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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.

5,801
recent observations
30
species listed
25
plants
3
reptiles & amphibians
2
mammals

Naturalists have logged 5,801 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Capitol Reef. The most frequently seen is the Roundleaf Buffaloberry, with 708 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
708 observations · iNaturalist
Kingcup Cactus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus
422 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
419 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
399 observations
Plateau Fence Lizard
Sceloporus tristichus
343 observations
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
295 observations
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
280 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
266 observations
Colorado Pinyon
Pinus edulis
216 observations
Western Whiptail
Aspidoscelis tigris
191 observations
Utah Juniper
Juniperus osteosperma
184 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Prince's Plume
Stanleya pinnata
154 observations · iNaturalist
Woolly Locoweed
Astragalus mollissimus
136 observations · iNaturalist
Stansbury's Cliffrose
Purshia stansburyana
130 observations · iNaturalist
Wyoming Paintbrush
Castilleja linariifolia
128 observations · iNaturalist
Fremont Barberry
Berberis fremontii
124 observations · iNaturalist
Frémont Cottonwood
Populus fremontii
114 observations
Brown-spined Pricklypear
Opuntia phaeacantha
113 observations
Hoary Townsend Daisy
Townsendia incana
110 observations · iNaturalist
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
108 observations
Badlands Mule-ears
Scabrethia scabra
107 observations · iNaturalist
Single-leaf Ash
Fraxinus anomala
104 observations · iNaturalist
Smallflower Fishhook Cactus
Sclerocactus parviflorus
102 observations · iNaturalist
Dwarf Yucca
Yucca harrimaniae
99 observations · iNaturalist
Littleleaf Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus intricatus
98 observations · iNaturalist
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
96 observations
Scarlet Gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata
90 observations
Green Ephedra
Ephedra viridis
90 observations · iNaturalist
Great Basin Sand Verbena
Abronia elliptica
89 observations · iNaturalist
Nakedstem Sunray
Enceliopsis nudicaulis
86 observations · iNaturalist

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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