Wildlife
The Sonoran Desert supports an extraordinary variety of wildlife, each species finely tuned to survive heat and scarcity. Javelinas move through the desert in social groups, using their keen sense of smell to find roots, fruits, and cactus pads. Coyotes thrive as adaptable hunters and scavengers, active day and night. On the ground, quail travel in tight coveys while roadrunners dart between cacti, preying on insects, lizards, and even snakes. Horned lizards rely on camouflage and specialized diets to survive. Above it all, hawks patrol the open sky, while tiny elf owls nest in cactus and hunt insects under the cover of darkness. Songbirds fill the desert with sound. Kangaroo rats emerge at night, surviving without ever drinking free water, while mountain lions silently roam the desert. Snakes complete the web, controlling rodent populations and reminding us that every hunter plays a vital role in this balanced desert world.
