11 Great Wildlife Viewing Trips

Guide to 11 Great Nature Trips The Wild Calls You Should Answer Where the Buffalo Roam House Rock Wildlife Management Area

North Rim of the Grand Canyon on State Route 67 Stare down 2,000 pounds of fur and horns. And, no we aren't talking about the IRS. A herd of 125 free-range bison browse and glower in northern Arizona, the descendants of a failed 1905 "cattalo" experiment. C.J. "Buffalo" Jones tried to breed cattle with bison, but gave up trying to go commercial with the prickly half-breeds. However, visitors can still view their shaggy descendants in the wild, especially between May and mid-September, when they migrate back to House Rock for calving season. Pronghorns and mule deer also share the range. Information: Arizona Game and Fish Department, (928) 214-1241; www.gf.state.az.us/ h_f/game_buffalo.shtml.

Life's a Beach Willow Beach, Lake Mead National Recreation Area

15 miles south of Hoover Dam off U.S. Route 93 Take a three-hour raft trip on the Colorado River above Lake Mohave to see Arizona's elusive cliff-climbing desert bighorn sheep. The sheepish sheep wander down to the river's edge in the early morning and late afternoon to drink. A national fish hatchery plops plump trout into the river, and desert tortoises have been spotted racing around the area. Information: (928) 767-4747; www.nps.gov/lame/home.

Try Talking to the Animals Hassayampa River Preserve

Wickenburg on U.S. Route 60, Mile Marker 114 Dr. Doolittle would love this place for its vast array of wildlife, but you need not talk to the animals to enjoy the javelinas, raccoons, ringtails, mule deer, bobcats, gray foxes and 280 species of birds that frequentthe preserve. Located just south of Wickenburg, the reserve's guided and self-guided walks put visitors into the midst of the menagerie. Now, what was that raccoon saying? Information: (928) 684-2772; www.hassayampa.org.

Wake-boarding Wildlife Watchers Lyman Lake State Park

Northeastern Arizona in the White Mountains on State Route 81 What do you get when you cross a bald eagle and a bobcat? When you find out, let us know. In the meantime, visit Lyman State Park's 1,200 acres to see bald eagles, bobcats and waterfowl running amuck in northeastern Arizona. If that bores you, pitch horseshoes, water ski, camp or fish to pass the time away. Information: (928) 3374441; www.pr.state.az.us/ Parks/parkhtml/lyman.

Cool Critters Keepin' It Real Aravaipa Canyon East

65 miles northeast of Tucson off State Route 77 This place is so cool the bighorn sheep wear earrings-compliments of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Other critters, upset because they don't get to wear the bright yellow accessories, include white-tailed deer, coatimundis and gray foxes. Holler a shout-out as you creep by, but stay in your vehicle while journeying through this Arizona wildlife hangout. Information: (928) 348-4400; www.recreation.gov/detail.

Bilingual Birding Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge

50 miles southwest of Tucson on State Route 286 There's a flock of things to do on this 118,000-acre parcel of land that sits just north of the U.S.-Mexico border. Enjoy birding, guided nature walks, migratory bird day, a Christmas bird count and a host of other outdoor activities. An amazing 330 bird species, 53 reptiles and amphibians, and 58 mammal species lay claim to the land, so chances are high you will encounter something. Information: (520) 8234251, ext.116; www.fws. gov/southwest/refuges/ arizona/buenosaires.

A Haven for Suckers San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area

50 miles southeast of Tucson on State Route 80 A desert sucker isn't just someone who gets stuck on top of Camelback Mountain without water in the summer, but a fish you might see at San Pedro Conservation Area. Don't let the fact that rattlesnakes may be present stop you from catching a glimpse of the other critters that roam these parts. Thirty-five species of raptors and 379 species of birds have been recorded here, so keep your eyes to the sky. Information: (520) 439-6400; www.blm.gov/az/nca/ spnca/spnca-info.htm.

A Trip Worth Truckin' Hannagan Meadow Corduroy Creek Loop

Northeastern Arizona in the White Mountains off U.S. Route 191 If you're sick of hanging around and you'd like to travel, try this 62-mile jaunt that begins in Alpine. The long, not so strange trip will have you trucking, like the doodah man, through old-growth forest. The loop also puts visitors close to black bears, mule deer, elk, chipmunks and a wide variety of birds. Information: (928) 333-4301; www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf.

Wander the Wetlands Tavasci Marsh

Near Clarkdale and Cottonwood, off State Route 89A Keep on the lookout for the hordes of animals that call this central Arizona marsh home. Beavers, yellow-billed cuckoos and several species of bats all wander this wetland, which is Arizona's largest freshwater marsh away from the Colorado River. Tavasci Marsh has been designated as an Audubon Society Important Bird Area (IBA). Information: (928) 634-5283; www.nps.gov/tuzi/pphtml/ subnaturalfeatures22.html.

Antelope Antics Await Prescott Valley Antelope Drive

Prescott, along State Route 89 between State Route 69 and State Route 89A Giddyup that minivan for an 8-mile drive through Prescott Valley's short-grass prairie. Pronghorns dominate the wildlife-watching here, but prairie falcons and kestrels also call the area home. Unless you have eagle eyes, don't forget the binoculars.

Snowbirds Flock to Lake Mormon Lake, Doug Morrison Overlook

Flagstaff, Lake Mary Road There's more than one kind of snowbird in Arizona, and this type doesn't golf. Travelers can glimpse the other form of snowbird at Arizona's largest natural lake, which is also one of the best spots in the state to view bald eagles. From November to April, wintering bald eagles flock to a 9-squaremile area of wetland, open water, grassland, coniferous forest and cliffs, which are all represented. Waterfowl, elk, mule deer, pronghorns, ospreys and peregrine falcons also call this place home. Information: (928) 774-1147; www.fs.fed.us/outdoors/ naturewatch/arizona/ wildlife/mormon-lake.

ADDITIONAL READING: Step into the wilderness, explore its beauty and immerse yourself in its solitude with Arizona Wild & Free. The coffeetable book draws from former U.S. Rep. and Interior Secretary Stewart L. Udall's experiences in what he terms "Arizona's sanctuary" illustrated by stunning photographs of wild places and animals. Published by Arizona Highways, the book ($14.99 plus shipping and handling) can be ordered online at arizonahighways. com or by calling toll-free (800) 543-5432.

CONVERSATIONAL COYOTE The most vocal of all North American wild mammals, coyotes use a variety of squeaks, yelps and howls to establish territorial boundaries and to communicate within the pack or family unit. PAUL AND JOYCE BERQUIST