Wildlife of Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon supports around 90 mammal species and one of the largest populations of released California condors. Desert bighorn sheep scale the canyon walls; ringtail cats, mule deer and coyotes roam the rims; peregrine falcons and golden eagles hunt the thermals below.
Best timeMarch – May and September – November — mild temperatures, active wildlife.
- 1Grand Canyon is the only place with a wild California condor population outside California.
- 2Bighorn sheep drink from the Colorado at Deer Creek.
- 3The Kaibab squirrel exists only on the North Rim.
Signature species
Curated for Grand Canyon, each tagged with its IUCN Red List status.
- CR
California condor
Gymnogyps californianus
- LC
Desert bighorn sheep
Ovis canadensis nelsoni
- LC
Kaibab squirrel
Sciurus aberti kaibabensis
- VU
Humpback chub
Gila cypha
- LC
Peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus
IUCN codes — EX extinct · EW extinct in wild · CR critically endangered · EN endangered · VU vulnerable · NT near threatened · LC least concern · DD data deficient
Dos & don'ts
Local etiquette that keeps wildlife wild.
Do
- Watch condors soar from Yavapai Point at midday.
- Drink 4L/day on rim hikes in summer.
- Keep distance — use zoom or binoculars, never bait animals closer.
- Stay on marked trails to avoid trampling nests, burrows and plants.
Don't
- Don't approach elk in Grand Canyon Village.
- Don't leave food in reach — ringtails and ravens raid packs.
- Never feed wildlife — human food changes behaviour and shortens lives.
- Don't share exact locations of nests, dens or rare species online.
Spotted here lately
Live from iNaturalist — research-grade observations within 50km, last 30 days.
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