The National Park Service celebrated the wonders of wildlife and the work of wildlife biologists on Saturday, May 2, 2009, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. The event was held at the Shrine of the Ages on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Visitors used the Village Route Shuttle Bus to reach the event or park in Lot A.

• In addition to indoor and outdoor programs about wildlife and related wildlife studies, there was an all day open house at the Shrine with exhibits, touch tables, informal activities and Grand Canyon Association book sales.
  
  
• The Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center of Phoenix, Arizona provided educational demonstrations with live animals between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
  
  
• This year’s special evening program was presented by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, Robert Mesta, author of the book Condor: Spirit of the Canyon

The 2008 Celebrate Wildlife Day was a huge success

November 7, 2008

On November 1, 2008, Grand Canyon National Park hosted its first Celebrate Wildlife Day to promote understanding and appreciation of the unique and diverse wildlife that make the spectacular Grand Canyon landscape their home. The event also honored the work of biologist Eric York, who dedicated his life to the study of wildlife in Grand Canyon National Park and around the world.

Edwina, a turkey vulture with a volunteer from Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center.

Wildlife Day included a series of special ranger programs on wildlife and wildlife biology, exhibits, touch tables, and children’s programs.

Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center of Phoenix, Arizona provided live animals including raptors, reptiles, and mammals in educational demonstrations for about 650 visitors. Kevin Hansen of New Mexico State Parks and author of Cougar: The American Lion presented the evening program, which nearly 350 people attended.

Martha Hahn, Chief of Science and Resource Management said, “Our first Celebrate Wildlife Day was amazing. Members of the park community and visitors from around the world joined us in honoring the park’s wildlife and remembering Eric, whom we tragically lost a year ago. Participants learned a great deal about the park’s wildlife, our wildlife biology program, and wildlife safety. I really want to thank the many park employees and our partners who came together to make this day such a great success.”

A touch table

Celebrate Wildlife Day was a collaboration between Grand Canyon’s Divisions of Interpretation and Science and Resource Management. Partners included Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the Grand Canyon Association. Students from Grand Canyon Unified School District presented two skits about the park’s wildlife before the evening program.

Eric’s father Tony York and several of his closest friends attended the event. In future years, Celebrate Wildlife Day will be held in early May.

Mountain Lion Research in Grand Canyon National Park
Mountain Lion Kittens Tagged (2007)
Discovering Mountain Lion Kittens - Trip Report (2007)

Remembering Eric York, Biologist
Lions and Loss

Birds at Grand Canyon National Park
California Condors

Fish at Grand Canyon National Park

Reptiles at Grand Canyon National Park