Rio Verde Foothills Alliance / Environmental Issues

West Nile Virus

The West Nile Virus (WNV) is spread by mosquitoes. Humans, some birds (ravens, crows, and jays), and horses can be affected, but are considered to be dead-end hosts as there is no evidence that WNV is
contagious from person to person, animal to animal, or animal to human

Incidences of WNV in humans for 2006 in Arizona and neighboring states are:

	• Arizona: 150 cases, mostly happening in Sept. and Oct; • Utah: 158 cases, mostly happening in July and August; • Nevada: 123 cases, mostly happening in July and August.

Because there is not a vaccine against WNV available for humans, prevention consists mainly of avoiding exposure to
mosquitoes.

• Insect repellant should be used whenever you are outdoors. Although the Center for Disease Control recommends repellant's containing DEET, Good Housekeeping tested Off!Botanicals, a eucalyptus based, DEET-free repellant, and found it to be as effective as Deep Woods Off!, which is 25% DEET. Each provided protection for approximately two hours.
• Wear long sleeves and pants outdoors. But use insect repellant, as mosquitoes can bite through some clothing.
• Eliminate standing water.

In equines, WNV will cause a rapid onset of the loss of coordination. Horses may exhibit hip-pressing behavior in
attempting to maintain balance. There is an equine vaccine for WNV that consists of two injections 3-6 weeks apart,
available in Arizona only from vets. Although there is no data on its efficacy, it has been found that 4-6 weeks after the
booster injection, anti-bodies are present in the bloodstream. The equine stats for WNV in our region for 2006 are: 13
cases in Arizona, 7 in Colorado, 2 in New Mexico, 56 in California, 27 in Nevada, and 62 in Utah. The significant drop in
equine cases since 2002 is most likely due to the availability of an equine vaccine for WNV.

Organic Pest Control
Because of the toxic affects on the environment that many commercial pest control substances have, many people
would prefer to use “organic” methods to control insects—IF they really worked.

Well, friends and neighbors, here are two tried and true alternatives to chemicals.

Diatomaceous Earth
For general insect control, diatomaceous earth (DE) works great. (No, this is not the same DE used in some pool
filters.) The DE consists of the shells of diatomes that were deposited millions of years ago and have been mined and
ground up. When insects come in contact with DE, it tears up their exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate and die.
Once applied, it is not harmful to you, your children, or your pets! However, inhaling DE can be harmful to your lungs, so it’s advisable to wear a mask during application.

Unfortunately, DE does not know a “good” insect from a “bad” insect; it will kill honeybees and ladybugs as well as
scorpions and roaches. So, don’t use it indiscriminately. Sprinkle it near the entrances to your home for non-toxic pest
control.

DE has been used by many large cattle operations as a method of fly control. It’s placed on the ground where cattle
often lie down, gets on their hair, and when a fly lands on them…bye, bye fly!

A fifty-pound bag of DE costs about $30, so its use is extremely cost-efficient. Locally, both Scottsdale Livestock Supply (10634 N. 71 Place, 480-922-0203) and Western Ranchman (16028 N. 32 Street, 602-992-3410) carry DE. Home Depot and Lowe’s do not.

Fly “parasites”
Another non-toxic form of pest control, specifically for the control of flies, is the use of fly “parasites”. These fly
“parasites” are actually tiny, nocturnal wasps about the size of a gnat. They do not sting or bite. But they do deposit
their eggs in fly pupae. Then, as those eggs hatch into larvae, the larvae eat the developing fly. Consequently, there is
no longer an adult fly to emerge from that pupa.

These wasps cannot kill existing flies, but control flies by eliminating the next generation. However, because flies
reproduce nine times faster than the wasps, it is necessary to periodically add more wasps to the environment.

Different suppliers use different combinations of these wasp species. To determine which product is best for your
situation, call Spalding Labs at 1-888-562-4552 or ARBICO at 1-800-827-2847. Remember not to use DE or any
chemical pesticide within 300 feet of the location where you release the wasps.

Skeptical? Quite frankly, so were some of our members before they tried one or both of these alternatives. Now,
however, they are believers.

Native Neighbors: Human Impact
As more and more humans move into this previously natural area, we are bound to have an impact on the wildlife here.
Some of the effects of our invasion are obvious; others may surprise you. Interestingly enough, not all effects are
negative for all species.

Traffic is a danger to all animals including rodents, some birds (especially quail), and large mammals such as coyotes,
javelina, and deer. Motorcycles and ATV’s, when used off road, do more than destroy vegetation, which in turn leads to
erosion. They also disrupt wildlife behavior patterns and fragment territories.

Exterior lights are a serious problem. Invertebrates such as spiders, scorpions, and cone-nosed bugs (which extremely
venomous and dangerous to humans) are attracted to lights and, in turn, bats are attracted to them. Lights also attract
pack rats and some snakes and can disrupt migration patterns.

Pets that are allowed to run loose have no positive effects on wildlife. Cats are natural killers, and are especially
dangerous to songbirds and lizards. Dogs will harass wildlife by chasing them, forcing them to expend precious energy.
They will also kill if they make a successful catch.

