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Wildlife in Capitol Reef National Park

Here’s what naturalists are spotting in Capitol Reef right now - pulled live from recent research-grade observations. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

5,539
recent observations
30
species listed
25
plants
3
reptiles & amphibians
2
mammals

Naturalists have logged 5,539 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Capitol Reef. The most frequently seen is the Roundleaf Buffaloberry, with 654 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (25 of the species listed here), followed by reptiles & amphibians (3).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Capitol Reef

Roundleaf Buffaloberry
Shepherdia rotundifolia
654 observations · iNaturalist
Kingcup Cactus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus
420 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
414 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
388 observations
Plateau Fence Lizard
Sceloporus tristichus
331 observations
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
292 observations
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
266 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
257 observations
Colorado Pinyon
Pinus edulis
199 observations
Western Whiptail
Aspidoscelis tigris
191 observations
Utah Juniper
Juniperus osteosperma
155 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Prince's Plume
Stanleya pinnata
145 observations · iNaturalist
Woolly Locoweed
Astragalus mollissimus
127 observations · iNaturalist
Wyoming Paintbrush
Castilleja linariifolia
120 observations · iNaturalist
Stansbury's Cliffrose
Purshia stansburyana
120 observations · iNaturalist
Fremont Barberry
Berberis fremontii
114 observations · iNaturalist
Hoary Townsend Daisy
Townsendia incana
110 observations · iNaturalist
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
108 observations
Badlands Mule-ears
Scabrethia scabra
105 observations · iNaturalist
Frémont Cottonwood
Populus fremontii
102 observations
Smallflower Fishhook Cactus
Sclerocactus parviflorus
102 observations · iNaturalist
Brown-spined Pricklypear
Opuntia phaeacantha
100 observations
Littleleaf Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus intricatus
97 observations · iNaturalist
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
96 observations
Single-leaf Ash
Fraxinus anomala
94 observations · iNaturalist
Scarlet Gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata
90 observations
Great Basin Sand Verbena
Abronia elliptica
87 observations · iNaturalist
Winkler's Pincushion Cactus
Pediocactus winkleri
86 observations · iNaturalist
Pale Evening Primrose
Oenothera pallida
85 observations
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
84 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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