One of the noisier woodpeckers of the desert areas, it’s the Gila woodpecker. They are very common and easily found in and around groups of saguaro, or other giant cacti. They also
The western diamondback rattlesnake lives in deserts, forests, grassy plains, rocky hillsides and even along the coastline. They live at elevations from below sea level up to 6,500 feet. They can be found in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma; as well as northern
The packrat, aka wood rat, trade rat, and pack rat (separate words) are called this due to their propensity to collect a variety of objects, trinkets, and bits of material to deposit in
Believe it or not, the roadrunner belongs to the cuckoo family. These birds can be found in California to the southwestern corner of Missouri, and down to northern Mexico
The coyote is found in all parts of the United States, sans Hawaii. They are also found in Canada, Mexico, and Central America. They can be found on plains, in fields, and around
Sounds like a bad B-rated movie. But the bite of a Gila monster is nothing to laugh at. Gila monsters are not only the largest lizard native to the U.S., but they are 1 of only 2 venomous
The Pacific mole crab, aka sand crab is found from Madelena Bay (Baja California) to Kodiak Island (Alaska). They have to deal with crashing waves, constantly shifting sand, tides
The California ground squirrel, aka Beechey ground squirrel, is a commonly seen species of squirrel found along the western United States and the Baja California Peninsula. They have also moved into Oregon, Washington, and
At first you might think of a kissing bug and say “ahh, they like to kiss you”. Uh… No. They actually bite you on or near your lips and drink your blood, while you sleep. Then they
The California king snake, as it’s name states, primarily lives in California. However, they can be found in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and even in North Texas too. They can live in deserts,