Chemical herbicides and pesticides are especially dangerous. Although they may start at the bottom of the food chain,
they can and often do move upward in the chain before becoming diluted enough to not have an immediately deadly
effect. However, their toxic effects are cumulative. For example: ants eat from herbicide-treated plants or travel
through pesticide; they are eaten by a horned lizard, which is eaten by an owl; the owl eventually dies from the
cumulative effects of such toxins in his prey; his remains are eaten by a coyote and/or vultures and they, in turn, ingest
the toxins, adding to their cumulative levels. In addition, herbicides may kill or disrupt the pollination of nearby native
plants that are important to wildlife.

Territory loss does not negatively impact all species. Coyotes, for example, have adapted well to the presence of
humans. They have a broad diet and are extremely intelligent, allowing them to exploit new situations and actually thrive
and flourish. Cottontail rabbits and the some mice have also adapted well to living with humans, as have pigeons,
starlings, and sparrows. Other animals, such as jackrabbits, deer, mountain lions, bears, roadrunners, & quail, are
relatively intolerant of humans and need large natural open areas to provide them with adequate nesting and forage
opportunities. When you make your land use plan, consider leaving as much undisturbed, natural desert as possible.

Feeding wildlife negatively influences their behavior. When coyotes, javelina, and deer become habituated to the food
humans provide, they no longer eat their normal foods. Coyotes will eat up to 25 rodents every day—unless you are
providing other food for them! Feeding also causes animals to associate humans with food, and thereby overcome their
natural fear of humans. If a coyote or javelina approaches a human in search of a handout, the animal is often
perceived as aggressive and, as a result, is destroyed. Providing feed for birds generally has a much less negative
impact than providing feed for mammals.

Water has a positive impact on wildlife here in the desert for two reasons. Obviously, the water itself is an attractant. In
addition, landscape irrigation produces green plants that attract birds and animals. When planning your landscape, it is
helpful to utilize as may native plants in your landscape as possible because they are more usable, for both food and
shelter, by wildlife.

Every one of our actions as we plan, build, and maintain our dream homes here in the desert will have an impact on
wildlife, oftentimes in ways that never occurred to us. Becoming aware of the effects our actions have on our native
neighbors is the first step in becoming better neighbors ourselves.

Native Neighbors: Snake Identification & Safety
Most snakes’ primary food is rodents. If you see a snake near your house or barn, has probably been attracted by the presence of rodents, so it’s usually in your best interest to leave the snake alone. Once the food supply runs low, the snake will probably move on.

However, if that snake is venomous, it may be better to remove it. Generally, there are two types of venomous snakes in our area: coral snakes and rattlesnakes.

Coral snakes are rarely encountered, as they are very reclusive and usually nocturnal. Although their venom is
extremely poisonous, their jaws are relatively small, making it difficult for them to deliver much venom to a pet or human. Coral snakes can be identified by the bands of red and black, separated by bands of yellow or white, around their
bodies. The red bands are always bordered by yellow or white bands. Their faces are black from the tips of their noses
to behind their eyes.

There are several benign snakes that look similar to coral snakes in our area. The red-banded king snake has bands
with the same colors, and a black face. However, unlike the coral snake, the red bands of king snakes are always
bordered by black. The common king snake has no red bands. The shovel-nosed snake and banded sand snake also
have colors and markings similar to coral snakes. However, their noses are never black.

Species of rattlesnakes in our area include the western diamondback (the largest and most aggressive), tiger, speckled,
western, Mojave, black-tailed, and sidewinder. They range in color from gray or beige to brown or greenish with
splotches or bands on their backs that vary from brown to dark brown or black. Unlike most other snakes, these
rattlesnakes have distinctive, shovel- or triangular-shaped heads: the backs of their heads are much wider than their
bodies or their noses. Also distinctive are their segmented tails, which they may rattle in warning if disturbed.

The gopher, or bull, snake is often mistaken for a rattler due to its similar coloring and markings. However, a gopher
snake does not have the distinctive head shape or a segmented tail.

In rattlesnake country, being aware of your surroundings and snakes’ habits is as important as being able to distinguish
between venomous and non-venomous snakes. During the heat of a summer day, snakes may lay up under brush to
avoid becoming overheated. Then, when the coolness of evening comes, snakes may be attracted to the warm walls of
your house. So when doing yard work or exiting your home in the evening, always watch for snakes!

Most snakebites occur when untrained people are attempting to move a snake. If you find a poisonous snake near your
house or barn and want it moved, do NOT attempt to do so yourself. Call Rio Verde Rural Metro at 480-471-2304 and
ask them to come remove the snake for you.

Native Neighbors: Gambel's Quail
Quail Gambel’s Quail are plump birds, predominately a rich gray color with some chestnut and cream mottling, especially on
the wings. Both male and female have the black topknot, although the female’s is smaller and thinner, and a cream- to
buff-colored area on their bellies. Only males have a black patch within this light-colored area on their bellies, as well as a chestnut crown and black face.

These 10- to 11½-inch birds prefer to remain on the ground, where they can run quite fast. Although weak fliers, they
can fly short distances. They will generally fly only to avoid predators or to reach their roosting sites.

During the summer months, coveys of quail consist primarily of family units: parents and their surviving chicks. Because quail are almost always in danger when they are on the move, the male will lead the covey with the female taking up the rear. When the covey appears to be relatively safe, the male will sometimes protect the rear while the female leads.

