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All animals have their own unique needs.
The canyon provides habitats for many different creatures. It has warmth for sun-seeking salamanders and cool air for furry black bears. There are leafy plants for sheep and deer to eat, and cool waters for fish to swim in.
More than 80 species of mammals and 50 species of reptiles and amphibians call the Grand Canyon home. You’ll also find 25 fish species and more than 300 kinds of birds.
Today, the most common animal in the Grand Canyon is the human tourist. But right now, let’s hang out with a few of the locals and learn more about them.
Fish
▲ Hundreds of species of fish thrive in the Colorado River. However, only eight are native to the Grand Canyon. Other fish are stocked, or supplied, by humans. The native squawfish (above), which is endangered, can grow up to 5 feet long and weigh up to 80 pounds.
◀ One harmful effect of the Glen Canyon Dam is that the Colorado River has cooled down. Native fish that once thrived there became extinct, and others are endangered. Brought by humans, the non-native rainbow trout (left) threatens native species.
Arachnids
▲ More than six types of scorpions live in the canyon. The most common is the six-inch giant hairy scorpion. Its bite is usually no worse than a bee sting.
Reptiles
◀ The little zebra-tailed lizard lives on the sizzling rocks at lower elevations. It’s only about 3.5 inches long. When this reptile senses danger, it stands up on its hind legs. Then it speeds away at up to 18 miles per hour!
Birds
▲ The golden eagle nests high in the cliff walls. This bird matches the canyon in beauty and elegance. It has a wingspan of more than six feet! It easily swoops down to grab prey like squirrels, jackrabbits, mice, fish, and even baby bighorn sheep.
◀ The rarest bird in the canyon is the California condor. It’s the largest bird in North America, with a wingspan of 10 feet. These birds were once nearly extinct. But now more than 70 live in the park, thanks to captive-breeding efforts in the 1980s and 1990s.
Mammals
▲ The most feared predator in the canyon is the mountain lion. It’s also known as a panther, puma, or cougar. They aren’t seen often and mostly move around at night. Mountain lions can weigh up to 160 pounds. They live mostly in forests along the North Rim and eat mule deer, elk, and bighorn sheep.
▲ Elk live in the forested rims of the canyon. An elk can make a tasty 750-pound meal for a mountain lion! The two animals have something in common, though. Like bighorn sheep, mountain lions and elk were once hunted nearly to extinction.
◀ Bighorn sheep live only on the most remote slopes of the inner canyon. They have large, curled horns. They stand almost totally still on cliff edges. When they feel threatened, they can leap almost straight up to a canyon ledge sticking out above them.
The Kaibab squirrel lives in only one place on Earth—the Grand Canyon. The squirrel is a native of the canyon’s North Rim. ▶
