Hear the words “Death Valley” and an image of an uninhabited landscape might come to mind. Below-sea-level basins are ravaged by drought and heat, receiving less than two inches of rain per year. Temperatures soar above 120 degrees. While these conditions may seem harsh to humans, Death Valley is home to a great diversity of wildlife. Hard-learned, clever adaptations enable desert animals to thrive in this unlikely place.
![]() NPS photo Like bighorn sheep, kangaroo rats do not have to worry about dehydration. In fact, they are so perfectly adapted to arid environments, they do not need to drink water their entire lives! They can survive on water digested from their seedy, vegetarian diet. Kangaroo rats conserve their body’s precious water by releasing wastes in very concentrated urine and dry feces. ![]() NPS - Robb Hannawacker Rather than “sleep” through most of the year, many animals rest during the hot summer days and are active at night. Nocturnal wildlife leaves behind clues on sand dunes. For example, you may find coyote tracks alongside those of a jackrabbit. The rabbit’s tracks zig and zag across the sand while the long strides of the coyote’s tracks portray a fast run. Hunting during the cool nights and early mornings allows the coyote to spend more energy catching prey. The cover of darkness also helps the jackrabbit hide from potential predators.
While there are advantages to being nocturnal in the desert, there are still creatures who brave the daytime heat. Commonly seen animals have specific physical adaptations which allow them to be out in the heat longer. Roadrunners, for instance, can operate in the heat of the day because their body temperatures are naturally high (104 °F).
![]() NPS / K Monroe The jackrabbit, another common desert creature, stays cool by releasing heat from its over-sized ears. When the rabbit retreats into the shade, warm blood from its core circulates through blood vessels in its ears, releasing body heat into the surrounding air.
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Last updated: September 29, 2021