There is an abundance of wild-life in the Central Mountain Region and it's the ideal place to observe wild animals in their natural habitat. Mule deer & wild turkeys are common. Coyotes are common in the Park, although they are very reclusive. If you do see a coyote, it's a good bet that it is on to a nearby food source (such as some turkeys.) Bobcats and mountain lions also call this region home. They are also very reclusive and you'd be lucky to see one during your visit.
Many species of birds can be observed including raptors. Visitors can see woodpeckers and other birds pretty much all day. The only pair of nesting bald eagles in all of Southern California can also be found here near Lake Cuyamaca.
Please do not feed the animals. Don’t teach them to like "human food" because it doesn't provide a healthy diet for wild animals. If they get accustomed to "human food", they will frequently starve in winter. Remember! Though they seem tame, these are wild animals!
We've compiled a list of the kind of wildlife you can find in the area, as well as some of some of our flora and fauna:
Reptiles & Fishes
San Diego Gopher Snake
Gopher Snake
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
Western Rattlesnake
Western Fence Lizard
Great Basin Fence Lizard
Coastal Whiptail
Tiger Whiptail
Southern Sagebrush Lizard
Sagebrush Lizard
Southern Alligator Lizard
California Whiptail
Blainville's Horned Lizard
California Mountain Kingsnake
Trout
Bass
Bluegill
Catfish
Crappie
Sturgeon
Mamals
Mule Deer
Western Gray Squirrel
California Ground Squirrel
Mountain Lion
Southern Mule Deer
California Mule Deer
Coyote
Birds
Wild Turkey
Acorn Woodpecker
Mountain Chickadee
Steller's Jay
Spotted Towhee
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-crowned Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
California Towhee
Western Bluebird
Northern Flicker
Red-shouldered Hawk
American Robin
Turkey Vulture
Oak Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch
Violet-green Swallow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Chipping Sparrow
Canada Goose
Band-tailed Pigeon
Lawrence's Goldfinch
White-headed Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Brown Creeper
Ash-throated Flycatcher
California Thrasher
Williamson's Sapsucker
Anna's Hummingbird
Grasshopper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Harrier
Hairy Woodpecker
Hammond's Flycatcher
Lesser Goldfinch
Brewer's Blackbird
California Quail
Oregon Junco Mountain Quail
Hermit Thrush
Bell's Sparrow
Slate-colored Fox Sparrow
California Scrub-Jay
Pink-sided Junco
Insects
Melissa Blue
Mylitta Crescent
White Checkered-Skipper
Cobalt Milkweed Beetle
Great Copper
Painted Lady
Dainty Sulphur
Western Sheep Moth
Hedgerow Hairstreak
Diabolical Ironclad Beetle
Wooly Darkling Beetle
Sachem
Gray Hairstreak
Seven-spotted Ladybird
Honey Bee
Sara Orangetip
Convergent Lady Beetle
Acmon Blue
Holarctic Pied Hoverfly
Alfalfa Looper
Black Rain Beetle
Southern Rain Beetle
Plants
Oakmoss
Chaparral Yucca
California Black Oak
western azalea
Caterpillar Phacelia
San Diego gumplant
Scarlet Bugler
Woollypod Milkweed
Coffeeberry
California Wild Rose
Western Ragweed
Foothill beardtongue
Bunchleaf Penstemon
Small-headed clover
Cuyamaca larkspur
Foothill Larkspur
Stinking Chamomile
Nuttall's Linanthus
Poodle-dog Bush
Redberry Buckthorn
Seep monkeyflower
Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany
Western Sycamore
California fuchsia
California Buckwheat
Blue Elderberry
Black Elderberry
Bull Thistle
Telegraphweed
California goldenrod
Velvety goldenrod
Common Mullein
White Sage
Shortpod Mustard
California peony
Stinging Lupine
Phlox-leaved Bedstraw
American yellowrocket
Elk Thistle
Grand Collomia
Lewis flax
Henbit Deadnettle
Sapphire Woollystar
Common Snowberry
California incense cedar
Coulter pine