Meeting Nature's Best - Grand Canyon Animals

The Grand Canyon is more than just a geologic realm. Within the bounds of the 277 miles long Grand Canyon is a great diversity of fauna that sought refuge in this magnificent park. Presidential Proclamation No.45 declared the Grand Canyon a national park in 1893 through the efforts of President Benjamin Harrison.

Today, Grand Canyon animals include 75 species of mammals, 50 species of reptiles, 25 species of fish, and over 300 species of birds. Of course, the lush woods in the Grand Canyon are home to millions of insects and arachnids (spiders, scorpions, etc) as well.

The vast area of the Grand Canyon is an excellent venue for different types of fauna to flourish. The forest reserve is protected from poachers and logging is strictly prohibited in the park to secure wildlife and their natural habitat. Park visitors can meet with bigger mammals that usually wander on established trails.

The vastness of the canyon was able to contain animals distinctly found in each rim. The Albert squirrel amuses visitors in the south rim while the Kaibab squirrel plays tricks in the north. Both squirrels belong to one ancestor – the tassel-eared squirrel but were separated by miles of distance and eventually evolved into two different species.

Grand canyon animals that commonly trek on human trails on the rims are the mule deer and the desert bighorn although the latter mostly considers the slopes of the canyon its home. There also exists a small population of mountain lions. Bobcats and coyotes wander from the rims to the bottom of the gorges. Smaller mammals are likewise seen anywhere on the rims: beavers, ringtails, gophers, rabbits, chipmunks, bats, and many varieties of squirrels.

Reptiles and amphibians additionally represent the Grand Canyon animals. Several species of lizards, frogs, toads, turtles, snakes and salamanders thrive in the park. The pink rattlesnake can only be found in the Grand Canyon. Having snakes may sound scary but these creatures seldom reveal themselves on established trails and avoid confrontations most of the time. However, visitors are warned that Grand Canyon animals including snakes may charge when their presence are threatened.

The canyon is also home to endangered and threatened species that have sought refuge in the forest reserve like the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, and willow flycatcher. These animals are constantly monitored to ensure their survival. The Colorado River fish, meanwhile, was immensely affected by the changes in the volume of water, temperature, and sediment load after the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam in 1963.