Field Notes

Friday Creature Feature: Black-tailed Jackrabbit
December 27, 2019Last week we highlighted the antelope jackrabbit (Lepus alleni). This week we will cover the other Lepus species that we get on our cameras, the Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus). You…
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Friday Creature Feature: Antelope Jackrabbit
December 20, 2019Surprisingly many species in the southwest are understudied, and the antelope jackrabbit (Lepus alleni) is one of them. Found only in Arizona and Northwestern Mexico. The antelope jackrabbits live in…
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Friday Creature Feature: Badger
December 13, 2019The badger, also known as the American badger (Taxidea taxus) are a member of the weasel family. They have tan and grey bodies, and a distinctive black and white striped…
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Friday Creature Feature: Greater roadrunner
December 6, 2019The greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) is a striking and culturally famous bird of the southwest, from classic cartoons to local hockey teams. They are a member of the cuckoo family…
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Turkey Time in the Sky Islands!
November 28, 2019On this day when turkeys are at the center of public attention, it is important to learn and remember the history of our own native turkey in the Sky Island…
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Creature Feature: Ringtail
November 22, 2019The ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is a small omnivorous mammal that can be found across the West. Ringtails prefer rocky habitats in desert, and in oak and pine woodlands. In the…
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Creature Feature: Western Spotted Skunk
November 1, 2019Did you know that the Sky Island region is home to four skunk species? There are the striped, hooded, and hog-nosed skunks, but the smallest is the western spotted skunk…
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Creature Feature: White-nosed Coati
October 18, 2019Leer en español The white-nosed coati (Nasua narica) is a medium-sized, omnivorous mammal. You can find them in the mountains and riparian areas of the Sky Islands. The coati ranges…
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Wildlife Tracking 101: A-what-a-grade?
October 16, 2019Animals have evolved various form of locomotion to get around. Terrestrial animals have common three types of locomotion: plantigrade, digitigrade, and unguligrade. You can see an animal’s locomotion type in…
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Wildlife Tracking 101: Anatomy of a Track
October 9, 2019To learn how to track you must first understand some basics of anatomy. If you can understand what part of the foot made that mark, and if you know terminology,…
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