Other rides include a special visit from a live eagle, courtesy of Liberty Wildlife, which provides wildlife rehabilitation, conservation and education throughout Arizona. Listen as narrators point out eagle nesting sites and likely places in the Verde Valley to see great blue heron, javelina and hawks from the train. Sierra Vista's Southwest Wings Annual Birding and Nature Festival in August (and their smaller "Spring Fling" in May) schedule field trips to see birds, butterflies, dragonflies and bats all over the state.įor a smoother experience, hop aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad out of Clarkdale in central Arizona. If you prefer more guidance in your wildlife exploration, knowledgeable guides can take you to nature's best sites for spying Arizona's critters. Bats take nightly summer flights from beneath bridges in north Tucson and from the Maricopa County Flood Control tunnels in Phoenix.Ī blue heron takes flight in the Sky Islands / Credit: Cochise County Tourism Council On safari You don't even have to venture into the wilderness to see wildlife. Other animal species to watch for include cougars, black bears, blue herons, and desert owls. Much like the lands of western Arizona, the southern part of the state is largely desert with occasional mountain ranges, known as " sky islands" that punch through the desert floor to create vastly different ecosystems-one even turning red-orange each summer as ladybugs swarm the area.
The Kofa National Wildlife Refuge just southeast of Quartzsite is the state's second-largest wildlife preserve and home to a fairly large population of bighorn sheep, while the basin below is inhabited by badgers, desert tortoises and kit foxes.įor a wetter experience, head to Alamo Lake State Park on the Bill Williams River where you can spy waterfowl, shorebirds, Sonoran mud turtles, Great Plains toads and other wetland animals. Don't be fooled! There is plenty of life to see out here. Western Arizona's sprawling desert plains and towering mountain ranges form ideal habitats for some of the state's most interesting desert-dwelling creatures. Home to one of two locations in Arizona where one can see state-managed bison herds, this area offers a rare glimpse at the majestic creatures that once roamed much of the western United States. The Lamar Haines Memorial Wildlife Area north of Flagstaff sports herds of elk and mule deer, as well as a long list of year-round resident birds that include Mexican-spotted owls and northern goshawks.įarther north, just west of Highway 89 in Grand Canyon National Park, is the House Rock Wildlife Area. The dense population of trees in the Tonto and Coconino National Forests is the perfect canopy for adventurers to escape the desert sun and search out fascinating critters. Attendees get to observe and photograph hummingbirds up close as experts capture, band and release the four species (broad-tailed, rufous, calliope and Black-chinned) that migrate through the area during monsoon.įurther north, wildlife watchers can witness one of the most biodiverse regions in the United States. One of these state-run wildlife areas is Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area along north-central Arizona's eastern border known for its July High Country Hummers festival. There are about 30 of these treasures across the state, and they are fabulous places to watch wildlife. People also love watching wildlife in Arizona's 30 state parks and natural areas.įewer people are aware of the state-run wildlife areas that dot our landscape. Most people are familiar with Arizona's six national forests and 22 national parks, monuments and wildlife refuges. Grab a group or go out your own to get up and close to the state's watchable wildlife.
Arizona's millions of natural acres teem with wildlife-more than 900 species, in fact-from spiny lizards, great hairy scorpions and ladybugs to elk, eagles, buffalo and the tiny, living jewels called hummingbirds.
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