Browse our nature archive.

Common Raccoons

Although you might associate common raccoons (Procyon lotor) with forests and trash cans, they’re also prevalent in the Sonoran Desert — as long as their habitat is…

Mexican Free-Tailed Bats

Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) are fast little creatures, traveling at speeds of up to 65 mph. The smallest of the free-tailed bat species, they…

Western Spotted Skunk

The thing about Western spotted skunks (Spilogale gracilis) is that they’re actually striped. Their stripes are broken, giving the appearance of blotches. You’ll…

Vermilion Flycatcher

Vermilion flycatchers (Pyrocephalus obscurus) are indisputably adorable. That said, they’re also members of the tyrant flycatcher family, which is perhaps a bit…

Desert Tortoise

Everything seemingly slows down during summer in Arizona, but super slow is the baseline speed for desert tortoises. In Arizona, you’ll find two native species of the…

Elk

Depending on the time of year, elk (Cervus canadensis) can easily be spotted in Arizona’s high country, notably in the ponderosa pine and piñon-juniper forests on…

Canyon Tree Frog

The canyon tree frog (Dryophytes arenicolor) can get itself into some sticky situations, thanks to adhesive toe pads on all four feet. These tiny amphibians grow to…

Burrowing Owls

There are a few undeniable truths about burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia): They’re cute. They’re social. And they’re the American Birding Association’s 2022 “Bird…

White-Nosed Coati

At first glance, you might think a white-nosed coati (Nasua narica) — also known as a coatimundi — is a raccoon. Look a little closer, though, and you’ll discover…