Joshua Tree National Monument has no animals whose bites or stings have been scientifically classified as “deadly.” This really refers to how toxic a foreign substance such as venom (a liquid chemical) is to you as an individual.

Is Joshua Tree unsafe?

Yes, Joshua Tree and Joshua Tree National Park are safe at night. It’s also perfectly OK to enter the park after dark. The roads are marked, and the park is patrolled.

What happens if you touch a Joshua Tree?

It’s two thirds correct: modifying or hanging stuff, including yourself, off Joshua trees is indeed damaging to the trees and forbidden in national parks. But: touching Joshua trees is not illegal, in or out of a national park. And by itself, it’s not damaging to the trees.