Photo by Kelli Freshman

A celebration of the

Bison, Native Bees, Moose & Grizzly Bears

Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County

In July 2024, artist Chris Peterson revitalized the Edison Street mural in Salt Lake City, originally commissioned in 2019 by The BLOCKS SLC, Salt Lake Downtown Alliance, Hamilton Partners, and SLC RDA. Located on Edison Street, the first street in Salt Lake City to receive electricity, the mural features four of Utah's historically iconic wildlife species: bison, native bees, moose, and grizzly bears. Grizzly bears, no longer found in Utah, still roamed the state at the same time that Edison Street first sparked with electricity.

This project was made possible through key partnerships.

In partnership with the Blocks SLC Cultural Core and other partners, this mural celebrates the natural history of Salt Lake City and a few of the local, iconic wildlife species. This mural is part of this statewide project to install monumental murals in every county of Utah. A QR code is installed on each mural to educate visitors about the species and provide recommendations for nearby firsthand wildlife encounters.

American Bison

American bison are the largest mammals in North America. Millions of bison once inhabited Utah’s grasslands, until they were hunted to near extinction in the 1800s.
Utah now has about 1,300 wild bison that can be found in Antelope Island, the Henry Mountains, and the Book Cliffs.
Male bison, called bulls, weigh up to 2,000 pounds and stand 6 feet tall, while females, called cows, weigh up to 1,000 pounds and reach a height of 4-5 feet. Bison calves weigh 30-70 pounds at birth.
An entire herd can stampede if it is startled, and bison can run up to 35 miles per hour.
An interesting fact about bison is that both the males and females of this species have horns. Bison have excellent senses of hearing, vision, and smell.

Native Bees

Photo by Joseph Wilson

“Why not the honeybee?”
Utah's nickname, the "Beehive State," originates from the early Mormon pioneers who valued hard work, cooperation, and productivity. The beehive symbolizes the “industrious spirit” and perseverance that they felt they shared with the honeybees, and it remains an emblem of the state today.
Although honeybees have become a major symbol and part of Utah’s identity, it is very important to understand that honeybees were imported from Europe, and not native to our state.
The placement of honey bee hives on public lands can bring millions of these non-native bees into the territories of native bees. The honey bees outcompete the native bees for pollen and nectar, and transmit diseases to the native bees.
There are over one thousand native bee species in Utah, and ⁤⁤it's crucial to conserve their diversity and role in local ecosystems and biodiversity. ⁤
An organization working to protect the habitats of native bees and sustain their diversity is Project Eleven Hundred. Check out their website to learn more about this important cause!

Moose

Utah has a population of 2,500 to 3,000 moose!
Moose are the largest member of the deer family. Adult moose can weigh 800 to 1,200 pounds, and the adult males, also called bulls, may be up to 6 feet tall at the shoulder.
Usually, moose are seen alone or in small groups.
They are found in the mountains of the northern and northeastern areas of the state, and even along the Wasatch Front. Forested areas with streams and ponds are ideal moose habitat.
Moose can be very aggressive when they feel threatened and often use their antlers and hooves to defend themselves from predators like bears and wolves.
Learn more about Moose at WildAwareUtah.

Grizzly Bear

Grizzly bears are large and range in color from very light tan (almost white) to dark brown.
They have a dished face, short, rounded ears, and a large shoulder hump. The hump is where a mass of muscles attach to the bear’s backbone and give the bear additional strength for digging!
They have very long claws on their front feet that also give them extra ability to dig after food and to dig their dens.
Grizzly bears once roamed throughout the entire western United States. As their habitat was destroyed and they were excessively over-hunted, their population declined. Grizzlies continued to inhabit Utah up until 1923 when the last wild grizzly bear, Old Ephraim, was shot in Logan Canyon.
Utah's most famous Grizzly Bear is Bart the Bear! Bart starred in many movies and films, including "The Bear", "White Fang", and "The Edge". He was trained by Doug and Lynne Seus in Heber City, Utah
In Bart's honor, Doug and Lynne Seus started the Vital Ground Foundation to protect and restore North America’s grizzly bear populations. Check out their website to get involved!

Edison & Broadway mural

Designed and installed (twice) by Chris Peterson Studio

Celebrating Utah wildlife in the heart of downtown SLC

Originally commissioned by the BLOCKS SLC, Salt Lake Downtown Alliance & SLC RDA in 2019, this Chris Peterson Studio mural was in rough shape after the construction of the new State Liquor Store across the street. In support of investing in our downtown landmarks, the BLOCKS and partners contracted with the artist in July 2024 to restore this mural. We are grateful for this reinvestment and commitment to Salt Lake's downtown arts district.

