Preserve

Coyote have few natural threats other than disease, larger predators and man and can live between 10-14 years in the wild. They are solitary and territorial creatures who mainly eat small game such as rodents, rabbits, fish and frogs. However, when hunting larger prey such as deer, they use teamwork to form packs and take turns pursuing the prey until it tires, or drive it toward hidden members of the pack for a strategic ambush.

Quail are poor fliers, spending almost all their time on the ground. They roost in bushes and low dense trees and their breeding nests tend to be on the ground or less than 10 feet off the ground. All eggs hatch on the same day and unlike many bird species, the chicks are fully covered with down and ready to leave the nest soon after hatching under the watchful eye of both parents.

Prickly pear cactus have flat, fleshy pads that serve several functions — water storage, photosynthesis and flower production. The fruits of most prickly pears are edible and sold in stores under the name "tuna." Prickly pear branches (the pads) are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Both fruits and pads of the prickly pear cactus are rich in slowly absorbed soluble fibers that many believe help with medicinal conditions.

Cholla's are a favorite nesting sites for desert birds as they offer enough spiny coverage for quick access but protect them from many common predators. While most cactus fruit is edible, cholla fruit does not taste good and is often avoided by desert animals. Native people collected the flower buds of the Buckhorn, Staghorn, and Pencil cholla and prepared them by steaming.

Saguaros are found exclusively in the Arizona Sonoran Desert. They are very slow‑growing cactus with shallow root systems — most of the saguaros roots are only 4‑6 inches deep and radiate out as far from the plant as it is tall. Saguaros can grow to be between 40‑60 feet tall and when rain is plentiful, a fully hydrated one can weigh between 3200‑4800 pounds. With the right growing conditions, saguaros can live to be 150‑200 years old.

Gila Woodpeckers are permanent Sonoran Desert dwellers with very strong head and neck muscles that help them withstand the impact of pecking into trees and other materials. They often make cavities in saguaro cactus to build a safe, cool place to raise their young. These excavated cavities are called a "boots,” and often serve as dwellings for other birds and desert species into the future.

The tiny cactus ferruginous pygmy owl is a small (typically 5.9 in), stocky predator with disproportionately large talons. Unlike other birds, this species doesn't migrate and endures its habitat throughout sweltering summers as well as harsh winters. They make their nests in the cavities of saguaro and organ pipe cacti — typically spaces previously carved out by erosion or former occupants such as woodpeckers.

Male species are known to patrol and perch areas 15 meters in diameter that are rich in larval host plants; they then stake a claim, aggressively protecting it from other insects and other male white peacocks while waiting for a mate.

Gila monsters are one of only two venomous lizards known to occur in the world. While they are not aggressive, hikers should choose to avoid, rather than confront this species. Adult Gila monsters may consume as much 35 percent of their body weight in a single feeding. They typically prey on newborn rodents, rabbits, ground nesting birds, lizards, and other eggs from birds. They can spend up to 98 percent of their time in their subterranean shelters.