Grand Staircase–Escalante Species Bracket
Meet the contenders. Choose the Monument’s favorite species beginning Sunday.
Welcome to our Species Bracket competition honoring the 30th anniversary of President’s Bill Clinton’s Proclamation establishing the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Beginning Sunday, vote for your favorite species among those that live in the Grand Staircase. From iconic showstoppers to under-the-radar gems, 32 species will face off in head-to-head matchups until one is crowned champion. Expect some serious heavy hitters such as the Mountain Lion and Prairie Rattlesnake — alongside beloved species such as the Bighorn Sheep and the California Condor.
Everyone who votes in every round will be eligible for a drawing to pick three winners of GSEP swag. You do not need to enter an email address to vote for your favorites, but to be eligible for prizes, you will need to enter your email address each round so that we know how to contact you if you win.
The species selected as the favorite will be featured in future GSEP swag.
Updates will be posted on Facebook and Instagram, so follow along and vote in each round.
Whether you’re loyal to a classic icon or rooting for a dark horse, this is your chance to join the fun and celebrate the wonderful species of the Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument. May the best species win!
Plateau Region
High-country wildlife, open plateaus, and species adapted to life above the canyons.
Mountain Lion
Meet the Mountain Lion, representing the Plateau Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Black-billed Magpie
Meet the Black-billed Magpie, representing the Plateau Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
American Pronghorn
Meet the American Pronghorn, representing the Plateau Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Tiger Salamander
Meet the Tiger Salamander, representing the Plateau Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Prairie Rattlesnake
Meet the Prairie Rattlesnake, representing the Plateau Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Rufous Hummingbird
Meet the Rufous Hummingbird, representing the Plateau Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Pinyon Mouse
Meet the Pinyon Mouse, representing the Plateau Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Great Basin Spadefoot
Meet the Great Basin Spadefoot, representing the Plateau Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Desert Region
Heat, stone, sand, and animals built for the Monument’s driest landscapes.
Burrowing Owl
Meet the Burrowing Owl, representing the Desert Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Ord’s Kangaroo Rat
Meet the Ord’s Kangaroo Rat, representing the Desert Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Northern Grasshopper Mouse
Meet the Northern Grasshopper Mouse, representing the Desert Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Bendire’s Thrasher
Meet the Bendire’s Thrasher, representing the Desert Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Bighorn Sheep
Meet the Bighorn Sheep, representing the Desert Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Greater Short-horned Lizard
Meet the Greater Short-horned Lizard, representing the Desert Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Desert Nightsnake
Meet the Desert Nightsnake, representing the Desert Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Kit Fox
Meet the Kit Fox, representing the Desert Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Canyon Region
Canyon walls, waterways, shaded corridors, and the species that depend on them.
California Condor
Meet the California Condor, representing the Canyon Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
North American River Otter
Meet the North American River Otter, representing the Canyon Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Willow Flycatcher
Meet the Willow Flycatcher, representing the Canyon Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Roundtail Chub
Meet the Roundtail Chub, representing the Canyon Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
North American Beaver
Meet the North American Beaver, representing the Canyon Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Common Chuckwalla
Meet the Common Chuckwalla, representing the Canyon Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Baird’s Spotted Toad
Meet the Baird’s Spotted Toad, representing the Canyon Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Pallid Bat
Meet the Pallid Bat, representing the Canyon Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Forest Region
Pinyon-juniper woodlands, forest edges, and species at home among the trees.
Bushy-tailed Woodrat
Meet the Bushy-tailed Woodrat, representing the Forest Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Meet the Lewis’s Woodpecker, representing the Forest Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
American Water Shrew
Meet the American Water Shrew, representing the Forest Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Allen’s Big-eared Bat
Meet the Allen’s Big-eared Bat, representing the Forest Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Striped Skunk
Meet the Striped Skunk, representing the Forest Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Meet the Northern Pygmy-Owl, representing the Forest Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Meet the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, representing the Forest Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
Pinyon Jay
Meet the Pinyon Jay, representing the Forest Region in GSEP’s 30th anniversary bracket.
From 32 species to one Monument favorite.
The bracket board shows the complete tournament view: first-round species, regional semifinals, regional finals, Final Four, championship, and the final winner slot.
Round 1
Semifinals
Regional Final
Winner
Round 1
Semifinals
Regional Final
Winner
Round 1
Semifinals
Regional Final
Winner
Round 1
Semifinals
Regional Final
Winner
Final Four
Championship
Champion
Preview behavior: vote in the photo matchups to fill semifinal slots, then click filled bracket slots to advance a mock winner through later rounds.
Final Four preview
As voters make selections above, this review page updates the projected regional winners locally in the browser. The production version would use real vote totals.
- Plateau RegionTBD
- Desert RegionTBD
- Canyon RegionTBD
- Forest RegionTBD
