Most of the surface of the Mono Craters is barren but its slopes are covered by Jeffrey pine forest and partial greenery.: Pumice Valley, directly to the west, is covered by sagebrush scrubland.: The soil consists primarily of deep pumice, which does not hold water well.: Mycorrhizal fungi in the soil invade the roots of Jeffrey pine trees in a symbiotic relationship that helps the pine absorb water and provides nutrients to the fungi.: Jeffrey pine forests also surround the Inyo volcanic chain and Mammoth Mountain. Mule deer, coyotes, black bears, yellow-bellied marmots, raccoons and mountain lions all have ranges that are coincident with forests that cover parts of the Mono-Inyo craters.