Nature

Ring-necked snakes (Diadophis punctatus) are common in the United States, as well as parts of Mexico and Canada. In Arizona, you’ll find them primarily in the…

The pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus), or desert cardinal, is a small bird native to the desert Southwest and northern Mexico. Keen on nesting in desert scrub, the…

If you’ve spent any significant amount of time in the Grand Canyon State, odds are you’ve seen a coyote (Canis latrans) or two. Or more. With a widespread range,…

Known for their agility, cliff chipmunks (Tamias dorsalis) live along cliff walls and rocky outcroppings in Arizona’s mountainous regions. These members of the…

When you have car trouble on a remote roadside, the sight of a circling turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) can make for a lonely feeling, so it might be surprising to…

In terms of size, gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) fall in the middle of the three fox species that inhabit Arizona — they’re bigger than kit foxes, but…

Zebra-tailed lizards (Callisaurus draconoides) are flashy sprinters with dazzling stripes and fearless attitudes to match. Commonly found in scrub communities in…

Elk (Cervus canadensis) are commonly seen in Northern Arizona’s subalpine zones, ponderosa pine forests and piñon-juniper forests, where they dine primarily on…

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…