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Petrified Forest Museum Association

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Home/Biology

Biology

Pronghorn, prairie dogs, and peregrines, oh my! Petrified Forest is home to an amazing diversity of animals and plants. Most of the park is semi-arid grassland, one of the healthiest remnants of native prairie left in Arizona. Dominated by over five dozen species of grasses, the park also features many types of shrubs, perennials, and annual plants. Some of the most spectacular wildflowers are the creamy blossoms of the cliffrose, yolk-yellow mariposa lilies, wild golden buckwheat, and white evening primroses.

Animal species include American pronghorn, Gunnison’s prairie dogs (more on them below), golden eagles, common ravens, bullsnakes, collared lizards, red-spotted toads, painted lady butterflies, and darkling “stink” beetles.

Seasons of Petrified Forest bring snow in winter, winds in spring, monsoon in summer, and dry clear weather in fall.

  • Banana Yucca | Photo courtesy of Petrified Forest National Park
  • Colorado Four O'Clock | Photo courtesy of Petrified Forest National Park
  • Desert Cottontail Rabbit | Photo courtesy of Petrified Forest National Park
  • Gunnison's Prairie Dog | Photo courtesy of Petrified Forest National Park
  • Lichen | Photo courtesy of Petrified Forest National Park
  • Pronghorn Antelope | Photo courtesy of Petrified Forest National Park
  • Ravens | Photo courtesy of Petrified Forest National Park
  • Sacred Datura | Photo courtesy of Petrified Forest National Park
Prairie Dog Reintroduction Project
The park’s goal of managing a healthy prairie dog population will ultimately help reintroduce the endangered black-footed ferret into Petrified Forest National Park.
The YouTube video above shows prairie dogs being released into the park from one of the reintroduction phases!

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Biology Fun Facts

  • Petrified Forest National Park is not a true desert, but semi-arid grassland (aka shortgrass prairie).
  • While sometimes called an antelope, American pronghorn are not related to that Old World animal, but are so unique that they have their own family—Antilocapridae!
  • Many animals are nocturnal or crepuscular (active at twilight) as an adaptation for survival in areas with high daytime temperatures.
  • An amazing diversity of bird species migrate through the park during spring and fall.
  • For millennia, people have used the natural resources of this region for food, medicine, fibers for weaving, building, tool making, colors for dying cloth, and ceremonial materials.
  • Records for temperatures in the park include -28°F and 108°F.
  • The region gets about 10” of precipitation annually, mostly during the monsoon season.

Featured Books

  • Flying Home, The Colorado Plateau from Above and Below by Craig Childs $24.95
  • Creatures of the Desert World Creatures of the Desert World $18.00
  • Scout Moore, Junior Ranger on the Colorado Plateau Scout Moore, Junior Ranger on the Colorado Plateau $15.95

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Petrified Forest Museum Association

1 Park Road
PO Box 2277
Petrified Forest, Arizona 86028

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