Utah's landscape is incredibly diverse and so is its wildlife. However you like to experience nature, Utah offers plenty of options from relaxed wildlife viewing and photography, to active adventures like rafting, backpacking or hunting. Any time you’re outdoors, you may have the opportunity to see some of the state’s over 700 wildlife species, 250 species of birds, 620 species of spiders, 9 species of scorpions, so keep your eyes peeled. Mammals are the most abundant animal species in the state since they exist in almost all regions. There isn’t just one way to enjoy nature and wildlife. Lace up your hiking boots, grab your fishing pole, pack your binoculars, and get ready to enjoy! Remember safety should always be your first priority. Getting close to animals is dangerous for both the animal and you. Respect nature. Remember these are wild animals and some are poisonous.
Mammal species include mule deer, brown bear, mountain goat, antelope, mountain bison, black bear, wild horses,lynx, moose, long-tailed weasel, cougar, mountain lion, badger, gray wolf, bighorn sheep, llamas, coyote, elk, wolf, sage grouse, squirrel, mink, muskrat, ferret, gopher, otter, skunks, porcupine, raccoon, wolverine, shrews, pika, marmot, vole, rabbits, birds, swans, hawk, falcon, vulture, owls, blue heron, wild turkey, roadrunner, pelican, condor, bulfrogs, bats, and foxes. Also numerous species of spiders, snakes, scorpions, butterflies, moths, and bees. Reptiles like lizards, desert tortoise, gila monster, salamander, gecho, iguana, turtles, and many more species that call the state of Utah and its national parks home. As for lakes, rivers, and streams you can find several species of fish including whitefish, crappie, bluegill, trout, catfish, carp, june & bluehead sucker, and mollusks.
Stop and smell the roses, as the saying goes. That may work in the English countryside, but here in the Beehive State, it’s Utah wildflowers that deserve notice. Scene stealers like lupine, sego lilies, mountain sunflowers, columbine, and paintbrush share the stage with fragrant forests and gurgling creeks in the north, and desert breezes and red rock canyons to the south. Altogether, finding wildflowers is a rewarding, multi-sensory performance worth the hike. The optimal time to view Utah wildflowers depends on temperature and elevation. Wildflowers can bloom in Utah anytime between March and September. At higher-elevation meadows, peak season is June, July and August.
Utah is known as the Beehive State because the beehive is a symbol of hard work and industry. The state adopted the beehive as its official symbol in 1959, designated the honeybee as the state insect. Beyond the symbolism, Utah also has a diverse native bee population, with over 1,100 species documented. These native bees play a crucial role in pollination and are often more effective than honeybees. Utah is also home to various bumble bee species. Not all bees make honey. Most bees are solitary and do not live in hives. Bees use pollen and nectar as a food source. Most bees are not aggressive, meaning they rarely sting.
Flowers also bring out the butterflies and moths as they show us their colors. There are so many kinds of butterflies in Utah! Rocky Mountain states such as Utah rank as some of the best butterfly destinations in the United States. The east-west divide means that the eastern slopes of the state attract many of the eastern butterflies and the western slopes, valleys and fields support entirely different butterfly populations. Butterflies have been icons of peace and reverence for millennia. There are eight different families to which butterflies belong, at least 250 species of which are found in Utah.
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