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Packrats, Snakes and Bugs; Oh My!

In the wild, packrats make their dens (called middens) hidden in thick clumps of cacti or in tight rocky crevices where only snakes can reach them. This is why some leggy lizards evolved into legless lizards called “snakes”. Under these hunting conditions, legs would be an impediment. In our yard, their favorite nesting places are either in a hole under our largest gaggle of prickly pear or the 1.3-inch-wide space between a retaining wall and our hot tub. Around human dwellings, packrats can be incredibly destructive. In the process of making their elaborate dens into comfortable, well-insulated, and nearly impregnable fortresses, they will appropriate almost any material, including twigs, discarded carpet or cloth, animal fur, dryer lint, cardboard, plastic … almost any clutter we leave around. But by far their favorite building material is found under the hood of a car that has remained stationary for one-too-many nights. A few … Continue reading

Kissing Bugs Can Be Deadly!

The Kissing bug, aka: Conenose bug or Mexican Bedbug is a member of the Triatoma species, whatever that is. The important point is that they are blood suckers and sneak under your pillow at night and wait for you to fall asleep. They then creep up on your lips, anesthetize them and begin their dirty work. As the season for opening your windows begins, I thought I would post a word of caution about the conenose bug. They are most active during the months of May and June. They co-habitate with packrats, so get rid of your middens. The worst of it all is that they can carry a disease called Chagas Disease, caused by a parasite, which can kill you. Here is an article on Chagas Disease by the CDC. Thankfully, Arizona screens blood donations for Chagas Disease, whereas Texas is not required to. Luckily, Arizona has seen few … Continue reading

Thar Be Collared Peccaries In My Yard!

They look like hairy pigs, but aren’t. The Spanish, who were the first Europeans to settle in Southern Arizona, called them “javelina” meaning javelin or spear. When you see the skull of a collared peccary, you immediately know why. Those tusks are impressive. Typically they weigh 35 to 45 pounds, but some males beef up [...]

Behind The Scenes Tour Of The New Desert Museum Aquarium

On a clear Sunday morning in early February, Neighbor Roy, Ms. Karen, & I arrived at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum for our 2nd Behind The Scenes tour, this time of the new Warden Aquarium. Lacey was our guide for our group of 8, including two little boys who looked to be about 4 and 6 [...]

Living With Coyotes

Arizona Game & Fish Department estimates that about 200,000 coyotes live in Arizona. They are equally at home in the wild, in our cities and in the suburbs; anywhere they can snatch a meal.

Coati of the San Pedro River

This video is an excellent portrayal of the elusive Coati and their habitat. Great footage with an environmental pitch at the end. You can try your hand at spotting one in the wild at the San Pedro Riparian area or visit them at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Brought to you by the Friends of the San Pedro River.

A Video History of the San Pedro River Area

This video describes the importance of San Pedro River and Riparian area and makes a case and plea for conservation. For more information about this important project visit the Friends of the San Pedro River.

Reptiles of the San Pedro River

Watch this informative video on Reptiles of the Sonoran Desert including detailed information on many of the snakes and lizards in the desert.
Thanks to the Friends of the San Pedro River at: SanPedroRiver.org. The Friends of the San Pedro River work for the conservation, education, and restoration of the San Pedro River.
This and other videos are available to teachers for educational purposes at: Friends of the San Pedro River Educational Series

Around the Garden

I am never really sure what folks will be interested in. Some of the shots of critters and plants have received unexpected interest. I have planted, won and lost many battles with the soil and environment. Here is a sampling of the plants around my garden.

Behind the Scenes at the Desert Museum

There is a relatively new set of in-depth tours at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum that will delight anyone who wants a closer look at the critters at the museum. If you have been visiting the Desert Museum for years, this is your opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the Museum.

Bringing Back the Bighorn Sheep to the Santa Catalinas

A week before Jim’s back surgery, we were treated to the Desert Museum’s “Behind the Scenes” Tour and was able to get up close and personal with the Bighorn Sheep on display at the Desert Museum. So, the other day, I ran into some pretty exciting news…

The Sphinx Moth

This critter is also known as a hornworm and can devastate a tomato plant overnight. It grows into a lovely, very large moth, that looks a little like a hummingbird in flight, thus earning the nickname, the Hummingbird Moth. Here is the critter in it’s Chrysallis phase. I think there is a worm in there somewhere. Yum. … Continue reading

Tucson Botanical Gardens

There are many reasons to love Tucson Botanical Gardens. First, of course, are the many different types of gardens. Second, every spring they have a “Weird Plant Sale” where you can purchase living conversation pieces. Third, TBG is a peaceful place in the midst of a bustling urban environment. Fourth, they have concerts & art shows. Fifth, you can rent the facilities and have a magnificent party there, be it for a wedding, reunion, or whatever special occasion. Go to our Tucson Botanical Gardens to discover reasons #6, #7, & #8.

Great Blue Heron

This Great Blue Heron landed briefly on a friends chimney Saturday afternoon. If herons are here there must be fish somewhere in Tucson.

Bats Under The Bridge: Who Knew?

I had heard rumors that thousands of bats live under the North Campbell Street bridge (just south of River) and that they take flight at sundown in the summer. This urban legend seemed more plausible when I found out that docents from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum are there every Thursday evening to share their knowledge [...]

Life on the Rocks – Riparian Area

The frogs were sunning themselves in the riparian exhibit at the Desert Museum last week. … Continue reading

Rowdy, The Roadrunner, At The Desert Museum

This is Rowdy The RoadRunner. Photo taken last week. He looks startled. No way. Just mugging for my camera. All the animals at the Desert Museum do that, don’t ya know.

The Night Blooming Cereus

The night-blooming Cereus, the native Arizona kind, typically blooms only one day a year. When I say, one day a year, I mean one day, all around town, the same day. It does not vary except what day that is. When I first moved here, I was cleaning up Buddy’s tootsie rolls, I came across one of the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen. Not to mention the strong honey fragrance that it put out. It was attached to a plant that I would have eventually pulled out, mistaking it for a dead stick. The “root”, by the way, is a tuber. The Tucson Botanical Gardens celebrates this event every year, keeping a watch for this yearly show.

Snake in a Watering Can

These are two of my favorite photos. It gets hot here and even the snakes need a break. As luck would have it, this was a harmless Gopher Snake. The differences can be subtle. The jawline is different. A rattlesnake has a triangular shaped jaw and oh, rattles. The coloration is much the same as you can see. This watering can is extremely small, not more than 12 inches tall. This was an interesting find. Be careful where you put your hands! … Continue reading

Tucson, AZ: There’s A Guy Here Who Wants To Bug You!

Ken “The Bug Guy” MacNeil is a bugologist who has opened his mid-town Tucson pet store with an inventory of over 10,000 bugs. Spiders of course. And scorpions, tarantulas, millipedes, and dozens of other crawling species. Having a bug for a pet has several advantages over the usual dog or cat. Less maintenance. Less cost. [...]

New Video: Mom Hummingbird Feeding Chicks At Desert Museum

Last week, we had friends visiting from Virginia. As we always do with friends and family here for the first time, we recommended they go to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It’s such a great place get an orientation to the geology, plants, and critters of our Sonoran Desert. When they returned, they said that [...]

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