Though birds presumably could fly to cooler temperatures as the climate heats up, studies show that burrowing animals in places such as Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve in California are better able to endure higher temperatures than their feathered counterparts.

There are quite a few parks associations out there, all with programs to enrich a visitor’s experience while explaining how important national parks and protected lands are. This particular quiz focuses on parks and other protected lands supported by the Western National Parks Association across 12 Western states. See just how much you know about some of these parks before checking the answers at the bottom of the page.

Desert tortoise habitat, the world's greatest concentration of Joshua trees, and historical and cultural resources are being impacted by a lightning-ignited wildfire that had spread across 44,000 acres of Mojave National Preserve in California.

National Park Service biologists have questions about desert bighorn sheep in Death Valley National Park: How many sheep are there? How healthy are they? How can they best be protected? Research and monitoring going on now should help provide answers.