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Marmot: Yellow-bellied marmots like to live high up among granite rock piles of talus slopes and along riverbanks, so if you see them, it’s likely to be along high-country trails. The rocky strongholds help protect these furry ground squirrels—one of the largest rodents in North America—from such natural predators as eagles and hawks. Marmots have an unusual addiction: they’ve developed a taste for antifreeze coolant, and they’ll go to great lengths to get it!

Moose: Feeding on fir, willows, and aspens, the moose is the largest member of the deer family: the largest bulls stand 7 feet tall at the shoulders and weigh up to 1,600 pounds. Distinctive characteristics include its antlers, which lay flat like palmate satellite dishes. The peak of breeding occurs in late September. Females give birth to calves in late May and early June; twins are the norm.

Mountain Lion: Although the mountain lion is an occasional predator, chances are you won’t see him at most of the parks. That doesn’t mean he isn’t there, closely watching and wondering if you’ll notice him. Also called cougars, these enormous carnivores live throughout the Southwest desert and in the Sierra Nevada, too. They’re tawny colored, can be 8 feet long, and weigh up to 200 pounds. They’re capable of taking down a mule deer or elk.

Mule Deer: Often seen grazing in meadows and forests are mule deer, with their black-tipped tails and pronounced antlers. Their name comes from the shape of their ears, which resemble mules’ ears. Their unusual gait—all four feet can hit the ground at once—gives them an advantage over predators, as they move faster over scrubby terrain and can change directions instantly. They rut in autumn, when males clash antlers over mates.

Prairie Dog: Called "petit chien" (little dog) by French explorers, the prairie dog is a delightful little member of the squirrel family. The short blacktailed, buff-colored ones found in the Dakotas have small ears and can be seen digging burrows. They get their name from the way they make noise: it sounds like a bark.

Pronghorn Antelope: The tan-brown creatures have excellent vision, hearing, and smell, and they can run up to 60 MPH. Antelopes shed their antlers every year. Antelope can engage in brutal behavior during the mating season.

Rattlesnake: About a dozen species fo rattlesnake live in the desert, where in cooler weather they enjoy sunning on rocks or coiling in other open spaces. It will likely strike only when it senses a threat, but if it does snap at you, it can deliver a serious bite. It warns visitors of its presence with rattles on the end of its tail that sound like dry, rustling leaves.

Trumpeter Swan: The trumpeter is the largest member of the waterfowl family, with males averaging 28 pounds and females 22 pounds. Named for their trumpeting call, these birds have white-feathered bodies as adults, though their young (called cygnets) are gray. The trumpeter is distinguished from the tundra swan by its black bill, which has a pink area where the upper and lower mandibles meet. The tundra’s bill usually has a bright yellow spot just in front of the eye.

Wolf: These impressive canines form close-knit family packs, which may range from a few animals to more than 30. Packs hunt a variety of prey, from small mammals and birds to caribou and moose. They communicate with each other through body language, barks, and howls. Grey wolves tend to be 70 to 120 pounds, larger than a coyote.

FIELD GUIDE: COMMON GEOLOGY AND TERRAIN TERMS

Some of the western national parks’ greatest assets are the unique landscapes and bizarre geological features; many are found in only a handful of places on the planet. As you explore these national treasures, refer to this geological glossary for more information about the forces that shaped the awesome sites around you. By the end of your trip, you’ll be able to tell the difference between a syncline, an anticline, and a monocline!

Alluvial Fans: Cloudbursts in the desert cause water to rush down the faces of barren mountains