This mural was originally designed around the history of Edison Street as the first street in Salt Lake to receive electricity. The string of electric lights evokes that history, while also serving as a compositional tool to unite the long and low wall shape. "In my mind", according to Peterson, "I imagine the first lights flickering on back when the city limits were closer, the hills were still fairly wild, and wildlife may have been watching on the outskirs.

The large old-timey font- "Edison and Broadway" is lit up with bulbs, with the red bulbs on Broadway as a nod to the once-upon a time red light district on the street. The downtown vignette includes the spotlights across the sky from SLC's lit-up skyline. Originally, the fourth panel included a graphic silhouette of Big Cottonwood Canyon with some snowflakes spray-paint stenciled by members of the public at the mural unveiling in 2019. For this repaint, we updated that panel with a snowy skyline portrait of one of the most scenic local peaks, Mt. Timpanogos.

Finally, with four of Utah's wildlife species featured - we decided to include this mural in the Utah Wildlife Walls project with a qr code directing viewers to this information page.

From the Artist

"This mural was originally painted in 2019, when my concept was selected in a call for artists to revitalize this alley. It was based on the concept that when Salt Lake originally got electricity, the surrounding foothills and mountains were teaming with wildlife. When the Blocks reached out to me a few years later about fixing this mural, I jumped at the chance to help revitalize this historic alley. Because of fading, and graffiti damage, we had to repaint every square inch. Originally featuring bison, honey bee, moose and black bear, the repaint gave me a chance to update the bee to a native Utah bee (vs farmed non-native honeybees) and the black bear to a grizzly bear, in honor of the work we did to highlight Bart the Bear and Old Ephraim with murals in Heber and Logan in 2024. I was grateful for the opportunity to restore this mural and honor some of Utah's most iconic species." -Chris Peterson

Celebrating Utah's wildlife with big art and wildlife encounters across the state on the Wildlife Walls Mural Trail.

Where to see Moose & Bison & a legendary Grizzly attraction

Bison @ Antelope Island State Park: Located in the Great Salt Lake, this park is home to up to 700 bison. Visitors can hike, bike, or drive around the island. The annual Bison Roundup each fall offers a unique chance to witness the management of the herd.
Bison @ Henry Mountains: The Henry Mountains in southeastern Utah have one of the few free-roaming bison herds in the country. The Henry Mountain’s are one of the most rugged and remote places in the state, so do your research before venturing in.

Moose @ Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon): A short drive from Salt Lake City, Silver Lake provides accessible trails where moose sightings are common, especially during early morning or late evening hours. Try the Silver Lake Loop Trail, which follows a boardwalk around the wetland environment that moose frequent.
Moose @ Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter: Located near Park City, this 1,200-acre nature preserve offers guided tours and educational programs, with moose frequently spotted in the wetlands and meadows.

Old Ephraim gravesite @ Logan Canyon: While grizzly bears no longer inhabit Utah, their legacy is preserved through stories like that of Old Ephraim, a legendary grizzly that roamed the Bear River Range in the early 20th century. Visitors can explore Old Ephraim's gravesite in Logan Canyon, marked by an 11-foot stone monument commemorating one of Utah's last known grizzlies. To see live grizzlies, visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

If you encounter any moose or bison, it is very important to give them space, stay calm, keep any dogs leashed and under control, and back away slowly.

Wildlife Etiquette: Always observe from a distance, stay on marked trails, and never feed wild animals.

Wildlife Walls
Mural Trail Map

Includes:

-Wildlife Walls Murals in Utah

-Wildlife Viewing Opportunity Site

-Local Attractions

-Partners (Outfitters, Lodging, Conservation, Outdoor Industry)

Under construction

Plan your trip

Travel Amenities

Accommodations:

Antelope Island offers primitive campsites; nearest hotels are in Layton.
Big Cottonwood Canyon camping is restricted, but Jordan Pines and Spruces Campgrounds are nearby.
Swaner Preserve (Park City) has no camping, but Park City offers lodging.
Henry Mountains & Logan Canyon provide dispersed and developed camping options.a

Fuel and Supplies:
Antelope Island: No services; refuel in Syracuse before entering.
Big Cottonwood Canyon: Nearest gas and dining is in Cottonwood Heights.
Swaner Preserve: Park City offers a variety of restaurants and gas stations.
Henry Mountains & Logan Canyon: Limited service, fuel up in Hanksville or Logan.