With rugged mountain ranges, lush wetland valleys and the hottest desert in the continent, Nevada animals are as diverse as the landscapes themselves. In northern Nevada, you’ll find the Great Basin’s sweeping valleys and massive ranges—as well as towering, aspen-studded peaks poking into the alpine zone—while southern Nevada’s Mojave Desert lands boast some of the lowest, hottest, and driest conditions in North America, with plenty in between. These varied regions feature thousands of creatures—some found nowhere else on earth—while others pass through annually. And it doesn’t take much to find them.
Even a short hop north of Las Vegas—whether you’re looking for a quick beyond-the-Strip day trip or a true off-the-grid, back-to-nature experience, wildlife-filled outdoor recreational opportunities abound on the largest wildlife management area in the Lower 48. Even closer to your resort, you’ll find a birders paradise at the Henderson Birdviewing Preserve. Cruising around southern Nevada, be on the lookout for desert tortoise, reptiles, jackrabbits, rare pupfish species, and bighorn sheep roaming freely in their natural habitats.