Monthly Archives: August 2011

Ravens are one of the most commonly seen animals at Dead Horse Point State Park. They are incredibly smart and good at finding food, and can usually be found near people. I remember sitting at Delicate Arch one evening eating a pop tart and watching a raven hop closer and closer, hoping I would drop something for it to snatch up.

They love campgrounds! Campers who fail to put away their food before leaving for the day often come back to find it gone–one camper even reported that a raven had stolen a steak off their grill one evening. They went inside their RV to grab something and came back to an empty grill. No wonder they have a reputation for being mischievous tricksters! They have been known to break into styrofoam coolers and pop-up trailers by ripping through the mesh. To avoid a mess and “stolen” food, use hard coolers and make sure all food is stored in a safe place.

As the morning sun heats the cliffs below the park, air currents, called thermals, begin to rise. Ravens soar up and down,… Read the rest

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Long-nosed Leopard Lizard

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Ranger Kim

Any guesses how it got its name?

Long-nosed Leopard Lizards are one of my favorite lizards in the area, second only to the brightly-colored Collared Lizard. During mating season, female lizards have red cross bars across their backs, contrasting with their spots. This color disappears when breeding season is over.

Leopard Lizards grow between 3 1/4 and 5 3/4″ and have long, round tails. They run quickly on their back legs (which I would love to see, but haven’t yet). The Collard Lizard is also known for this behavior. They wait in the shade of small bushes for prey to wander by, whether it is large insects or small lizards. They also eat spiders, snakes, small rodents, soft parts of plants (leaves and flowers) and berries. Both the Collared Lizard and Leopard Lizard will bite when caught, so please observe these lizards from a safe distance!

These species love hot, arid deserts without much grass, which limits their ability to run fast. They are cold-blooded reptiles, that alternately bask in the sun and hide in the shade to regulate their body temperatures.

… Read the rest

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Release of Sharptailed Grouse

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Wasatch Wendy

The Wildlife Biologist out on Antelope Island has been busy the past few months working on tagging and reintroducing sharptailed grouse to the island.

Watch here as she preps to release another one.

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Early Morning Bison

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Wasatch Wendy

During an early more drive on Antelope Island, you may be treated to more than just a beautiful sunrise. The bison are out and about with their young calves.

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Current Reservoir Conditions for August 3

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Browntrout

Summer is flying by! Get out and enjoy the warm weather and excellent water levels!

Bear Lake State Park Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
Bear Lake First Point: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
Bear Lake Rainbow Cove: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
Bear Lake Rendezvous Beach: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
Deer Creek State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
East Canyon State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/66 degrees
Wide Hollow at Escalante State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/69 degrees
Great Salt Lake State Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/80 degrees
Gunlock State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/78 degrees
Huntington State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/74 degrees
Hyrum Lake State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/75 degrees
Jordanelle State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
Millsite State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/64 degrees
Otter Creek State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/68 degrees
Palisade State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
Piute State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/66 degrees
Quail Creek State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/80 degrees
Red Fleet State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/73 degrees
Rockport State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/74 degrees
Sand Hollow State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/82 degrees
Scofield State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/62 degrees
Starvation State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/71 degrees
Steinaker State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/72 degrees
Utah Lake State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/74 degrees
Willard Bay State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
Yuba State Park:

… Read the rest

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Utah State Parks 1594 West North Temple Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
(877) UT-PARKS (801) 538-7220 Fax: (801) 538-7378 Email: parkcomment@utah.gov

Monthly Archives: August 2011

Current reservoir conditions for August 30

Current reservoir conditions- August 22

Current reservoir conditions as of August 15

Current reservoir conditions- August 8

Ravens

Long-nosed Leopard Lizard

Release of Sharptailed Grouse

Early Morning Bison

Current Reservoir Conditions for August 3

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