5 Surprising Wildlife Encounters in Las Vegas

Most people visit Las Vegas to explore its nightlife, luxury hotels, and lively casinos — maybe even have a wedding there. However, once you get to know this city, it becomes clear that there’s much more to offer than just bright lights and slot machines. Even though the city’s area is a desert, it has diverse wildlife, which can give a different excitement to those who like nature and animals.

At first glance, it may seem odd to link Las Vegas to its animal kingdom, since that’s not what it’s best known for. Nevertheless, inside this desert, you can come across a lot of fascinating creatures, some of which can be quite surprising for tourists. 

If you plan to organize a trip to Nevada and explore the local fauna, be prepared to meet these 5 wild animals.

1. Rock Squirrel

While squirrels are not known for causing any harm to humans, the rock squirrel is an exception. It is one of the most dangerous animals that exists in the city of Las Vegas and is easy to come across. They mostly live near the Grand Canyon, but they might appear near many other places and facilities, even luxury casinos. Because of the trouble they can cause, many locals and visitors who love a good gamble often turn to the best slots casinos in 2025 online for a safer gaming experience. 

Interestingly, rock squirrels enjoy communicating with each other. Specifically, they greet one another by touching, calling, and even sniffing. Rock squirrels usually measure between 17 and 21 inches, excluding their tails, which are around 8 inches. Those who live in Las Vegas, and especially the tourists who are visiting, are often warned to be careful not to disturb them, as they tend to attack people who decide or accidentally overstep on their territory. Still, if you remain calm, you might catch a glimpse of these creatures without any trouble.

2. Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

If you’d like to see a larger-sized lizard, you should catch the eye of a yellow-backed spiny lizard in Las Vegas. You can easily spot this creature in several parks as you’re taking a walk. They are not dangerous or poisonous. These lizards tend to wander around a lot during warm weather but when winter arrives, they build and crawl back into their shelters.

Yellow-backed spiny lizards approximately have a length of 12 inches. Their name comes from the pointy large scales that cover their body and a yellow or tanned color. They are good at haunting with the technique of attacking their victim from a distance. They usually haunt centipedes, ants, beetles, and grasshoppers.

3. American Kestrel

The American Kestrel is quite a mysterious animal. It is the smallest falcon existing not just in Las Vegas but also in the whole state of Nevada. Its length is only 9 inches, give or take. Despite being small-sized, American Kestrels are surprisingly skilled at haunting and their size actually makes them even more dangerous to their possible victims as they can hide easily.

American Kestrels have a look of dark-read or brown-colored backs and tails, crowns that can be blue or gray, and two dark lines on their heads. During hunting, American Kestrels linger from a low height to check their area and search for a potential meal. They enjoy eating insects, invertebrates, and some small birds. 

4. Canyon Tree Frog

The canyon tree frog is the most common type of water-dwelling creature that appears in Las Vegas. They can be found mostly at Grand Canyon National Park, which speaks about their name. These frogs are very small, approximately 1 or 2 inches long and because of this, it can be hard to notice them. 

Canyon tree frogs mostly live on high rocky spaces and cliffs that are close to water. By their looks, they are varied, and their colors involve gray, green hues, and tan, but in the sunlight, they look golden colored. These frogs usually eat beetles, ants, spiders, and flies.

5. Desert Bighorn Sheep

Another animal that can be seen a lot in Las Vegas is a desert bighorn sheep. These sheep are known as “Nevada’s state animal” and often can be noticed in Las Vegas Valley. They are typically smaller and weigh less than some other types of sheep, mostly around 90-180 pounds.

Desert bighorn sheep enjoy the mountain desert areas and can easily survive in these conditions for a long time without water. Their hooves make it easier for them to move around the mountains and rough surfaces. Desert bighorn sheep can live approximately 6 to 8 years. 

Bottom Line

Even though it is not common to visit Las Vegas for its wildlife, now you know that this city can surprise you with its distinctive wild creatures and nature as well, knowing these interesting animals exist in a desert. Exploring this city’s wildlife could be an exciting opportunity for wild animal lovers, as well as any outdoorsy person. If you visit Las Vegas with this purpose, don’t forget to check out the discussed 5 animals, unless they find you first themselves!