During the fall and winter, however, larger coveys of up to 25 quail, usually consisting of extended family, will form to
provide additional protection during feeding and roosting. There is, at all times, at least one sentinel to watch for
predators. In the evening, when they roost for the night in trees and shrubs, they will arrange themselves in circles,
facing outwards, always on the alert for predators.

Although they will eat insects during the breeding season, 90% of their diet consists of plant products: weed and
wildflower seeds, legumes such as mesquite beans, leaf buds and leaves, green plant shoots, and cactus fruits and
seeds. They locate most of their feed by scratching around on the ground. In an effort to avoid predators, they
generally feed in the early morning and late afternoon. During cooler weather, however, their feeding forays may be
extended.
Being adapted to the Sonoran Desert, Gambel’s Quail do not require a large amount of free water to survive. Much of
their water requirement can be obtained from droplets of dew on green plants, as well as from the plants themselves.
Although they can survive on decreased water supplies for short periods, in order to maintain their strength and reserves
they need one good drink of water every day. They tend to prefer habitat with a permanent water supply, more for the
vegetation supported in such an area than for the water itself.

As adults and chicks, their best protection from predators is to remain motionless and take advantage of the excellent
camouflage provided by their natural coloration. If disturbed by a predator while roosting or waiting out the heat of the
day, and remaining motionless is not an option, the covey will explode into the air in every direction at once in an effort
to confuse the predator. The predators are smart, though; they know that the quail cannot fly far. The coyote, for
example, will focus in on one bird and run below it until it lands. Unless it lands in thick brush or a tree, the quail does
not have much of a chance.

Predators include house cats, owls, foxes, skunks, roadrunners, ravens, bobcats, the occasional coyote, and, most
commonly, hawks. Eggs are most at risk from snakes, rodents, reptiles, roadrunners, and ants.

If you find an injured or orphaned quail, call Jeani Garrett with Arizona Covey at 602-996-1934. A chick is probably
orphaned if, while you wait some distance away, the parents don’t come back within 10 minutes.

It is important to handle the chick as little as possible, as they are very fragile. Never attempt to feed or give water to an
injured or orphaned quail unless instructed to do so by a quail rehabilitator. The most important thing to do while waiting
for help and/or instructions is to keep the bird warm and dry. Quail prefer temperatures of 95-100 degrees; they do not
appreciate air conditioning! To keep the bird warm, heat a DRY cloth towel in the microwave until it is warm, not hot, to
the inside of your wrist. Never use paper towels. Wrap the bird gently in this towel to warm it up. Then, if possible,
place the bird on a warm towel in the bottom of a box and place the box on a heating pad set to medium. Check the bird
frequently, to make sure it hasn't’t gotten underneath the towel.

Reproduction is contingent upon appropriate environmental conditions. During years when inadequate feed is available,
quail might not breed at all. During springs preceded by good winter rains, there is an increase in wildflower production
and new plant growth. This rich feed stimulates the reproductive tissues and pairs will breed.

Pairs will nest on the ground under rocks or thick brush. They will make a shallow depression, which they will
sometimes line with dead leaves, twigs, grass, and feathers. Breeding season generally lasts from April to July, with
chicks appearing from late April to early August. A pair will produce one brood per season.

During breeding season, a female will lay one egg every 24-36 hours. They are buff-colored, with brown speckles, and
are just under 1 ¼ inches long. Only when she has finished laying will she begin to incubate the eggs. In this way, all
eggs will hatch on the same day. Most clutches consist of 9-15 eggs. She will set for 21-24 days.

The chicks are born with fuzzy buff- and brown-striped feathers. Once they dry off after hatching, they are able to run
nearly as fast as their parents. When all of the eggs have hatched, the family will leave the nest and never return. If a
predator appears after most of the chicks have hatched, the parents will often desert the remaining eggs in an effort to
save the hatched chicks.

Both parents are devoted to and help care for the chicks. If attacked by a predator, parents will attempt to lure it away
from the chicks. By 21 days of age, chicks are capable of flying, which increases their chances of survival. Despite their
parents’ diligent care, 60-70% of the chicks will die before winter.

By three months of age the chicks are reared and by late fall are indistinguishable from their parents. Although they are
capable of breeding the spring following their birth, they will stay with their parents until environmental conditions are
right.

Quail pairs are monogamous, spending their entire lives with one mate. If one of a pair is lost to predators, the
remaining one will grieve for weeks. Generally, a widow(er) will spend the remainder of his/her life, usually 3-5 years, as
a sentinel or helping to care for chicks of other widow(er)s in the extended family.

To attract quail and encourage nesting, provide them with a safe area. This means no dogs or cats. If you have a pool
or water feature, it is important to block the chicks’ access to it; surround it with a row of blocks until the chicks are
reared. For maximum protection from predators and the midday sun, quail prefer thickets containing dense, thorny
vegetation such as desert hackberry, jojoba, cats claw acacia, graythorn, bursage, and brittlebush for nesting sites. For
roosting, they favor catsclaw acacia and mesquite trees.

Providing feed and water will attract quail, but certain precautions should be taken. Chicks can drown in water that is ½
inch deep. It is best to provide water in a bowl no more than 2 inches high that is completely filled with small rocks. The
open spaces between the rocks will hold enough water for the birds to drink without risk. Because larger birds such as
doves and pigeons will also be attracted to water and they carry diseases that are lethal to quail, it is important to
change the water frequently and recommended that you include one teaspoon of bleach in each gallon of water.

