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Desert Animals
We live in the high Sonoran desert and there are many wild animals in
the area and in our community. This is quite a treat to be able to live in
an environment that supports a wide diversity of wild life, but we all have
to be aware of our wildlife friends and their behavior. In the interest of
safety, it is important that we develop an understanding and recognition of
the most common animals.
 Coyotes
are very common here. Their evening serenades occur frequently.
But, we need to be aware that they are wild and should be admired
from a distance. Of course, they will keep their distance from you
and they do not represent any danger to humans. However, they do
represent a danger to house pets and you should be careful to not
let your house pets stray from the protective confines of your home. |
 Javelina
look like wild pigs, but they are in fact collared peccary. They
are herd animals and it is not uncommon to see a dozen or more in a
single herd. Like all wild animals, you should not feed javelinas
as this will only encourage them to come back and make them less
able to cope on their own in the wild. Javelinas can be aggressive
when they encounter humans, especially when in the presence of
juvenile javelina. They have very poor eyesight and rely on their
sense of smell. If you encounter javelina, standing still is
considered the best course of action until they pass. |
 Bobcats
and mountain
lions are indigenous in the area. The mountain lion is a top
predator and caution needs to be maintained as they can be dangerous
to humans.
Click here for information on what to do if you encounter a
mountain lion. If you see a mountain lion in the area, report the
sighting to Arizona Game and Fish
. Bobcats are more common and present a hazard to house pets, but
not generally to humans. |
 
 Please
visit the Arizona Partners in
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (AZ PARC) web site for an
excellent overview on,
lizards,
and
amphibians in the area.
We have included a special
section here for snakes. Click
here to view
information on snakes, including some photos to help identify them. |
  The
two most common venomous insects are the
Black Widow Spider and
Arizona
Bark Scorpion. If you are bitten by a venomous insect,
you should seek medical attention immediately to determine the
course of action. |
We will try to keep the list of links up to date, but we ask that if
you believe a link should be added, or you discover a broken or inaccurate
link, please notify us by completing the Contact Form.
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