Joshua Tree National Park is home to coyotes, jackrabbits, desert bighorn sheep, bobcats, tortoises, rattlesnakes, roadrunners, hawks, lizards and hundreds of other animals. But unlike Yellowstone or some safari destinations, much of the wildlife here is easy to miss.
The National Park Service records about 350 vertebrate species in Joshua Tree, including 57 mammals, 46 reptiles, more than 250 bird species and two amphibians. Thousands of insects, spiders, scorpions and other invertebrates add another layer of desert life.
Many animals avoid the hottest part of the day by hiding underground, resting among rocks or becoming active after sunset. That means when and where you look matters almost as much as which species live here.
The National Park Service wildlife guide has the park’s current species information.
Table of Contents
What animals are you most likely to see in Joshua Tree?
If you’re visiting for a day or weekend, don’t expect mountain lions and bighorn sheep around every corner. The wildlife you’re most likely to notice is smaller and much more common.
- White-tailed antelope ground squirrels
- Black-tailed jackrabbits
- Desert cottontails
- Coyotes
- Common ravens
- Gambel’s quail
- Greater roadrunners
- Red-tailed hawks
- Fence lizards and other desert lizards
Bobcats, foxes, desert tortoises, mountain lions, mule deer and desert bighorn sheep also live in the park, but seeing one is much less predictable.
Joshua Tree gets much wilder after the sun goes down
One reason visitors underestimate Joshua Tree’s wildlife is that a large part of the desert community is active when most people are leaving.
Hot summer afternoons can look almost empty. Small mammals shelter underground, foxes remain hidden and many other animals wait for temperatures to fall.
Around dusk and after dark, the mix changes. Animals that may become active include:
- Kangaroo rats
- Bats
- Kit foxes
- Coyotes
- Black-tailed jackrabbits
- Owls
- Scorpions
- Rodents
- Some snakes during warm weather
Joshua Tree has 16 recorded bat species alone. Dawn and dusk are especially useful wildlife-watching periods because daytime and nocturnal animals can overlap.
Do not use a flashlight or spotlight to search specifically for animals. Joshua Tree prohibits viewing wildlife with artificial light without a permit.
Where should you look for wildlife?
There isn’t one guaranteed wildlife spot in Joshua Tree, but some habitats give you much better odds than others.
Black Rock Canyon
Black Rock is one of the few areas where the National Park Service specifically describes wildlife sightings as frequent.
Ground squirrels, jackrabbits and cottontails are regularly seen around the campground. Gambel’s quail, cactus wrens, roadrunners, owls and scrub-jays are also common possibilities.
Bobcats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, mule deer and desert tortoises have all been recorded there as well, although those animals are far less predictable.
See the NPS Black Rock Canyon guide for current park information.
Barker Dam and water sources
Water is scarce enough in the desert that springs, oases and temporary water sources can influence where animals move.
Desert bighorn sheep are occasionally seen around Barker Dam, particularly during cooler hours. Give animals plenty of room to reach water rather than positioning yourself between them and the shoreline.
Rocky slopes and canyons
Rocky mountain habitat is worth scanning carefully for bighorn sheep. Rocky canyons and outcrops also provide habitat for bobcats, gray foxes and many reptiles.
Open desert and sandy flats
Jackrabbits are easier to notice in open habitat, while kit foxes and many small mammals use desert flats. Sandy areas are also habitat for several snake and lizard species.
Coyotes are one of the larger animals you’re reasonably likely to see
Coyotes occur throughout Joshua Tree and are one of the park’s more visible larger mammals.
They may appear during daylight, but early morning, evening and nighttime are good periods to watch for them. You may also hear coyotes long before you see one, particularly around campgrounds after dark.
Never feed one or encourage a coyote toward your car or campsite. Animals that learn to associate people with food can quickly become habituated.
Desert bighorn sheep are here, but sightings are special
Desert bighorn sheep are among Joshua Tree’s most impressive animals, but they are not commonly seen by most visitors.
They favor rugged mountain terrain and depend heavily on scarce water sources. Early morning and evening usually offer better viewing opportunities than hot midday conditions.
If you see bighorn sheep, stay at least 75 feet away and back up farther if the animals change their behavior because of your presence.
Joshua Tree asks visitors to report bighorn sightings because park biologists are monitoring the population. The NPS wildlife reporting page explains how to submit an observation.
Bobcats and mountain lions live in Joshua Tree too
Joshua Tree has both bobcats and mountain lions.
Bobcats are associated with rocky canyons and outcrops and are considered more common than mountain lions, but their secretive behavior still makes sightings unpredictable.
Mountain lions use mountainous portions of the park and are uncommon. Seeing one during a normal Joshua Tree visit would be unusual.
For a broader look at the species found across the continent, see large cats in North America. If you’re trying to distinguish Joshua Tree’s smaller wild cat from related species, the bobcat vs. lynx comparison is also useful.
Are there bears in Joshua Tree?
Black bears are not a normal part of the Joshua Tree experience.
The National Park Service mammal list records the California black bear as an uncommon occasional migrant. Joshua Tree does not function like a typical bear-heavy mountain national park, so visitors generally do not plan their trip around bear encounters.
Jackrabbits, ground squirrels and kangaroo rats make up the everyday desert wildlife
Small mammals are a much bigger part of the Joshua Tree ecosystem than the dramatic predators get credit for.
White-tailed antelope ground squirrels are among the animals you’re most likely to notice during daylight. Black-tailed jackrabbits are easy to recognize by their long legs and huge ears, while smaller desert cottontails usually stay closer to cover.