To avoid attracting doves and pigeons to the feed you are providing for quail, provide wild birdseed that is composed
entirely of small seeds. The staff at The Wild Bird Center of Scottsdale (480-922-4910) can advise you. Javalina love
quail blocks, so use them only in areas not accessible by javalina. To give chicks a head start, put out game bird starter.
Eagle Milling makes a starter that has the best nutrition ratios for quail chicks. It can be purchased at Western
Ranchman (602-992-3410) and The Wild Bird Center of Scottsdale.

To thwart predators, place feed and water under vegetation where you have seen quail. Do not place water near the
feed. If ants find your feed supply, you may dust the area with Sevin Dust (made by Ortho) without risk to quail. A
birdbath will not attract quail, as quail take dust baths!

Native Neighbors: Rabbits
rabbit Since moving to the desert, many of us have had the pleasure of seeing an animal that we don’t often see, except occasionally on golf courses, in the city: the jackrabbit .Although the cottontail rabbit has adjusted very well to and is commonly found in urban areas, the jackrabbit prefers to avoid them.

Both rabbits will eat almost anything: grasses, weeds, flowering plants, succulents, even the tender tips of palo verde trees. They get most of their moisture requirements from the
plants they eat, usually dining in the evening and at dawn, when there may also be dew
available to quench their thirst.

Man has brought with him to the desert a veritable bunny cafeteria. They love to feast on
our landscape plants, although they often take the blame for that other desert rodent that will eat almost anything: the
pack rat. Sages, dahlias, rosemary, desert spoon, cape & Mexican honeysuckle, chuparosa, Mexican bird of paradise,
bougainvilla, baja fairy duster, bottlebrush bush, emu bush, jojoba, bursage, and verbenas are some plants that seem to
be more rabbit-resistant than others.

You may have success repelling rabbits from your landscape plants with Bitters End, available at pet supply stores. You
will need to apply it daily for a few days, until the rabbit has changed his habit of visiting those plants, then only
occasionally. You may also try rabbit-repelling pellets or predators’ urine, both available from most nurseries. They will
have to be reapplied only occasionally or after it rains. Blood meal will also repel rabbits. Encircling young plants with
chicken wire until they are more mature is helpful as well.

rabbit Rabbits tend to stay within a limited area for their entire lives, which is no more than two years. Because they are not territorial, these areas may overlap without creating conflict. They prefer habitat with lots of brush, which they use for cover to escape and/or hide from coyotes, foxes, hawks, owls, and, in the case of cottontail babies, roadrunners. Because they are larger and faster than cottontails, jacks are often more successful in evading predators.

Besides the difference in size and speed, jacks and cottontails have markings that are quite distinct from each other. Cottontails have black eyes, a brown coat with a charcoal undercoat, and a white belly
and tail. Adults will usually have a rufus, an orange-brown collar of color around their necks. Jacks, on the other hand,
Jackrabbit Cottontail rabbit have golden brown eyes, black crescents on their ear tips, a charcoal coat with a brown undercoat, a black tail, and buff coloring on their bellies and under their tails
.
Rabbits do not communicate verbally. The only sound they will make is a distress call, or scream, if they are grabbed by
a predator or, sometimes, if a baby is disturbed.

Both jacks and cottontails will breed year-round and have no environmental preconditions to breeding. Their primary
breeding season is from February through October, during which time they will have at least two litters. They may have
up to three or four litters per year. Gestation is approximately 30 days.

The female may nest in an abandoned burrow but generally nests under heavy brush in a shallow, bowl-shaped
depression in the ground, which she lines with fur, leaves, and grass. Males may hang around, but they are not
monogamous and do not help care for babies. The female will feed her babies twice a day. In an attempt to hide them
from predators, a jack female may separate her babies. Despite these efforts, most jack and cottontail babies are lost to
predators.

A jack female is able to reproduce at about six months of age. Her litters will consist of 2-3 babies. They are precocial,
meaning they are born with their eyes open and fully furred. They will be weaned when they are four to six weeks old.

A cottontail, in contrast, can reproduce when she is about four months old. She will have litters of 2-6 babies, which will
be born blind, with their ears closed and fastened down, and with no fur. By the time they are a week old, they will have
a full fur coat. Their eyes and ears will open when they are about ten days old. The cottontail will wean her babies at 3
½ to 4 weeks of age.

If you would like to attract rabbits, provide a shallow water source and a few rabbit pellets near heavy brush, where they
can quickly and easily hide from predators. Providing some food for them may diminish their desire to munch on your
landscape plants!

Native Neighbors: Mountain Lion
Felis concolor may be the “cat of one color”, but it is believed to be listed in dictionaries under more names than any
other animal in the world: cougar, puma,
catamount, panther, painter…

Mountain lions are plain-colored—pale brown to tawny; white chin, upper lip, chest, & belly; black or dark brown on sides of muzzle & backs of ears;brown/black on tip of tail. The average male and average female weigh between 110-180 and 80- 130 pounds respectively. From nose to tip of the tail, the average male measures 6-8 feet, and the average female measures 5-7 feet. Mountain lions’ heads are relatively small in proportion to their bodies.

