Saguaro National Park guide · 1 min read
Javelinas, Bobcats and Coyotes of the Sonoran Desert
Javelinas, bobcats and coyotes are among the mammals that live in the park. Javelinas are hoofed mammals with dark brown coats and long snouts, and they are native to the park.
Bobcats and coyotes also appear on the park's mammal records, and coyote pups have been photographed here. Many desert animals are hard to find because they are active at night or blend in with their surroundings.
Surveys carried out from 1999 to 2008 confirmed 30 species of medium and large mammals across the park. The Rincon Mountain District accounted for 29 of them, and the Tucson Mountain District for 21. Other mammals on record include cougars, white-tailed deer, mule deer, gray foxes and white-nosed coatis.
Saguaro East and Saguaro West together protect parts of the Sonoran Desert near Tucson, Arizona. The eastern section is 20 miles from Tucson, and the western section is 15 miles from the city center. Both areas have high densities of saguaro cacti. The lesser long-nosed bat, an endangered mammal, spends part of its year in the park and the rest in Mexico.
Wildlife cameras set up in the park capture photographs that help researchers, and they also show visitors animals they would be unlikely to see on a walk. Coyote pups are among the subjects captured this way.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum sits outside the national park, but it is a useful place to learn about the region's wildlife. The grounds hold botanical gardens, an aquarium, a natural history museum and animal exhibits. With its live animals, it is closer to a zoo than a traditional museum, and touring all of it can take half a day or longer.
