Joshua Tree National Park is home to 57 mammal species. Invertebrates. Should Joshua trees go extinct, the yucca moths will also die, impacting the animals that eat them as well. Joshua trees grow upright, and although most have several branches, many do not branch at all. Why are Joshua Trees protected? In the past ground sloths also ate the Joshua Tree. When a tree is just sprouting, a deer or rabbit might eat from it. Enjoy them, but respect them—they remain, in spite of their timid nature, wild animals. Reptiles. Outlook Bleak for Joshua Trees During the Ice Age, Joshua trees thrived across the American Southwest with the help of the ground sloth. Starre Vartan May 21, 2016, 11 a.m. Tweet. In the wild, they create elaborate homes called midden, normally at the bases of Joshua trees, cactus, or shrubs, but will sometimes nest in the upper branches of Mojave yucca and cholla cactus, as well as in Joshua trees. The average lifespan of a Joshua Tree is said to be about 500 years. Joshua Tree National Park - Flora & Fauna Joshua Tree Wildlife The broad vistas of desert landscapes can distract the visitor’s eyes from the small and quick near at hand. Birds. Joshua trees produce no nectar, and very little pollen. Members of the agave family, Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) are a slow-growing, succulent evergreen. How a Tree and Its Moth Shaped the Mojave Desert The partnership between the Joshua tree and the yucca moth may be key to understanding how plants and insects co-evolve Using measurements collected by such sophisticated equipment as radio telemetry and GPS (Global Positioning System), they are gathering information that allows us to increase our understanding of this threatened desert reptile. The Joshua Tree yucca, the patriarch of the clan, holds primary residence in the Mojave Desert. For example, the Joshua tree, the seeds of which form a significant part of this squirrels’ diet, may move its range as a response to climate change. Here at Joshua Tree National Park all bat species are protected. The woodrat is an animal that eats the Joshua Tree. Joshua trees produce no nectar, and very little pollen. Population number. Amphibians. It’s leaves, according to Richard Katz’s “Botanical Profile of the Joshua Tree,” Flower Essence Society web site, measure about five to 12 inches in length, becoming “sword-like in their intensity” as they mature. The name Joshua Tree came from the Mormons. It’s leaves, according to Richard Katz’s “Botanical Profile of the Joshua Tree,” Flower Essence Society web site, measure about five to 12 inches in length, becoming “sword-like in their intensity” as they mature. They saw the trees and said that the trees reminded them of Joshua from the Bible days, calling them Westward with out-stretched arms. Today, the only animal that transports Joshua Tree seeds is the woodrat, but they don't move much more than a 100-150 feet from the trees. Desert animals use the Joshua Tree for shelter, and eat the Joshua Tree seeds. The Joshua tree gets eaten by many animals. They rely on the yucca moths for pollination. However, the most remarkable denizens of the Joshua tree are tiny insects called yucca moths. Wood rats aren’t normally an invasive species, as long as their habitats remain undisturbed. Joshua Tree National Park - Flora & Fauna Joshua Tree Wildlife The broad vistas of desert landscapes can distract the visitor’s eyes from the small and quick near at hand. Where to eat and drink in Joshua Tree . The woodrat is an animal that eats the Joshua Tree. The only real giveaways that Joshua Tree is just minutes from a major national park is the growing line of people waiting for … Most of the world's Joshua Trees are found within the boundary of Joshua Tree National Park. Despite the impression that the desert is lifeless, many animals make their homes in deserts. Dozens of species of birds nest in the Joshua tree, and the desert night lizard lives in the trees' fallen branches. The oldest Joshua Tree is estimated to be approximately 1,000 years old, but this tree may be an outlier. The animals will also eat other items such as grains, flowers, sap, eggs, young birds, and even bark.