Historically, these cats once had the largest range of all land mammals in the Western Hemisphere. Currently in North America, they occupy some areas in the 12 western states and British Columbia & Alberta, Canada.

A small population also resides in southern Florida. They are very adaptable and may live in mountains, forests, swamps, or deserts. The two most important habitat elements are 1) finding cover for protection& for stalking; and 2) living near a large prey base(e.g., good deer habitat).

They are primarily solitary animals. Territories may be anywhere between 8-500 square miles. Male territories do not
overlap, but a female’s territory may be located within a male’s and overlap with other females’ territories. A male and
female will come together during the breeding season and may remain together for 3 days to 2 weeks. Dens usually
consist of boulder piles, rock overhangs, or dense thickets. Their primary purpose is to provide protection from
predators, rain, & sun.

Mountain lions are ambush predators. Prey is usually killed from a bite to the back of the neck. Excellent vision,
including great depth perception and precise distance judging, enables both daytime and nighttime hunting. Hearing is
also important for hunting, and most cats are great at using this sense to detect prey. Their favorite prey is mule deer or
white-tailed deer, depending upon location. They will also eat porcupine, beaver, small rodents, rabbits & hares,
raccoon, birds, wild hog, livestock, and grass (which may serve medicinal purposes).

Mountain lions have many different calls including screams, hisses, growls, and whistles. Mothers and their young seem
to communicate through licking, rubbing, & vocalizations. They are the largest cat that purrs. “Scrapes”—piles of
material, such as dirt—are kicked up with the hind feet and are used by males to mark their territories, another form of
communication.

Sexual maturity is usually reached around 2 years of age. Both males & females appear to be polygamous. Females
are in estrus for about 23 days and in heat for about 8. Breeding occurs throughout the year, but most cubs are born
during summer. The gestation period lasts between 82-98 days. A female typically gives birth every other year.

Litters may contain between 1-6 cubs; the average is 2-3. Eyes and ears are open and cubs are able to walk after 2
weeks. They are weaned after 2-3 months. At four months old, eye color begins to change from light blue to golden
brown. After about 6 months, cubs begin to lose the spots from their coats. The mother is the only parent who cares for
the cubs and tends to stay with them for 1½ to 2 years after their birth.

The young are the most vulnerable to predation by coyotes, golden eagles, and sometimes other mountain lions.
Humans are also dangerous mountain lion predators. In captivity, mountain lions may live up to 21 years old. But in the
wild, where conditions are much harsher, they tend to live only about half as long—a 10-year-old is considered an old
cat.

Human persecution and decreases in prey populations, such as white-tailed deer, have been the primary cause of the
decline or extirpation of the mountain lion throughout much of its original habitat. Loss & fragmentation of habitat and
collisions with vehicles are other threats the mountain lion faces. Although full protection is given to mountain lions in 24
states & provinces, the hunting of mountain lions continues to be legal in many states.

Native Neighbors: Collared Peccary (aka Javelina)
Peccaries are only distantly related to pigs despite some superficial similarities: they have a similar body and head
shape, including their snouts, and they share some behaviors, such as wallowing and rooting. However, they developed
completely separately. In addition to less noticeable but important biological differences, peccaries have virtually no tails
while pigs have no scent glands.

The collared peccary can be found as far north as southern Arizona and southwest Texas and south through much of
South America. They share much of Central and South America with another species, the white-lipped peccary. The
Chacoan peccary is found only in central South America.

Collared peccaries are covered with gray and/or black hairs that are white at the base and have a “collar” of yellow-white hairs around their throats. They have a black mane that extends along the top of their backs from the collar to the scent gland, which is located on the back about six inches forward from the tail stump. Males and females are nearly the same size, usually weighing 30-33 pounds.

The social nature of peccary herds is reinforced through communication and behaviors such as nuzzling or rubbing one another and wallowing or sleeping in huddles. Herds generally travel, eat, and sleep together. If a herd has a dominant member, it may be male or female. Herds have definite home territories, which are marked by scent. However, these territories are not aggressively defended or mutually exclusive. In fact, territories may overlap by up to 1/8 mile, especially in areas of established water holes.

Although peccaries originated in tropical forests, the collared peccary has adapted quite well to desert living. Areas with thick, dense vegetation are favored for both the protection and food provided. Herds willlie up in caves and abandoned tunnels or under rocky overhangs, if available. Here in the desert, however, they most frequently lay up in shallow depressions under thick brush. Their preferred food is cactus pads, as they provide water. Fleshy cactus fruits and succulents (such as agaves) also provide water. Seeds and beans, especially from palo verde, acacia, and mesquite trees, are an important part of their diet. They will also eat tubers, hedgehog and barrel cactus, and green leafy material.

Coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions will predate on young or sick peccaries if they are separated from the herd. A
lone adult javelina, with its strong jaws, long sharp teeth, and quick reactions, may successfully repulse an attack from a
mountain lion or coyote group, but is usually unable to do so.

Because they developed in dense, tropical forests where vision was not of much use, their vision is very poor. Their
senses of hearing and smell are quite strong, however, and are vital parts of the communication necessary for herd
cohesiveness, their primary defense against predators.

