Wildlife
Birds, beavers, lizards, tortoises and other animals live all over Southern Nevada, especially in places like the Las Vegas Wash and the Springs Preserve. They live close to the water and find food and shelter there to survive.

All animals need water to live, even people. You can go to the faucet and get a drink of water whenever you want it, but animals can't. Animals have to store water for times when they need it.

In fact, desert animals are experts at conservation. Do you think you could be too? Visit the Conservation House for tips on how you can save water.

How they've adapted
Adaptation is a physical or behavioral characteristic that helps a species survive in its environment. Desert animals have adapted over millions of years to deal with the heat in the Mojave Desert. Read below to find out more about these unique animals.

	Antelope ground squirrel To keep a bit cooler while out and about in the desert sun, the antelope ground squirrel uses its large, white tail as a sunshade.
	Desert bighorn sheep Nevada's official state animal, the desert bighorn sheep has two-toed hooves that make it possible for it to walk along steep mountain ledges. After using its hooves and horns to remove spines from cacti, the desert bighorn sheep then feasts on the juicy insides.
	Black-tailed jackrabbit The blood vessels in the large ears belonging to the black-tailed jackrabbit enable it to better release body heat.
	Coyote The hairy, gray coats found on a coyote reflect heat and cools it while it hunts for food. When the coyote really needs water, it eats berries to get the moisture found inside.
	Desert tortoise The desert tortoise has a shield on its back to reflect the sun. Its thick, leathery skin keeps water in the desert tortoise's body and it can store up to one quart of water at a time.
	Gray fox The gray fox has light-colored fur to help it stay cool. The light color reflects the sunlight, rather than absorbing it.
	Mojave sidewinder Because of its small size, the Mojave sidewinder needs less food and water to survive, which comes in handy living in the desert. Also, upturned and pointed "horn" scales on its head helps shade its eyes from the glare of the sun.