phalaenoptilus nuttallii | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | ||
| Ring-necked Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | Non-native | |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | ||
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | ||
| Black-billed Magpie | Pica hudsonia | ||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker | Picoides dorsalis | Probably Present | |
| Pine Grosbeak | Pinicola enucleator | ||
| Green-tailed Towhee | Pipilo chlorurus | ||
| Spotted Towhee | Pipilo maculatus | ||
| Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | ||
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | ||
| White-faced Ibis | Plegadis chihi | ||
| Eared Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | ||
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | ||
| Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | ||
| Mountain Chickadee | Poecile gambeli | ||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | ||
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| Sora | Porzana carolina | ||
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | ||
| Bushtit | Psaltriparus minimus | ||
| Flammulated Owl | Psiloscops flammeolus | ||
| Vermilion Flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus | ||
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | ||
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | ||
| Virginia Rail | Rallus limicola | ||
| American Avocet | Recurvirostra americana | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | ||
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | ||
| Rock Wren | Salpinctes obsoletus | ||
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | ||
| Say's Phoebe | Sayornis saya | ||
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | ||
| Calliope Hummingbird | Selasphorus calliope | Probably Present | |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Selasphorus platycercus | ||
| Rufous Hummingbird | Selasphorus rufus | ||
| Northern Parula | Setophaga americana | ||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Setophaga caerulescens | ||
| Hooded Warbler | Setophaga citrina | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | ||
| Grace's Warbler | Setophaga graciae | ||
| Black-throated Gray Warbler | Setophaga nigrescens | ||
| Palm Warbler | Setophaga palmarum | Probably Present | |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Setophaga pensylvanica | ||
| Yellow Warbler | Setophaga petechia | ||
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | ||
| Townsend's Warbler | Setophaga townsendi | ||
| Mountain Bluebird | Sialia currucoides | ||
| Western Bluebird | Sialia mexicana | ||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | ||
| Northern Shoveler | Spatula clypeata | ||
| Cinnamon Teal | Spatula cyanoptera | ||
| Blue-winged Teal | Spatula discors | ||
| Red-naped Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus nuchalis | ||
| Williamson's Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus thyroideus | ||
| Pine Siskin | Spinus pinus | ||
| Lesser Goldfinch | Spinus psaltria | ||
| American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | ||
| Brewer's Sparrow | Spizella breweri | ||
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | ||
| American Tree Sparrow | Spizelloides arborea | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | Non-native | |
| Mexican Spotted Owl | Strix occidentalis lucida | Threatened | |
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | ||
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ||
| Violet-green Swallow | Tachycineta thalassina | ||
| Bewick's Wren | Thryomanes bewickii | ||
| Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Willet | Tringa semipalmata | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ||
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Winter Wren | Troglodytes hiemalis | ||
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | ||
| Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | Tyrannus forficatus | Probably Present | |
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ||
| Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | ||
| Cassin's Kingbird | Tyrannus vociferans | ||
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | Probably Present | |
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ||
| Plumbeous Vireo | Vireo plumbeus | ||
| Gray Vireo | Vireo vicinior | ||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | ||
| White-winged Dove | Zenaida asiatica | ||
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | ||
| Harris' Sparrow | Zonotrichia querula |
Reptiles
17 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
17 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Whiptail | Aspidoscelis tigris | Common | ||
| Plateau spotted whiptail | Cnemidophorus innotatus | |||
| Midget faded rattlesnake | Crotalus oreganus concolor | Common | ||
| Great Basin collared lizard | Crotaphytus bicinctores | Common | ||
| Long-nosed leopard lizard | Gambelia wislizenii | Common | ||
| Nightsnake | Hypsiglena torquata | |||
| Common kingsnake | Lampropeltis getula | |||
| Striped whipsnake | Masticophis taeniatus | Common | ||
| Greater short-horned lizard | Phrynosoma hernandesi | Rare | ||
| Gophersnake | Pituophis catenifer | Common | ||
| Common sagebrush lizard | Sceloporus graciosus | Abundant | ||
| Desert spiny lizard | Sceloporus magister | Common | ||
| Plateau lizard | Sceloporus tristichus | Abundant | ||
| Smith's black-headed snake | Tantilla hobartsmithi | |||
| Terrestrial gartersnake | Thamnophis elegans | Common | ||
| Tree lizard | Urosaurus ornatus | Common | ||
| Side-blotched lizard | Uta stansburiana | Abundant |
Amphibians
5 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
5 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-spotted Toad | Anaxyrus punctatus | Abundant | ||
| Woodhouse's Toad | Anaxyrus woodhousii | Common | ||
| Canyon Treefrog | Dryophytes arenicolor | Common | ||
| Northern Leopard Frog | Lithobates pipiens | |||
| Great Basin spadefoot | Spea intermontana | Common |
Fish
13 fish — show the list ↓
Fish
13 fish — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | Ameiurus melas | Non-native | ||
| White Sucker | Catostomus commersonii | Rare | Non-native | |
| Flannelmouth Sucker | Catostomus latipinnis | Common | ||
| Mottled Sculpin | Cottus bairdii | Common | ||
| Utah Chub | Gila atraria | Common | Non-native | |
| Roundtail Chub | Gila robusta | Probably Present | ||
| Leatherside Chub | Lepidomeda copei | Abundant | Non-native | |
| Rainbow Trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Probably Present | Non-native | |
| Bluehead Sucker | Pantosteus discobolus | Common | ||
| Mountain Sucker | Pantosteus platyrhynchus | Probably Present | ||
| Speckled Dace | Rhinichthys osculus | Abundant | ||
| Redshide Shiner | Richardsonius balteatus | Abundant | Non-native | |
| Brown Trout | Salmo trutta | Uncommon | Non-native |
Where this comes from
NPSpecies is the National Park Service’s database of the species documented in each park. We show its vertebrate lists as published: a species is “present” when the park has confirmed it, “unconfirmed” when reports exist without verification, and “not in park” when the NPS has ruled it out (often tagged “historical” for animals that once lived there). Lists lag reality by months or years and seeing an animal is never guaranteed. Plants, insects and other invertebrates are not included here. Browse the full NPSpecies list for Capitol Reef.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — Capitol Reef (CARE) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.Capitol Reef National Park — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
FAQ
Capitol Reef wildlife questions
- Are there bears in Capitol Reef?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Capitol Reef records black bear as present, listed as occasional.
- Are there wolves in Capitol Reef?
- The NPS species list for Capitol Reef does not include gray wolf, so there is no record of them in the park.
- Are there mountain lions in Capitol Reef?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Capitol Reef records mountain lion as present, listed as rare.
- Are there rattlesnakes in Capitol Reef?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Capitol Reef records rattlesnakes as present, listed as common.
- How many animal species live in Capitol Reef?
- The NPS species database lists 58 mammal, 234 bird, 17 reptile, 5 amphibian and 10 fish species as present or probably present in Capitol Reef, including 3 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.


