Zion National Park is home to a thriving population of rock squirrels which can be seen climbing boulders, rocks, and trees throughout the park. Zion’s rocky terrain provides an ideal habitat for the squirrels to build their homes. They can often be spotted using large boulders as lookouts to scan for predators and heard issuing warning with loud chirps and whistles that visitors confuse with bird calls.
Although Zion’s squirrels are undeniably cute, they are also the most aggressive animal in the park and close encounters should be avoided. Unfortunately visitors to Zion have a habit of feeding the rock squirrels and many of them have lost their fear of humans. Emboldened by this type of prohibited activity, the habituated squirrels have been known to get into backpacks, lunch boxes, and even steal food directly out of visitors’ hands. As a reminder, feeding or touching squirrels can lead to injury as small rodents can and will bite the hand that feeds them, transmitting a variety of diseases. Feeding the squirrels of Zion has also led to several squirrel fatalities because human food is hard for rock squirrels to digest.
Remember folks, the most aggressive animal in Zion National Park isn’t mountain lions or bears, it’s the squirrels.
Lions, squirrels, and bears, oh my!
Zion is home to a plethora of different wildlife! Most of them won’t seek you out to hurt you, but we are home to some who will.
Luckily (but not that luckily) for you, the most aggressive animal we have are not in fact bears or mountain lions, it’s our squirrels.
Squirrels are normally shy and evasive, but in the park, they’re so used to people illegally feeding they now hunt you down for the snack in your hand! And there’s plenty of reports of squirrels unzipping bags and steal food and even hiding in the bag while you are away on a hike.
As cute as they may be, do not feed the wildlife and keep a safe distance. Feeding wildlife hurts wildlife. Most predators get a bad rap because of just a select few who are violent, but any wildlife can harm you, especially if you put your hand right up their face.
Have you ever been victim to the Zion squirrels? Let us know in the comments!
