Flora & Fauna

Flora & Fauna

Due to elevations approaching 9,000 feet, many of Bryce Canyon's 400 plant species are unlike those you'll see at less lofty places. Look at exposed slopes and you might catch a glimpse of the gnarled, 2,000-year-old bristlecone pine. More common, and far younger, are the Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, and the quaking aspen, most striking in its bright golden fall color. No fewer than three kinds of sagebrush—big, black, and fringed—grow here, as well as the blue columbine.

Their reputation as a pest among Southern Utah ranchers notwithstanding, the Utah prairie dog is designated a threatened species. Be cautious around them. Though cute and seemingly approachable, they might bite if you get too close, and the bacteria that causes bubonic plague has been found on their fleas. Other animals include elk, black-tailed jackrabbits, and the desert cottontail. Below 7,000 feet, black bear have been seen in the trees, but infrequently. It's far more likely you'll see the soaring forms of golden and bald eagles, or perhaps a peregrine falcon diving into the amphitheaters at speeds approaching 200 mph.