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Cedar Breaks National Monument - Fauna

A variety of fauna have adapted to the elevation of Cedar Breaks, where a lofty 10,000' environment pushes the extremes. Many mammals live in the Cedar Breaks area including ground squirrels, pikas, marmots chipmunks and deer. Surviving, and thriving, in the extreme cold winters has resulted in the adaptation of unique characteristics.

Many of the animals commonly seen in the summer, hibernate though most of the bitter winter. Some mammals such as the marmot consume an enormous amount of food during the warm months of the year. This allows them to sleep throughout the winter.

The chipmunks and ground squirrels wake up once in a while to consume stored food. The rarely seen pika on the other hand, prefers to make its home on the high rocky slopes. It makes a warm blanket of cut grass and stays huddled in its hut until it is warm.

Nature's Natural Tillers
Looking closely at the meadows in Cedar Breaks, you can find little heaps of dirt scattered about. These piles of soil are made by pocket gophers as they dig through the soil and pop their heads up above ground. This tilling of the soil is beneficial to the parks environment.

Other animals
The larger animals in the park include the black bear, mountain lion and mule deer and elk. The gray fox and coyote and bobcat are common, but elusive.   It's unlikely  visitors will ever see any of these animals.  The chipmunk is a common sight in the monument, as well as squirrels, and deer.   If you are lucky you might see the long-tailed weasel, red fox, or even a skunk.  Alpine Pond, a spring supplied  water source draws animals to it. The pond can be accessed by an easy hike that is popular with families.   

Directions to Cedar Breaks U-148 Closure Dates. U-148 to Cedar Breaks closes in the winter due to snow depth. From Las Vegas: Take I-15 north to Cedar City. Take U-14 east from Cedar City to U-148 and turn left to Cedar Breaks. From Arizona: Take US-89 north through Mount Carmel Junction and turn west on U-14. Turn right at U-148 to Cedar Breaks. From Salt Lake City: Take I-15 south, exit at Parowan. Take U-143 to Cedar Breaks. From Mount Carmel Junction: Take US-89 north to U-14. Follow U-14 to U-148 and Cedar Breaks. Cedar Breaks Road Map - Cedar Mountain Map			This little guy was a delightful treat that I saw while hiking in a deserted area of Cedar Breaks. Usually they will defend themselves by flattening their bodies, but this one posed for a picture.
	Lodging and services are available on the gorgeous east side of Zion National Park, where guests are close to Zion National Park (12 miles), Bryce Canyon National Park (60 miles), Cedar Breaks National Monument (45 miles), Coral Pink Sand Dunes (12 miles), and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (85 miles). It's where city traffic is absent and the skies are bright and clean.

The bug killing the spruce trees

Under normal conditions the spruce trees fight off the attack of the beetle, so the beetles are forced to be content with downed trees. When the beetles reach epidemic numbers they are able to kill healthy trees, overpowering the trees natural sap defense, especially if the trees are subject to drought. Dixie National Forest renews itself about every 300-500 years, but it's usually through the process of fire instead of a beetle epidemic. Recently another beetle, called the Fir Engraver, has been found in the forest and is attacking the Fir trees.

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Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

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