I’ve got a trip coming up, spending a few weeks traveling around Phoenix, Tucson, and Sedona (and surrounding areas). I’m hoping to add a bunch of lifers to my lists, and learn a lot about the animals and plants in the area. But I want to do this safely and responsibly. I’m from the US Mid Atlant…

[image] epic2112: safe? I already know about staying hydrated and dealing with the heat Don’t forget elevation and sun. The entire southwest tends to surprise visitors who don’t think of the flat areas being 3-7,000 feet above sea level (can cause headaches and other symptoms) and UV radiatio…

Rattlesnakes could be active as early as March-April. That requires some caution when walking through brush or climbing/hiking in rocky areas. Pay attention where you put your feet and hands. The US-Mexico border is a little crazier than it used to be which requires you to be alert to other humans…

I lived in Tucson for some years. Word was that Africanized bees were responsible for more deaths per annum in AZ than any other critter. Occasionally you would see a warning sign at trailheads about a specific location. I remember a hiker having to be helicoptered off Pontatoc ridge in the Catalina…

Well, you’ve already covered my boilerplate about hydration. :slightly_smiling_face: Some of the firm discouragement from the hiking forum probably came from inadvertent damage to archaeological sites; as Professor Jones tried to tell his class, X never marks the spot, and some evidence of early hom…

Disturbing wildlife in the desert can be very hard on the animals. These are creatures that conserve energy at all times. To make them expend energy unnecessarily is not being a good steward of the land. So look, don’t pick up, please. Watch where you’re walking. Cryptobiotic soil is really fragile…

Keep your eyes open for jaguars. Not that they’re a threat, we just need more reliable observations in AZ and NM. There’s apparently a new individual that’s been detected in AZ.

Thanks everyone, this has all been really helpful! I should say that I’m not planning on going deep into backcountry or anything like that. I’m going to get some distance between me and the cities, so hopefully I’ll be in less-traveled places, but I’m planning on staying on trails, so hopefully th…

I’ve been startled by Border Patrol officers on more than one occasion when doing field work close to the border. It can be alarming while also comforting, knowing they are checking on your security while also checking to see what you’re up to. Having a Border Patrol officer in a vehicle appear ou…

Re: Africanized honeybees. I spend a lot of time in grasslands and Sky Island ranges in Santa Cruz County, AZ (south of Tucson near the Mexican border). I encounter wild bee colonies frequently, though most encounters are benign. I’ve been chased by honeybees once while hiking and got a few stings, …

Thanks! I figured, like the bees I encounter here in the east, they’re not particularly inclined to sting when at flowers. I’m never concerned about getting close to them when they’re in a flower and doing their thing. I won’t be quite so cavalier while out west, though, just in case. I’m not aller…

Your thoughts about safe & responsible animal observing in southern Arizona

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Your thoughts about safe & responsible animal observing in southern Arizona

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