Togetherness calls range from the low purring and grunts used to keep track of one another while feeding to a bark,
used to reassemble the herd or locate a lost member. Aggression within the group usually occurs in overcrowded
situations or in the presence of a limited food source and will be exhibited by growls, tooth clicking, and squealing. The
vocalization for alarm or distress is a loud woof.

The musky smell secreted from their scent glands also facilitates herd cohesiveness. Paradoxically, however, it would
seem to make it easier for predators to locate a herd as well.

Peccaries are not monogamous. Reproduction appears to be somewhat dependent upon available nutrition, which is
dependent upon seasonal rains. Females generally become able to reproduce at about one year of age. Although
young may be born in any month, the most common months for births are June through August. Most litters consist of
1-3 young, after approximately 145 days of gestation. The female will nurse the young for approximately 1½ months
and watch closely over them until they are about 3 months old.

Javelinas will usually attempt to avoid human contact. If they begin to associate humans with food, however, the
chances of a human-javelina encounter increase. When javelina feel cornered, they can become aggressive. For this
reason, it is better to not provide them with food.

Native Neighbors: Coyote
Although once found only in the southwest, the coyotes’ adaptability is demonstrated by the fact that they are now found throughout North America, including urban areas. Because they are more often heard than seen, they are one of the most misunderstood desert-dwelling predators
.
They are much smaller than they appear, with males and females in the desert southwest weighing approximately 21 and 17 pounds respectively. They dig dens underground, usually 3-6 feet deep and 10-26 feet long, where they find warmth in the winter and escape the heat of the day in the summer.

Coyotes live in family groups with an alpha male and alpha female, lifelong partners who are the group leaders. Groups may also include adult offspring of the alpha pair and non-familial members called omega animals. Omega animals are adults that have never had alpha status or have lost their alpha status due to age, injury, or poor health. The strong social bonds of coyotes’family groups are illustrated by the fact that blind or otherwise disabled coyotes who cannot hunt and feed themselves have been known to survive for years under the family group’s care.

Like many desert dwellers, the size of a group and its territory is determined largely by availability of food. Territories are defined by scent markings and vocalizations and are vigorously defended, usually via vocalizations rather than violence.

In addition to calls defining territory, vocalizations may be used as social greetings, to announce or celebrate group reunions, to locate group members,to send alarms, or as threat or submission messages. Loud, frequent group
vocalizations are generally to broadcast territory. Contrary to popular belief, such calls never announce a kill, as they
would not want to advertise this.

Coyotes are omnivorous. They will eat vegetation such as mesquite beans or rodents, insects, and carrion (dead
animals). Most large prey, such as deer or elk, taken by coyotes are individuals that are immature, aged, or sick. In the
desert southwest, their primary source of food in the winter is mesquite beans and during much of the year 80% of their
diet consists of rodents. One coyote will eat up to 25 rodents every day, or over 9000 per year.

Providing food for coyotes will result in their consuming fewer rodents, which will result in an increased rodent
population, which will result in increased rodent-related problems, including the increased risk of the spread of diseases
carried by rodents such as hanta virus and plague. It is better not to disrupt nature’s balance: never feed coyotes.

Coyote litters of 6-8 pups are usually born from April to June, after 63-65 days of gestation. Generally, only the alpha
female will breed. However, if environmental conditions are optimum or group numbers have been depleted,
pheromones will be activated and omega females may breed as well. Killing coyotes actually increases their breeding
rate! Unfortunately, pups have a high mortality rate due to rattlesnakes, disease, domestic dogs, and automobiles.

Pups will spend the first 8-10 weeks in the den. All members of the group, as well as both parents, will help to provide
food for and raise and protect the young. At three weeks, pups will begin eating regurgitated meat. By 6 weeks of age,
pups will eat raw meat brought to them. By late summer, they will have learned to hunt on their own.

As yearlings, young adult coyotes are capable of breeding. They may leave the family group to form their own group or
join another group, or they may stay with the family group. A coyote’s life expectancy is approximately 10 years.
Adult coyotes have no natural predators except that most deadly of all predators: human beings. Despite massive
attempts to eradicate coyotes, they continue to adapt and survive. At the very least, such resilience demands
admiration and respect.

If you find an injured coyote, please call Southwest Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Foundation at 480-471-9109.

Native Neighbors: Ringtail
Look! Up there on that rock face! It’s a cat! A fox! A raccoon! It’s…a cacomistle?!? The cacomistle, Bassariscus
astutus, is more commonly called a Ringtail. It is found in the Southwest, from southern Oregon to Colorado and from
California to eastern Texas, and south into Mexico and Central America. They have been sighted in Fountain Hills and
are residents in the loft of at least one barn in our neighborhood.

The ringtail seems to be a strange amalgam: part cat, part raccoon, & part fox. Its general size, long lean body, partially retractable claws, and climbing abilities suggest it may be related to a cat. The delicate face, with its large eyes and ears, reminds many of a fox. The black-tipped, bushy tail, with its black and white bands, is reminiscent of a raccoon—and the source of the animal’s name.

Ringtails are actually most closely related to raccoons .Their bodies are fawn to brownish- gray, with some black. The belly has similar, but lighter, coloring. Their heads are generally the same color as the body, except for the white rings around the eyes and nose. Their tails have an equal number of black and white rings, usually 6-8 each, and are longer than the head and body combined. Total length, from tip of nose to tip of tail is usually 24-34inches.

