Mammals of Joshua Tree National Park
The 4 mammals you can find at Joshua Tree National Park, like the Black-tailed jackrabbit — sizes, diets, and whether you should worry.
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Mammal Black-tailed jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
A big-eared hare of Joshua Tree and Lava Beds that dumps body heat through its ears and outruns coyotes in zigzags at 40 miles an hour.
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Mammal Bobcat
Lynx rufus
A small wildcat about twice the size of a house cat, common but rarely seen, that can bring down prey many times its own weight.
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Mammal Coyote
Canis latrans
The wild dog you're most likely to hear at a national park — a coyote, at home in the desert, the mountains, and the edges of towns.
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Mammal Desert kangaroo rat
Dipodomys deserti
A sand-dune rodent of Joshua Tree that never drinks water and dodges a striking sidewinder with a midair kick.