|
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.
Click the links below for information on desert critters.
Snakes
Venomous Insects
Toxic Toads Coyotes Bears
Javelina
Desert
Tortoise
Deer
Bobcats and
Mountain Lions
Snakes and insects that are indigenous to the area are shown below.
We have both venomous snakes and
non-venomous snakes. As it is fairly common to see snakes in our community (especially in spring and
autumn). The black widow and scorpion are
two insects you should watch for. You should become familiar with the appearance and characteristics
of these critters.
Do not kill the snakes, you may actually
place yourself in greater danger of snake bite if you attempt to kill a
rattlesnake. Besides, they were here first and can actually be beneficial.
For example, snakes help to keep the rodent population down and they will not
hurt your if you leave them alone. If you do get bitten by a snake, try to
identify the snake and seek immediate medical attention.
 The
Tucson Herpetological Society has created an excellent document, "Living
with Venomous Reptiles". Click
here to obtain that
document. Note: To read the above document, you must have installed
Adobe Reader. This software if free. If you need it, click the icon
below to download and install Adobe Reader.
If you want to remove the snake yourself, you should make sure of a couple
things ... first, identify the snake to determine if it is venomous. Second, you
should have the right tools to handle the snake. You can get snake handling
tools at Midwest Tongs.
There is only one lizard to be wary of in Arizona ... the
Gila Monster.
This beautiful animal is protected in Arizona and it is illegal to disturb it.
If you come across one, admire it and leave it alone. It is relatively
slow moving and will not harm you if you keep your distance.
Return to Top
 Coyotes are very common here. Their evening serenade can be very common.
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.
Return to Top
 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. Return to Top
 The
desert tortoise
is a protected species in Arizona. If you come across a tortoise, the
AZ
Game and Fish has a program for adopting a tortoise.
Return to Top
 Deer are numerous in Arizona and there are two distinct species in Arizona,
the mule deer and the
white tail deer.
They are found virtually every where in the state.
Return
to Top
 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.
Return to Top
 Black Bears generally
stay in the higher country, but at times may roam into lower areas such as
Fountain Hills or perhaps into the Carino Canyon area. Generally shy and secretive, they may venture into the area looking
for food.
Return to Top
Please visit the Arizona Partners in Amphibian
and Reptile Conservation (AZ PARC) web site for an excellent overview on
snakes and reptiles in the area. Click the thumbnail photo for a larger
image and a detailed description on their web site.
Return to Top
Please visit the Arizona Partners in Amphibian
and Reptile Conservation (AZ PARC) web site for an excellent overview on
snakes and reptiles in the area. Click the thumbnail photo for a larger
image and a detailed description on their web site.
Return to Top
The two most common venomous insects are the Black Widow Spider and Arizona Bark
Scorpion.
If you are bitten by a venomous snake or insect, you should seek medical
attention immediately to determine the course of action.
Return to Top
Return to Top
|
