With at least 26 endemic species, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge has the greatest concentration of endemic life in the United States, second greatest in North America. This is one of the primary reasons the park earned the status of “Wetland of International Importance.”
Most of these endemic species are waterbugs, snails, and fish, so you may find them challenging to spot. However, there are plenty of desert natives to also look for.
Though we visited in the middle of summer, we still spotted three Blacktail Jackrabbits and four types of lizards. As this was an unplanned day trip from Las Vegas, I didn’t have the right lens with me. Sadly, the lizards proved challenging to photograph properly.
In addition to the animals of the park, Ash Meadows is known for their rare and threatened plant life, including the Milkvetch and Amargosa Niterwort.