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The plant and animal life of Arizona is as varied as its
scenery and climate. It has many species found in many
other places, and many that are found only in Arizona and
a few other places.
In the desert are many unique and beautiful plants that
live with very little water. Most of these are cactus,
which are protected under state law, such as the tall,
fluted saguaro and organ pipe, the “teddy bear“ cholla,
the prickly pear and the yucca. There are the ocotillo
bush, the mesquite and Palo Verde trees. Palm trees are
not native but are a common sight in Arizona.
The desert is very beautiful in the spring for cactus plants
and desert trees have blossoms too. And if there has been
more rain than usual, the desert floor is covered with
desert grass as well as tiny, colorful desert flowers.
Desert animals and reptiles include the rattlesnake, the
Gila monster, the prairie dog, coyote, javelina, horned
toad, jaguar, bighorn sheep, the jackrabbit and the unusual
desert bird, the roadrunner.
In the mountain northland are ponderosa pine trees, aspen,
walnut, maple, juniper, and oak and pinion pine. Wild turkey,
mountain lion, deer, elk and bear roam the vast national
forest in the state. Arizona is a paradise for the hunter,
the explorer and the nature lover. |
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