Tag: wildlife
Arizona Oddities’ Top 10 Posts of 2013
A special thank you to all of the new and loyal readers of Arizona Oddities. 2013 has been an exciting year in Arizona, and we look forward to 2014. Looking back, here’s an overview of our most popular posts this year...Naco’s Turquoise Valley Golf Course Has Gone to the Snakes?
NACO -- The Turquoise Valley Golf Course is one of those places that makes you wonder if golfers ever tell the truth, either on or off the course. Maybe it's because the fifteenth hole is "the Rattler," a 746-yard par 6, which makes it the longest golf hole in the West and fifth-longest in the ...Did Camels Ever Roam Wild in Arizona?
Q: We just moved here from the Midwest. My son came home from his new school the other day and said there are wild camels living in the desert. Is this true? A: Your son is no doubt a charming lad, but he needs to pay closer attention in class...Peach-Faced Love Birds Live in the Valley?
Q: I was walking the Red Mountain Ranch area in east Mesa recently when I saw five or six parrot looking birds with bright green bodies and red heads. What were they? A: My first instinct was to assume you are delusional, which is not necessarily a bad thing...Arizona Oddities’ Top 10 Posts of 2012
A special thank you to all of the new and loyal readers of Arizona Oddities. 2012 has been an amazing year and we look forward to 2013. We believe we have a truly special publication and a very special audience. Here’s a look at our most popular posts of 2012.There Are a Lot of Grackles in the Valley. Where Do They Come From?
Q: I was born and raised in Phoenix. I grew up with cactus wrens, roadrunners and quail, but where did all these grackles come from? A friend of mine says they were always here, but I think they are a recent occurrence. Can you elucidate?Roam Among Wild Burros in Oatman
OATMAN – Tourists flock to this former mining town along historic Route 66 in droves. Situated in the Black Mountains of Mohave County, many come for a taste of the Wild West while others come to feed friendly families of wild burros who’ve staked claim to the land for generations.Creepy Warts on the Colorado River Toad
Although rattlesnakes get most of the media attention, Arizona is also home to other creatures that can put the big hurt on those stupid enough to tangle with one. Male Colorado River toads, also known as Sonoran Desert toads, are a good example.How Coyotes Quench Their Thirst in the Dry Desert
Q: I live in the East Valley near Usery Mountain Park. There are a lot of coyotes that hang out in my neighborhood. However, I can’t figure out where they get their water. As far as I know, any canals or rivers are miles away, the washes are dry, and all the pools are fenced ...Experience a Piece of Wild Africa in Northern Arizona
CAMP VERDE - You don’t need to travel around the globe for an (almost) authentic African safari. Just head to Camp Verde. The small town in Northern Arizona is home to the Out of Africa Wildlife Park, an interactive zoo with hundreds of wild and even friendly creatures common to Africa and other far off ...
Why Does Downtown Phoenix Seem to Have Two Downtowns?
The Tucson Artifacts are the Southwest’s Greatest Hoax