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I just encountered a grey fox running across Broadway Road in Tempe (my second fox sighting with a mile radius in the past 6 months) and it got me thinking of all the wild animals I've had the fortune of seeing on my many years of adventures. The fox in Tempe is probably the most unusual for its urban location, but others are memorable too.

Mammals:
Mountain Lion
Black Bear
Coatimundi
Javelina
Porcupine
Skunk
Grey Fox
Ringtail
Bobcat
Teva
Elk
Feral Horse
Burro
Bighorn Sheep
Fluffy sheep
Deer
Pronghorn
Raccoon
Otter
Beaver
Bison

Reptiles:
Western Diamondback
Black Tailed
Arizona Black
Speckled
Prairie
Mojave
Rock
Tiger
Twin-spotted
AZ Mountain Kingsnake
Gopher
Desert Tortoise
Gila Monster

Birds:
Too many to list (plus I have no idea what most of them are. These are notable though.)
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Great Horned Owl
Condor
Turkey

It makes me realize that there are only a few creatures in this state that I haven't seen but would like to. I think
Ocelot
Chupacabra
Grey Wolf
Jaguar

What have you seen, or what is still on your wish list?

@cactuscat
Your park isn't named Gila Monster Park by chance or on purpose is it?

What’s in this coyote’s mouth? Our guesses were ringtail or a lone pup. The picture was taken on the south rim of the Grand Canyon last weekend.

I think the method it is being carried is more dinner and less youngin.

@Alston_Neal
So that was actually what I said too. But the GF looked up several examples of pups being carried in an array of different fashions. I always assumed it was a nap of the neck carry for all animals, but they do appear to improvise. The tail on whatever it is, is throwing us off. Does not appear to be a typical ring tail, tail, rabbits do not have tails like that, etc...

friendofThundergod wrote: ↑May 05 2022 10:53 am What’s in this coyote’s mouth? Our guesses were ringtail or a lone pup. The picture was taken on the south rim of the Grand Canyon last weekend.

A baby coyote being carried to a different den perhaps? But without a clearer picture I don't think anyone can say for sure.

We were greeted by this fellow in our back yard a few minutes ago. Largest one I've ever seen @20". Yes, I measured.

@LosDosSloFolks
Hah! Amazon brought you a better rubber one.

LosDosSloFolks wrote:Largest one I've ever seen @20". Yes, I measured.

Maybe it's only 16" long, but it waddled 4" while you were measuring.

@big_load
He was a big boy but very lethargic due to the cool rain. I coerced him over and into a rock wall behind our home where a nasty pack rat resides. Let the games begin.

I was out in the Blue again this weekend. We took Blanco, so more sightseeing and camping than hiking, but I did get some nice audio of some wolves howling across the cienega from us on our second night out there. Link below. I am not an aspiring You-tubist, it’s just the easiest way to share.

[ youtube video ]

@FOTG
Wow! I had no luck at all hearing wolves up there.

@big_load
Well if you can ever get back out there, the odds are going up. This years count yielded 241 between New Mexico and AZ. There are 133 known wolves in NM and 109 know wolves in AZ. Still some issues with the generic diversity in the packs, but the FS is torn between promises to not release more wolves (non science based, and currently being challenged in court/by petition) and their reliance on a project of cross fostering pups to increase genetic diversity. 14 cross bred pups have survived to breeding age, however, no evidence they have bred or made pups. The best analogy I have heard in regards to the genetics crisis is, basically all 241 pups are siblings. Gulp.

FOTG wrote:all 241 pups are siblings

Roll Tide!

A bear on the Rock Creek Trail.

@TooOld2HikeQ

Did you do an "about face"?

I wrote about it in my triplog. The bear didn't seem scared. But I was. (I wonder if they can smell adrenaline?) Fought to retrieve my gun from my pocket. Eventually I kept walking the trail. I don't think that the bear followed.

@TooOld2HikeQ
It's a black bear. If reaching for your gun was your first reaction, you really shouldn't be carrying a gun.

@ShatteredArm

Was my second reaction, when it didn't flee.

I would rather have a gun and not need it, than need a gun and not have it. (Better be safe than sorry.)

I remember the story from years ago where a backpacker on the AZT was attacked by a mountain lion... which most everyone says "never happens."

The only one suffering by me carrying a gun is me. (The weight.)

TooOld2HikeQ wrote:I remember the story from years ago where a backpacker on the AZT was attacked by a mountain lion

I don't remember that one! Care to dig up the details?

@TooOld2HikeQ
I'm sure for your one example of a mountain lion encounter (was there even an attack, or just use of a gun?), there are two examples of an accident involving a gun. I'm sure there are cases where a gun could help, but if you're considering using it on a black bear, you're considering needless killing (in reality you probably wouldn't have managed to kill it). Did you even let the bear know you were there?

I spend more time deep in the wilderness than most, and not once have I felt the need for a gun. Not a single time. If I ever did, it would probably involve another human.