Arizona’s Hidden Wildlife: Coatis, Ringtails & Elf Owls

Arizona is home to a lot of unique wildlife. Some of its most fascinating animals are incredibly rare, like jaguars, while others are much more common but almost never seen. Coatis, ringtails, and elf owls are some of the desert's most common creatures, yet most people never realize they are here.

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A desert landscape with cactus trees and mountains in the background — Photo by Megan Clark on Unsplash

Coatimundi

Coatimundi are distant relatives of raccoons, commonly found in riparian areas, forests, and rocky canyons. Arizona Game and Fish explains that coatis can weigh up to 18 pounds and are often found foraging on the ground or climbing through low trees in dense vegetation across Arizona.

They travel in groups, or “troops,” of up to 30, and are most commonly seen during the day when they head out to find food. Their long, flexible noses help them search for insects, fruit, eggs, and small animals, and their habit of sticking to dense vegetation makes them easy to miss even in places where they’re fairly common.

READ: Southern Arizona's Top Three Food-stealing Wild Animals

a close up of a small animal in a field of grass — Photo by Daniel Ingersoll on Unsplash

Ringtails

Ringtails are rarely seen wandering about in Arizona; despite this, they are the state mammal! Ringtails are about the size of a house cat and are known for their big eyes, striped tails, and incredible climbing ability. Their back ankles rotate 180 degrees, allowing them to scale cliffs and ricochet off canyon walls with ease.

They’re omnivores, eating rodents, lizards, insects, berries, seeds, and cactus fruit. Ringtails are abundant across the Sonoran Desert and higher mountain ranges, and are frequently found in attics and abandoned buildings. They are nocturnal and spend most of the day hiding and sleeping.

MORE ON RINGTAILS: Arizona's State Mammal, The Ringtail, Explained

Elf Owls

One of Arizona's most interesting visitors is the elf owl. The elf owl is the smallest owl in the entire world, so small it can easily fit in an adult’s hand. These tiny owls are secondary nesters, taking up residence in old holes and nests carved into trees and cacti by other animals.

According to the Tucson Bird Alliance, elf owls are a migratory species, which is uncommon for owls. They’re found throughout Arizona from March to September, where they breed before heading south for the winter. They have no ear tufts, and their wings are covered in soft feathers, making their flight almost entirely silent. They are insectivores and primarily eat spiders, moths, scorpions, and other bugs.

a tall tower with a statue on top — Photo by Donald Teel on Unsplash

Some of Arizona's most common creatures are ones we never see. Whether it's an elusive mammal or a miniature owl, the desert is full of a lot more than meets the eye. These creatures only scratch the surface of the unique wildlife hiding across the state.

CONTINUE READING: What Wildlife Comes Alive At Night In The Arizona Desert?

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Gallery Credit: Tim Gray

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