Wildlife

Many birders use the trails and overlooks for great viewing opportunities of both riparian and upland bird species. Bald eagles hunt over the open waters of the river in the winter.

Great blue heron rookeries exist adjacent to the park. Migratory and resident birds in the parks include several species of raptors, waterfowl, shorebirds, and grassland species, such as lark, vesper sparrows, horned lark, and western meadowlark.

Visitors might observe any of these species: Red-tailed hawk, bald and golden eagles, osprey, varieties of swallows and hummingbirds, black-crowned night heron, ring-necked pheasant, quail, and wild turkey. Wildlife is abundant along the riparian corridors.

Because of the spatial distribution and size of the parks, large mammal habitat is somewhat limited. Mule deer and mountain lions are occasionally sighted. While cottontail rabbits, coyotes, red and gray foxes, raccoons, beavers, muskrats, prairie dogs, and ground squirrels are frequently observed.

Ponds and backwaters with emergent vegetation provide habitat for many amphibians, such as leopard frogs, lizards, and snakes.

Anglers enjoy the warm-and cold-water fishing opportunities, which include channel catfish, bluegill, largemouth bass, black bullhead, a sunfish/bluegill hybrid, carp, rainbow, and cutthroat trout.

Wetlands within the park also provide the backwater habitats needed for various life cycles of endangered and threatened fish species, such as humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, and razorback sucker.​