Joshua Tree National Park Wildlife
Joshua Tree National Park is a stunning desert landscape in southeastern California, celebrated for its unique Joshua trees and distinct ecosystems formed by the convergence of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. Wildlife in Joshua Tree National Park is as fascinating as its desert scenery, showcasing a rich array of species adapted to thrive in harsh conditions. From elusive desert mammals and resilient reptiles to diverse bird species, this article will delve into the remarkable wildlife inhabiting this arid yet biodiverse park.
1. Mammals
Several mammal species have adapted to the extreme heat, limited water, and sparse vegetation of Joshua Tree National Park.
Here is a list of mammals found in Joshua Tree National Park:
Squirrels:
- White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
- California Ground Squirrel
- Mojave Round-tailed Ground Squirrel
- Dusky Chipmunk
Pocket Mice & Kangaroo Rats:
- Desert Kangaroo Rat
- Merriam's Kangaroo Rat
- Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat
- Pallid (San Diego) Pocket Mouse
- Long-tailed Pocket Mouse
- Desert Pocket Mouse
- Baja California Pocket Mouse
- Spiny Pocket Mouse
- Little Pocket Mouse
Pocket Gophers:
- Pocket Gophers
- Mojave Pocket Gopher
- Coachella Pocket Gopher
New World Mice & Rats:
- White-throated Woodrat
- Desert Woodrat
- Big-eared Woodrat
- Desert Grasshopper Mouse
- Brush Deermouse
- Canyon Deermouse
- Cactus Deermouse
- Sonoran Deermouse
- Pinyon Deermouse
- Desert Harvest Mouse
- House Mouse
Rabbits & Hares:
- Desert Black-tailed Jackrabbit
- Desert Cottontail
Shrews:
- Desert Gray Shrew
Bats:
- California Leaf-nosed Bat
- Western Mastiff Bat
- Pocketed Free-tailed Bat
- Mexican Free-tailed Bat
- Big Brown Bat
- Hoary Bat
- Western Yellow Bat
- Canyon Bat
- Townsend's Big-eared Bat
- Spotted Bat
- Pallid Bat
- California Myotis
- Western Small-footed Myotis
- Fringed Myotis
- Long-legged Myotis
- Yuma Myotis
Cats:
- Bobcat
- California Mountain Lion
Dogs:
- Mearns Coyote
- Gray Fox
Bears:
- California Black Bear
Weasels & Badgers:
- Long-tailed Weasel
- American Badger
Skunks:
- Western Spotted Skunk
Ringtails:
- Ringtail
Deer & Sheep:
- Southern Mule Deer
- Desert Bighorn Sheep
2. Birds
Birdwatchers will find Joshua Tree National Park to be a rewarding destination, especially during migratory seasons when various species pass through. The park hosts over 250 bird species throughout the year, many of which are attracted to its diverse habitats.
Here's a list of bird species found in Joshua Tree National Park:
Waterfowl and Ducks:
- Snow Goose
- Wood Duck
- Mallard
- Cinnamon Teal
Raptors:
- Northern Harrier
- Cooper's Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- American Kestrel
Quails and Owls:
- Gambel's Quail
- Burrowing Owl
- Great Horned Owl
- Common Nighthawk
Hummingbirds and Kingfishers:
- Anna's Hummingbird
- Costa's Hummingbird
- Belted Kingfisher
Woodpeckers:
- Acorn Woodpecker
- Nuttall's Woodpecker
Flycatchers and Phoebes:
- Olive-sided Flycatcher
- Black Phoebe
- Say's Phoebe
Shrikes and Jays:
- Loggerhead Shrike
- Steller's Jay
- Western Scrub-Jay
- Pinyon Jay
Ravens and Crows:
- Common Raven
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| Common Raven |
Wrens:
- Rock Wren
- Canyon Wren
- Cactus Wren
- Bewick's Wren
Gnatcatchers and Mockingbirds:
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
- Northern Mockingbird
Thrashers:
- Sage Thrasher
- California Thrasher
Warblers:
- MacGillivray's Warbler
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
Sparrows:
- Spotted Towhee
- California Towhee
- Rufous-crowned Sparrow
- Black-throated Sparrow
- Lark Sparrow
- Sage Sparrow
- Dark-eyed Junco
3. Reptiles
Lizards:
- Woodland Alligator Lizard
- San Diegan Legless Lizard
- Great Basin Collared Lizard
- Long-nosed Leopard Lizard
- Desert Banded Gecko
- Desert Iguana
- Common Chuckwalla
- Western Zebra-tailed Lizard
- Blainville's Horned Lizard
- Southern Desert Horned Lizard
- Desert Spiny Lizard
- Great Basin Fence Lizard
- Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard
- Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard
- Western Long-tailed Brush Lizard
- Western Side-blotched Lizard
- Western Red-tailed Skink
- Great Basin Whiptail
- Desert Night Lizard
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| Lizard |
Snakes:
- Rosy Boa
- Mojave Glossy Snake
- Desert Glossy Snake
- Mojave Shovel-nosed Snake
- Red Racer
- California Striped Racer
- Northern Desert Nightsnake
- California Kingsnake
- Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake
- Sonoran Gophersnake
- Great Basin Gophersnake
- Long-nosed Snake
- Desert Patch-nosed Snake
- Mojave Patch-nosed Snake
- Variable Groundsnake
- Smith's Black-headed Snake
- California Lyresnake
- Desert Threadsnake
- Southwestern Threadsnake
- Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
- Mojave Desert Sidewinder
- Colorado Desert Sidewinder
- Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
- Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
- Red Diamond Rattlesnake
- Northern Mojave Rattlesnake
Tortoise:
- Mojave Desert Tortoise
4. Amphibians
- California tree frog
- Red-spotted toad
