Animals

From canyon bats to mountain lions, hummingbirds to condors, Pinnacles provides a haven for thousands of diverse animal species.

We often associate certain animals with particular habitats, but many animals need more than one type of habitat to meet all of their needs. As a result, some of the best wildlife habitat is near the edge where one type of habitat meets another. Much of Pinnacles is a mosaic of different habitats, creating abundant opportunities for diverse wildlife species to thrive.

Pinnacles is also an island of intact natural habitat in a sea of growing human development. The park and surrounding area is the only remaining home of several sensitive species, such the big-eared kangaroo rat, Gabilan slender salamander, Pinnacles shield-back katydid, and Pinnacles riffle beetle. But it also provides refuge for many common species typical of California. We may currently take these species for granted, but as natural habitats throughout California continue to diminish, these species will become much less common and widespread. Though we have lost certain vulnerable species, healthy populations of many animals appear to be strong within Pinnacles’ protected boundaries.