Winter wildlife adapt to colder temperatures in Zion National Park

ST. GEORGE — Amid the winter season in Zion National Park, area animals are changing their routines.

A fox in Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah, unspecified date | Photo courtesy of the National Park Service, St. George News

“Animals use special adaptations to deal with drops in temperatures,” park spokesman Jonathan Shafer told St. George News.

Some animals hibernate and some reptiles brumate. Shaffer said brumation is like hibernation, but it differs because reptiles primarily rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperatures.

He said reptiles brumate starting in late autumn. They will need to drink water throughout the winter, but they will not eat during the cold months. He said brumation is triggered by cold weather and fewer daylight hours, similar to hibernation.

Janice Stroud-Settles, who serves as the wildlife program manager for Zion National Park, said hibernation involves reducing body temperature.

“Since reptiles and amphibians are coldblooded, they can’t reduce their body temperature, so their ‘winter sleep’ is called brumation,” Stroud-Settles said in an email to St. George News. “Brumation is very similar to hibernation but does not include lowering body temperature.”

Examples of hibernating mammals are bats and bears. Only one bird species, the common poorwill, is known to truly hibernate. Stroud-Settles said other bird species, such as hummingbirds, will go into brief periods of torpor to conserve energy. All species of reptiles and amphibians in the Southern Utah region brumate since the winter climate is too cold for them to be continually active.

A bighorn sheep in Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah, Dec. 6, 2021 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News

The park is home to various lizard species with unique adaptations and curious behavior. Stroud-Settles suggests visitors look for smaller lizards alongside Zion’s trails early in the morning. Later in the day, the larger reptiles make an appearance. Some of the lizards in Zion National Park include:

  • Plateau lizard has distinctive patches of blue along its belly.
  • Greater short-horned lizard has sharp horns/scales.
  • Western whiptail lizard has a long, lean physique and rusty orange coloration on the sides of its back.
  • Great Basin collared lizard has a black mark that looks like a collar.

Other species are adapted to leave Zion National Park during winter months. Shafer said bats and birds move between summer and winter habitats. Some search for more abundant food sources in warmer locations, and others seek ideal habitats for hibernating in winter or raising young in summer.

He said during December, January and February, the park experiences cold temperatures, rain and snow.

According to the park website, temperatures range from highs of 50 degrees Fahrenheit during the day to lows below freezing at night during the winter. Most of the annual precipitation in Zion Canyon falls between December and March. Although roads are plowed, some trails may be closed due to the hazard of falling ice. After winter storms, snow in higher elevations accumulates. Icy conditions may exist on trails, especially in areas that stay in the shade.

Shafer said rangers recommend visitors wear traction devices for their boots to reduce the risk of slipping. The Narrows will be cold, and he recommends wearing a dry suit to hike the trail safely.

A canyon tree frog in Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah, unspecified date | Photo courtesy of the National Park Service, St. George News

Shafer said visitors could access the park by vehicle or bus during the winter.

Park operations during winter

Park shuttle buses will operate only during the holidays, like the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Access to the upper part of Kolob Terrace Road, including Lava Point, is closed during winter. Access to Kolob Canyons regularly closes in inclement weather.

Driving conditions can be very poor during a storm, but roads are plowed and maintained. Also, the South Campground closes. The Human History Museum remains closed.

Shafer added that the park film can be viewed free online at all times of the year. And the park’s webcam is pointed toward one of its most iconic views, the Temples and Towers of the Virgin.

“While it’s cold outside, enjoy Zion from the warmth of your home by visiting the park website,” Shafer said.

To learn about reptilesbirdsmammals, and seasons in Zion, visit exhibits like Feathered Treasures: Birds in Zion National Park’s Collections, or art collectionarchives, and other historical and cultural collections online.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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