Endangered Animals & Plants in the Petrified Forest

Petrified Forest National Park is located in the southwest of the United States in Arizona, and is home to the world̵7;s largest concentrations of petrified wood. The park is a refuge for several endangered species of animals and plants.

  1. Habitat

    • The majority of the park consists of a contrast between short grass prairie and spots of desert. More than 1,000 species of plants and a variety of wildlife coexist within the boundaries of the park, which averages 600,000 visitors annually.

    Mammals and Reptiles

    • Mammals at risk of becoming extinct include pronghorn, the swift fox, bobcat, Townsend̵7;s big-eared bat, antelope squirrel, ground squirrel, and deer mouse. Endangered reptiles include the tiger salamander and collared lizard.

    Birds

    • The Petrified Forest is also a sanctuary for birds, including the rufous hummingbird, olive-sided flycatcher, house wren, loggerhead shrike, and chestnut-collared longspur. Peregrine falcons and bald eagles also call the park home for part of the year, although they have been removed from the endangered list.

    Plants

    • Endangered plant species that have been identified at the Petrified Forest include the goldenflower century plant, Parry̵7;s agave, tapertip onion, painted desert milkvetch, buckhorn cholla, spiny hedgehog cactus, and rusby̵7;s primrose.

    Preservation Efforts

    • Because federal law protects everything within its boundary, the Petrified Forest is an oasis for species both threatened and common. One strategy park rangers have employed is to not disclose or advertise the location of endangered species.

    Non-native Species

    • The rapid spread of non-native species, especially plants such as tamarisk and Russian thistle, is becoming a significant problem both within the park and beyond its boundaries, making native species susceptible to displacement. Most invasive species have been introduced by human activity.