Most of us have never seen a ringtail in the wild. This is not because the presence of man has deterred the bold natured
animal. They have been known to take up residence in the attics of occupied houses and to enter campsites to make off with small objects during the night.It is the secretive nature of the ringtail, as well as the fact that it is strictly nocturnal, that denies most of us the pleasure of sighting one.

Ringtails favor rocky ledges and cliffs, on which they can maneuver with amazing speed and agility. They will tolerate open woodlands of oak and/or pine, but not heavily wooded areas. Territories, which must include a water source, are not generally larger than one square mile and are not usually aggressively defended.

They are likely communal animals, as oftentimes two or more monogamous pairs will share a territory. They will den in
caves, crevices, hollow trees, and under rocks. Vocalizations include growls, grunts, short sharp barks, and nuptial
calls. Infants will mew and whimper. The Aztecs called the ringtail “little hisser” because, if threatened, it hisses loudly.

They love to climb: on ledges and cliff faces, on rooftops, and in trees. This predilection for climbing, as well as their
nocturnal nature, makes them especially susceptible to predation by owls. Coyotes are less of a threat.

Ringtails are omnivorous. During the winter and spring, their diet consists mostly of rodents. In the leaner summer and
fall months, they survive predominantly on insects. They will also eat lizards, birds, cactus fruits, and other plants.

Litters of 1-5 kits are born in May or June. They are covered with white fuzz, their eyes are closed, and they are
completely helpless. For the first three weeks, only the female will care for them. Then the male will begin to bring food
for them as well.

At about one month, their eyes open and they begin to crawl. By two months of age, they will forage for food with their
parents. They will be weaned when they are about four months old. At the age of 4½ to 5½ months, sometimes later,
they will reach full adult size and coloration, at which time they will leave their parents.

Native Neighbors: Raptors, Part 1: What is a raptor?
Raptors are more commonly referred to as birds of prey. Although some of the smaller, more agile raptors may hunt
small birds, raptors’ predominant food is rodents, with an occasional snake or lizard and sometimes insects. As a natural
form of rodent population control, they play an important role in the desert ecosystem.

There are three distinct physical characteristics that separate raptors from other birds, at the same time allowing them to
be such successful hunters. Raptors have a strong, hooked beak which is used primarily for tearing food into bite-sized
pieces. They have very sharp talons on their toes which, along with their strong legs & feet, allow them to catch, kill, and carry their prey. Except for the osprey and owls, they have three forward facing toes and one back facing toe. Most
importantly, raptors have excellent eyesight.

Most ornithologists consider raptors to have the keenest eyesight in nature. Unlike many others in the animal kingdom,
they see in full color! Their eyeballs are relatively large and strongly muscled, allowing for rapid focusing and excellent
depth perception—both vital for successful hunters of small, fast moving prey. Raptors are actually separated into two
orders, according to their eyesight.

Raptors of the order Strigiformes are nocturnal (nighttime) hunters and are divided into two families according to
structural similarities and differences. Strigiformes, which include owls, are well known for their nighttime vision.
Falconiformes are an order of diurnal (daytime) hunters. They see no better than we humans do at night. Falconiformes
are further divided into families based primarily on overall size, body/wing proportions, and wing structure: the family of
vultures, the family of hawks, kites, & eagles, and the family of falcons & kestrels.

The female is larger than the male in most raptor species and will lay one large, rounded or oblong egg every 2 to 3 days, until there are 1-6 eggs. Generally, the larger the species, the fewer number of eggs laid per season. Except for owls, the female will not begin to incubate the eggs until all have been laid. While she incubates the eggs, the male will provide her with food. Incubation takes 26-35 days for most owls, hawks, & falcons and 36-50
days for the relatively larger eagles & vultures.

(Example of a raptor: red tailed hawks)

It may take 1-2 days for a raptor to break entirely free from the egg once the first crack appears. Thus begins the fledgling phase which, for smaller raptors, will last 21-36 days. The larger the species, the longer the fledgling
phase. For example, the fledgling phase for the bald eagle is 10-12 weeks!

Raptors are altricial. This means that they are born blind, without feathers, completely dependent upon their parents for warmth and food, and unable to move around well. However, their weight will double in only a few days. Soon, both male and female will hunt non-stop to feed their brood. Once Example of a raptor: red tailed hawks they grow their feathers and gain strength, they will begin to leave the nest and take short flights to nearby perches. They have fledged.

However, they are not yet strong or experienced enough to survive without their parents. They will stay with them for
several more weeks, learning and honing hunting skills as their acute eyesight develops completely. Then, finally, the
youngsters of some raptor species will strike out on their own while those of other species will stay within their family
group.

Native Neighbors: Raptors, Part 2: Owls
One notable characteristic that sets owls apart from other raptors is that they are nocturnal hunters. For this reason, they have been assigned their own order: Strigiformes. Unlike other raptors, owls (and osprey) have two toes facing forward and two back. Compared to other birds, owls’ heads are relatively large for their bodies.

Owls will begin to incubate their eggs as soon as they are laid. Because only one egg is laid everyone to three days, this means that the oldest nestling may be up to three weeks older than the youngest. The larger the species, the fewer eggs laid. The female generally does most or all of the incubation, which takes about four weeks for each egg, while the male hunts and feeds them both.

