Skunks? (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Apache Junction: house, neighborhoods, scorpions)

[markas214]

We had one spray in my neighborhood in Eastern Pa. last night. It made me wonder if there are any in Phoenix or surrounding areas. What about squirrels, bats, rabbits, opossums, raccoons? What small animals do you see regularly? I know coyotes are common.

[Elmonellie]

Originally Posted by markas214

We had one spray in my neighborhood in Eastern Pa. last night. It made me wonder if there are any in Phoenix or surrounding areas. What about squirrels, bats, rabbits, opossums, raccoons? What small animals do you see regularly? I know coyotes are common.

I don't think you see skunks in the Phx metro area, but if you head north to the higher elevations (cooler) you see them. Plenty of squirrels...especially the tiny little guys that look like little prairie dogs (not sure the official name...ground squirrell maybe), zillions of rabbits and lizards. Oppossums and raccoons are with the skunks, up north where it's cooler.

I live far out by the national forrest, though it's total desert and see mainly rabbits, coyotes, hawks, vultures, snakes, havalina at certain times of the year, coatamundi (rare), deer (rare) bob cat (rare), mountain lion (very, very rare, but they are in the area 2 miles north of me) and bats are common. Ewwwww...plus there are a million mice, rats. Billions of lizards. Oh, and gila monsters and tarantulas are known in my neighborhood. Those are two critters you can really admire (relatively) up close because they don't move very fast.

It's fascinating living with such unique and abundant wildlife.

[garisonthebull]

There are a few skunks in the very outermost regions of the valley. Not likely to ever see one, even if you live ajacent to the desert, but you could smell one. Squirels are rare but have been know to settle in even urban areas here. Rabbits both jack and cotton tail are abundant. Mule deer often frequen the areas around North Scottsdale and Cave Creek. Black Bear have been spotted in Fountain Hills. Mountain Lions and Bob Cats have been seen in Apache Junction, Fountain Hills and Cave Creek. Yes tarantulas, scorpions, rattlesnakes, killer bees, black widows, coyotes, javalinas are all great nieghbors.

[cap1717]

I live in North Central Phoenix, near one of the city Mountain Preserves, and have seen Coyotes, Kit Fox, Skunk, Racoon, rock squirels, lots of Rabbits and Jackrabbits. I used to live about 10 miles north of my present location, between Phoenix and Cave Creek, where I also saw Mule Deer & Javelina on a regular basis. I did spot a Cougar once, from a distance, in the mountains east of Cave Creek Road. I know that both bobcat and black bear exist in the mountainous areas around town, but have never personally seen them. All of the "smaller critters", of course, (snakes of various kinds, scorpions, spiders, etc.) common in south central AZ, but more common on the outskirts and newer "suburban" neighborhoods where they have recently been displaced by development.

[MichaelinWA]

Anyone know if Arizona's "state mammal," the ringtail cat, is found in the area surrounding Phoenix? I know it's nocturnal, and hard to see in any event.

[MichaelinWA]

I grew up at a slightly higher elevation in Arizona, like 3,500 feet, and I remember my dog getting her snout all full of porcupine quills one time. Difficult and painful to remove!

A neighbor's equally curious dog got sprayed by a skunk.

[Ponderosa]

My dog got sprayed by a skunk at my place in the mountains about 150 mi from Phoenix. I've seen plenty of them dead on roads going to and from the place so they are definitely in the high country.

[Elmonellie]

Originally Posted by MichaelinWA

Anyone know if Arizona's "state mammal," the ringtail cat, is found in the area surrounding Phoenix? I know it's nocturnal, and hard to see in any event.

I referred to "coatamundi" (sp?) in my above post as being a rare sight in very far n.e. Scottsdale/Maricopa County...I guess that is a ringtail cat. Maybe my calling it a coatamundi is wrong. I do see them (once on my property) but mainly out about 5-10 miles into the Tonto National Forest. I've seen them in early morning, before 6-7 a.m. They jump like ferrets, but are much bigger...like the size of a house cat. Huge eyes. Very interesting creatures. I think I ran into a "herd" of them that one time in the morning while I was exploring the desert. Have not seen them since.

The one I saw in my yard was a one time thing. I kept finding little mouse bodies with the heads removed for a week or so, then saw that big eyed creature on my front porch. Fun to live up here with all the nature.

[MichaelinWA]

Elmonellie, I believe that the coatimundi and ringtailed cat are different species, although both are cousins of the raccoon. I have never seen a coati or a ringtailed cat. Whichever you saw - must have been interesting!

Originally Posted by Elmonellie

I referred to "coatamundi" (sp?) in my above post as being a rare sight in very far n.e. Scottsdale/Maricopa County...I guess that is a ringtail cat. Maybe my calling it a coatamundi is wrong.

[Elmonellie]

Originally Posted by MichaelinWA

Elmonellie, I believe that the coatimundi and ringtailed cat are different species, although both are cousins of the raccoon. I have never seen a coati or a ringtailed cat. Whichever you saw - must have been interesting!

I just Googled both coatmundi and ringtail cat and you are right! What they have here in far NE Scottsdale/Tonto National Forest, and what I saw were definatedly ringtail cats. Coatamundi are more raccoonish creatures that live in South America.

The ringtails eyes are enormous and they are quite like ferrets in body structure. The morning I saw the "herd" they were going wild playing, jumping on each other, leaping in the air. Hope I see them again!