The hills around Sleeping Lady are home to a variety of animals. Some of the most distinctive include:

Beavers can be found along quiet sections of the Icicle River and the Fish Hatchery's diversion canal. Look for signs of beavers near the water - cottonwood and aspen stumps gnawed to a point, surrounded by chips of wood. Beavers use the logs to construct their dens, and can drag a log half their weight. This would be equivalent to a person carrying 75 pounds with their teeth! The beaver is the largest rodent in North America.

Mule Deer are common in the Icicle Valley, especially when winter snow forces them down from the mountains. "Mulies" are the only deer who stot, bounding in the air and landing with all four feet at the same time. This makes them look like they are riding pogo sticks! Mule Deer eat grass, shrubs and twigs of trees. Look for them in the early morning or at dusk.

Black Bears eat a variety of foods, including berries, nuts, insects and small animals. Although they may appear ungainly, bears are capable of great speeds, up to 30 mph! The print of a black bear is about the same size as a human's, but wider. Look for bear prints in the summer and fall, but you won't be likely to find any in the winter. The bears are sleeping the cold season away, snug in their warm dens. Mother bear wakes up for a short time in January, just long enough to give birth to her cubs, after which they all fall asleep again until springtime.