Kangaroo rats are masters of desert survival. They spend daylight hours in burrows and emerge primarily at night to forage for seeds while conserving water extremely efficiently.
If desert wildlife interests you beyond California, the Arizona wildlife guide covers many animals adapted to similar southwestern environments.
Desert tortoises are one of the best spring sightings
The Mojave desert tortoise is one of Joshua Tree’s signature reptiles, but it spends about 95 percent of its life underground.
Spring is one of the best times to see one. Warmer conditions bring tortoises above ground to feed and search for mates, particularly after favorable winter rainfall.
Desert tortoises are federally protected. Do not pick one up for a photograph or move it merely because it is walking across open ground.
The National Park Service has a detailed Joshua Tree desert tortoise guide with current conservation and safety information.
Joshua Tree has 26 snake species
Snakes are a real part of Joshua Tree wildlife, but they are considerably less conspicuous than lizards.
The park records 26 snake species, including seven rattlesnake species. Sidewinders use sandy desert habitat, while other species live among rocky slopes, washes, canyons and Joshua tree woodland.
You do not need to spend a visit worrying constantly about snakes. Watch where you place your hands and feet, avoid reaching blindly beneath rocks or vegetation, and give any snake enough room to move away.
The separate guide to dangerous animals in Joshua Tree puts rattlesnakes, scorpions, mountain lions and the park’s other potential hazards into perspective.
California’s reptile situation changes considerably with elevation and habitat. For comparison, see the guide to snakes in Yosemite.
Lizards are much easier to find than snakes
If you specifically want to see reptiles, lizards usually provide much better odds.
Joshua Tree species include desert spiny lizards, desert iguanas, zebra-tailed lizards, long-nosed leopard lizards, chuckwallas, whiptails and desert night lizards.
Warm but not brutally hot conditions often bring lizards onto exposed rocks and open ground where they can regulate their body temperature.
Roadrunners are only one part of Joshua Tree’s birdlife
More than 250 bird species have been recorded in Joshua Tree National Park.
Easy species for casual visitors to recognize include common ravens, Gambel’s quail, greater roadrunners and red-tailed hawks. Other year-round desert birds include cactus wrens, rock wrens, phainopeplas and prairie falcons.
The mix changes during migration and winter. Joshua Tree lies along the Pacific Flyway, so seasonal visitors can include warblers, orioles, sparrows and other migrants.
Roadrunners are particularly fun to watch because they spend so much time on the ground. They hunt insects, lizards and other small animals and are even capable of taking rattlesnakes.
What animals actually live in or use Joshua trees?
The plant itself is part of the wildlife habitat.
Scott’s orioles can nest among Joshua tree leaves. Woodrats build sheltered structures beneath fallen yucca material, and desert night lizards often use fallen Joshua tree and yucca branches.
The plant’s most famous animal relationship is much smaller. Joshua trees depend on yucca moths for pollination. Female moths deliberately move pollen between flowers while laying eggs, and the developing larvae later eat a portion of the seeds.
So if you’re wondering what “eats” a Joshua tree, the answer is not primarily one large desert herbivore. The plant participates in a much more complicated network of insects, birds, rodents and reptiles.
Scorpions and tarantulas are part of the park too
Not all of Joshua Tree’s wildlife has a backbone.
The park supports thousands of arthropod species, including scorpions, spiders, centipedes, beetles, bees and more than 75 butterfly species.
Scorpions usually hide during daylight and become more active after dark. Tarantulas can occasionally be seen crossing open ground, particularly when adult males are moving in search of mates.
When to visit if wildlife matters to you
Spring
Spring is one of the most interesting periods because temperatures are moderate enough for both visitors and wildlife. It is also one of the better times to encounter desert tortoises above ground.
Summer
Expect daytime wildlife activity to fall sharply during extreme heat. Dawn, dusk and nighttime become much more productive.
Fall
Cooling temperatures make daytime wildlife watching more comfortable again, although exactly what you see depends heavily on weather and habitat.
Winter
Many reptiles and small animals become less active, but winter brings its own bird community and can be excellent for watching resident and seasonal birds without extreme desert heat.
Watching Joshua Tree wildlife without changing its behavior
A useful rule is simple: if an animal stops feeding, moves away or changes what it is doing because of you, you’re too close.
- Never feed wild animals.
- Keep food and trash secured.
- Stay at least 75 feet from bighorn sheep.
- Do not pick up or harass desert tortoises.
- Never chase an animal for a photograph.
- Do not spotlight wildlife at night.
- Keep pets leashed and follow the park’s trail restrictions.
These habits are part of the same basic principles covered in the guide to how travelers can help conserve wildlife.
A changing desert affects the animals too
Water is one of the biggest limitations on desert wildlife, and Joshua Tree’s animals are not isolated from larger environmental changes.
Park researchers have documented losses of springs and other surface-water sources used by desert bighorn sheep. Desert tortoises also face habitat fragmentation, road mortality, disease and other pressures.
These local pressures fit into the broader question of how climate change affects wildlife and the wider wildlife conservation issues facing animals in fragmented and increasingly hot landscapes.
If Joshua Tree is part of a bigger wildlife trip
Joshua Tree offers a very different style of wildlife watching from parks where large mammals dominate the landscape. The appeal here is learning to notice smaller animals and understanding how life survives in an environment that initially looks almost empty.
For more places closer to home, see the guide to wildlife areas in California. For a completely different national park experience, compare it with the animals found in Yellowstone.
Joshua Tree rewards patience more than checklist-style wildlife watching. Scan the rocks, slow down around washes, listen for birds and spend time outside the hottest hours. The desert usually isn’t empty. Most of its animals are simply better at hiding than you are at finding them.
