Nature

Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are members of the mephitid family, a group that also includes the stink badgers of Southeast Asia. In Arizona, these skunks can…

“There are five species of lichen in this image,” says photographer Bruce D. Taubert of his photo, which was made near Canyon Lake in Central Arizona. “Unfortunately,…

Garter snakes are semi-aquatic and are found near or swimming through bodies of water throughout Central and Southern Arizona, according to the  Arizona-Sonora Desert…

Although damselflies are commonly mistaken for dragonflies, these insects are smaller and slimmer. Most damselfly species, including the arroyo bluet (Enallagma…

As the fastest land animals in North America, pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) can run at speeds of up to 60 mph. The zippy ungulates resemble deer, but with…

Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) are lithe, elegant creatures — so much so that naturalist Aldo Leopold wrote about “their nobility, won in the march of eons…

No, this isn’t a cat, even though it somewhat resembles one. Rather, this is a ringtail (Bassariscus astutus), which is actually more closely related to the raccoon…

Hollywood horror films have given tarantulas a bad reputation as bloodthirsty monsters on eight legs, but these fuzzy arachnids are really just humble hermits. There are…

When it comes to spotting Arizona mammals, Mount Graham red squirrels (Tamiasciurus fremonti grahamensis) are among the rarest sights of all. Found only high atop…