Nature

Photographer Bruce D. Taubert captured this image of a bobcat (Lynx rufus) near Rye, south of Payson. Bobcats are common in the Sonoran Desert and elsewhere — their…

Of the three fox species in Arizona, kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) are the smallest — adults typically weigh less than 5 pounds, according to the Arizona Game and…

Western tiger salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium) are among the largest salamanders in North America. According to photographer and wildlife expert Bruce D. Taubert,…

Gambel’s quail (Callipepla gambelii) are found across Arizona and are well adapted to survive in the desert. The plump little birds, which are characterized by…

If you’ve ever been hiking on a desert trail, odds are you’ve encountered a spine field of teddy bear chollas (Cylindropuntia bigelovii). These fluffy-looking…

Also known as desert cardinals, pyrrhuloxias (Cardinalis sinuatus) live year-round in Arizona and are found primarily in scrubby desert thickets and mesquite…

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

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…