Most owls have yellow eyes, but there are a few species with dark eyes. The eyes of all owls are immobile. This requires them to rotate their entire heads in the direction they wish to see. Around their eyes, feathers radiate outward in a flat,circular shape. This feature is called a facial disk.

Due to their fluffy plumage, owls are nearly soundless in flight. In addition to their extraordinarily keen eyesight, they have an exceptional sense of hearing, often hunting on moonless nights entirely by sound. The combination of these traits
means that prey is usually taken without any warning of approaching danger. Although owls will eat their entire prey, they can’t digest fur or bones. The indigestible portions of prey will collect until, periodically, owls regurgitate it in the
form of pellets.

Owls rarely build their own nests or, as the case may be, dig their own burrows. They will use nests previously used by
other birds or the abandoned burrows of other animals.

There are two families of owls: Tytonidae, also known as barn owls, and Strigidae, or typical owls. Members of the
Strigidae family have the distinctive ear tufts that we often associate with “horned owls”. In the Southwestern U.S., you
are most likely to see three species of owls: the common barn owl, the burrowing owl, and the great horned owl.

The common barn owl has dark eyes in a facial disk that is white and heart-shaped. They average 16 inches long, with
a wingspan of up to 44 inches. Rats and mice are their preferred prey. They favor nests in dark cavities within
buildings, trees, or caves.

Like the common barn owl, the burrowing owl has no ear tufts. This owl is small, averaging only 9½ inches in length,
Great horned owl (photo courtesy Marty Cordano) with yellow eyes. It is easily distinguished from other small owls by its long, lanky legs. Because they are diurnal, you may see burrowing owls during the day, usually near the entrance to their burrows. They prefer open country and, unlike most owls, often live in colonies. Their primary sources of food are insects and small rodents. Although they spend much of their time on the ground, they do fly.

Great horned owls are the largest owls found in the Southwest. They may reach 25 inches in length, with a wingspan of
up to 60 inches. Great horned owls have yellow eyes and prominent ear tufts. Due to their larger size, they are able to
hunt larger prey such as rabbits and skunks. The call of a great horned owl is that series of deep hoots that we
ordinarily associate with owls. Calls usually consists of one long hoot, followed by two short hoots, then ending with two more long hoots: whooooo, who-who, whoooo, whoooo. However, a call may contain 3-8 hoots. Great horned owls usually nest in caves or trees, but may also nest on the ground.

Southwest Wildlife is located in the Rio Verde Foothills. It is a non-profit, 501(c)3organization founded in 1994 with the mission to rescue and rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife native to North America. They specialize in larger mammals, including black bears, mountain lions, javelina, bobcats,
foxes, and coyotes. Since their inception, thousands of animals have been rehabilitated. Over seventy percent of those have been successfully returned to the wild.

They provide a full-time wildlife consultation service and dispatch trained teams to wildlife emergency situations 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also provide educational programs within the community that teach children the
importance and value of wildlife in our environment, expose young adults to career choices in environmental sciences,
and provide a Scout Project Program which allows Boy and Girl Scouts to achieve their highest awards.

Southwest Wildlife does all of this with no state of federal funding. Their continued success is due to the individual
volunteers who donate countless hours, the local veterinarians who donate their services, the many local businesses
who donate foods and other services necessary for their operation, and the individuals who donate the money
necessary to provide housing, medication, and food for the wildlife under their care.

In their first ten years, they have grown from a grass-roots wildlife rehabilitation organization to become the largest
accredited wildlife sanctuary in the southwestern United States—and the only one in Arizona that can accommodate
large mammals. When a female mountain lion was captured in Sabino Canyon in April of 2004, Southwest Wildlife
accepted her with open arms. An enclosure has been built for her. To make it suitable as a lifetime home for a
mountain lion, it was fitted with platforms, an evaporative-cooled den, and bushes & trees. It has large boulders to climb
on and others mounded to form a cave that will remain cool in the summer heat and offer a place in which to hide.
Although the home they have provided for her can never compare with her natural home, it is the best they can do in
their effort to make up for her loss of freedom. “Sabino” now shares her new home with another lion; they provide
comfort and companionship for each other.

Rehabilitation of orphaned and/or injured animals continues to be a major endeavor as well. Several years ago, when
bear cubs began appearing in urban areas throughout the Valley, Arizona Game & Fish asked Southwest Wildlife to
rehabilitate and care for all of those bear cubs. Ultimately, there were nearly two dozen of them. Each one was
dangerously underweight. Many had wounds and sores in their mouths and on their bodies. Southwest Wildlife cared
for and fed them. Mixing together honey and oats in 5-gallons buckets takes strength and determination! But that
concoction, along with a lot of yogurt, nuts, and fresh fruit, helped all of the cubs reach their normal weights. Late that
following winter, they were paired up and hibernation was induced. Dens were prepared for them in the forest and SRP
provided use of one of their helicopters to relocate these cubs to their new homes—in the wild, where they belong.
If you have a wild mammal emergency, you may contact Southwest Wildlife at 480-471-9109. For wild animal
emergencies, please go to Community Contacts on this website. Choose Animals, then scroll down to Wildlife. You are
invited to visit Southwest Wildlife’s website as well: www.southwestwildlife.org.