From pikas on alpine ridglines to rattlesnakes in desert canyons, the Colorado Plateau is home to an incredible array of wild creatures. We work to make sure native species have the habitats, water, and space they need to thrive. Sometimes we use clipboards and data sheets. Other times we use shovels. And often, we don work gloves. With the help of volunteers and research partners, we make a difference on the ground for our plant and animal neighbors on the plateau. Explore our projects:
Beavers, whose dams help slow the flow of water, are master engineers that change the way water flows in our forests. Their dams raise creek beds, reduce the force of flash floods, and create habitat for fish and other wildlife. We’re helping bring beavers back to their historic habitat in Utah. Watch our 13-minute video “Beaver: Back to the Future,” and read an interview with the filmmaker ›
Topping out at 55 miles per hour, pronghorn are some of the fastest animals in the world. Yet despite their powerful, lean legs, they can’t jump.
Fences stop pronghorn in their tracks — a serious problem in a landscape crisscrossed with barbed-wire cattle fences. Rather than hop over fences, the animals will try to squeeze underneath. But wires are typically strung too low, scraping pronghorns’ backs and leaving them susceptible to infection and disease.
We work in strategic locations where pronghorn return year after year to replace the bottom wire with a smooth one and raise it to 18 inches off the ground — enough space for pronghorn to pass through. Since 2011, Grand Canyon Trust volunteers have made over 13 miles of fences in House Rock Valley wildlife-friendly. See how we do it ›
To the untrained eye, biological soil crust looks like nature’s version of a lumpy rash. But in function and form, it’s actually quite beautiful. The living skin is made of lichen, moss, and cyanobacteria. It protects soil from erosion and absorbs water. We work with volunteers to measure biocrusts in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and make the case to monument managers of the need to protect this important resource.
Southern Utah is home to hundreds of species of native bees, which play a crucial role in pollinating native plants. The Forest Service is considering allowing a private beekeeper to put non-native honeybees on Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-La Sal, and Unita-Wasatch-Cache national forests in Utah. Find out why this is a bad idea ›
Animals tend to use the same routes to reach water, food, and mates. Researchers studying wildlife movement on the North Rim Ranches predicted the locations of these "animal highways." But actual wildlife sightings can be few and far between in such vast landscapes. Rather than twiddle our thumbs and wait for animals to walk by, we're using motion-activated cameras to help scientists study wildlife movement on the North Rim Ranches. Volunteers help us replace batteries, pull memory cards, and sift through thousands of photos.
We're studying wildlife movement on the North Rim Ranches. Check out some candids of the cute creatures roaming around our forest and desert lands.
For Hopi Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma, the Grand Canyon region is home to many cultural and religious sites that are still very much alive today.
Read More
Proposal to build massive communications tower on state lands inside Bears Ears National Monument withdrawn
Read More