Photos: Star readers capture wildlife
Arizona Daily Star readers are generous with their talent and photos. And sure, some of the "wildlife" depicted isn't really wild — or alive — but we like them anyway. These were uploaded to our reader photo page. Upload your at tucson.com/readers and see what others have contributed at tucson.com/contributed
Deer and Roadrunner -Santa Rita Foothills
What are YOU looking at?!
Great Egret
Nov. 22, 2017 at Reid Park, Tucson
Coatimundi in Oro Valley
Supposedly rare in Oro Valley have now seen this relative of the raccoon in my neighborhood twice within the last week.
Christmas owl
This little owl is taking up residence in my Christmas wreath attached to my outside garage light. He sits all day, leaves at night and is back the next day. Walking past him doesn't seem to bother him a bit.
Praying for Rain
Gamble's Quail on Brick Wall
Shady Characters On the Prowl
3 of a dozen javelinas sighted across from our house this morning at 7AM
Southern Arizona Gila monsters
Gila Monster being carried back to the wash.
"Toby"
A Griffin that escaped from the former Carnegie Free Library.
"Quail Trail"
Created by Jason Butler and 10 local HS students.
Thanksgiving visitor
Diamondback leaves large shadow
Roadrunner
We saw this RoadRunner in Tucson between Valencia & Midvale where there are a Wendys & Arbys — probably why he looked so healthy!
Owls in backyard
Who's in the tree?
Cardinal
Rare cardinal stops by for a visit in the Tucson Mountain area.
Flamingos at Reid Park Zoo
Primping and Bathing on a Monday Afternoon at the Zoo
Our pet
Roadrunner roost
thirsty desert rabbit
Thirsty Desert Rabbit
Thirsty?
Young Bobcats drinking. Mom is nearby.
Nesting on uncomfortable setting
Ouch my babies are worth it
Cocktails for two
Life is sweet in Tanque Verde
Our sweet mini pig, enjoying some mesquite beans and soaking up the sun.
The friendly tortoise!
We love the Reid Zoo! I think this "little" guy wanted to play!
The Weight Room is Open All Night
Power lifting the hummingbird feeder?
4 Bats
Bats Enjoying Hummingbird Feeder
Double Vision
A bat nap on the hummingbird feeder
A Perfect Perch
A bat asleep on the hummingbird feeder.
Quail in Vail
Quail sentry at dusk in Vail, Arizona
Western Screech Owl
Visiting our wind chimes
Road Runner At Rest
Extraordinary Display of Colored Feathers
My DEER Friend
Seen in my front yard in Pima Canyon
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Baby Javelina with mom
Southern Arizona scorpions
Lizard captures scorpion for lunch
Bee With Pollen
On my hike I took this with my Note 5 cell phone.
Beep-beep
Roadrunner doing what they do......
Baptized Bobcat
Bobcat decided it was time to be baptized in our back yard.
Thirsty bobcat
This bobcat was spotted drinking out of our fountain
Maybe this Prairie Dog should go on a diet!
This Prairie has certainly enjoyed the Prickly Pear fruit, but perhaps has eaten too many. Photo by Patricia Howell using a Canon Power Shot SX60HS.
A visit with a Turkey Buzzard
This Turkey Buzzard recently stopped by near our house for a rest and a visit. Photo by Patricia Howell using a Canon Power Shot SX60HS.
Where will you see them?
They are found throughout the Gila River Basin of central Arizona, areas of Utah, Nevada and eastern California, and in southwestern New Mexico, northwestern Mexico and of course, Southern Arizona.
These lizards spend as much as 98 percent of their time below ground in burrow complexes that they dig or borrow.
They usually surface in spring or summer, and on cloudy humid monsoon days. Gila monsters are most commonly found in mountain foothills dominated by saguaros and Palo Verde trees. They can also be found in washes and valleys.
They hibernate from the end of November through February.
High flyer
Barn owl at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
Roadrunner at our backyard bird bath
Cooling off on a hot day in the desert
Early Breakfast
This roadrunner caught his breakfast after several minutes pecking in the rocks.
Icelandic Horse in a field in Iceland
Icelandic Horse by Trudy Hersch
"OK, girls, Stand up! Face forward!"
Doves lining up for a camera shot
I Smell Coffee!
Visiting Javelina during early morning coffee on our porch
Red is definitly my best color!
Our morning Cardinal giving us his favorite pose
Bobcat
This Bobcat was near my home hunting in the early evening
Road Runner
Several of these unique birds visit our backyard regularly in Star Valley Estates. They like to take a drink from the bird baths.
Hummingbird
Hummingbird headed for a drink in the fountain in my backyard
Butterfly on Mt Lemmon
Finally getting back on Mt Lemmon after the road was closed.
Cowbird at the Bird Feeder
A Cowbird, the one that looks like a blackbird, sits on a perch at the bird feeder
Smile for the camera!
Javelina in our arroyo-"hamming it up"!
Giant Colorado River toad
The pool skimmer is a perfect place to rest.
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Baby bunny taking refuge behind flower pot.
Waiting for mom
Three of four bobcat kittens who visited our patio. The third is in the shadow underneath the one standing while waiting for mom to return so they can nurse. The experience was an intimate look at these beautiful creatures as they make their way in our crowded world. We live in the Magee/La Canada area.
Bobcat Mother
A bobcat mother looking at down at her four kittens as she was about to leave our patio wall. We live on the northwest side of town.
Bobcat nursing kittens
A mother bobcat and four kittens visited our patio on the northwest side last week. She would leave for short periods of time and then return to let her kittens nurse.
Bobcat mom cleaning kitten
A bobcat mother and four kittens visited our patio recently. Here she gives her little one a lick on it's way to nurse.
Butterfly Majesty
Taken at the Tucson Botanical Garden. I got more than I bargained for with free tickets available through Tucson Public Libraries!
Dragonfly at Agua Caliente Park
This photo was NOT retouched! Taken with iphone 6s.
What do they eat?
Gila monsters eat newborn rodents, rabbits and hares, ground nesting birds and lizards, and eggs from birds, snakes and tortoises.
A Gila monster may feed only a few times a year, but one good stuffing can last a whole year. Adults are capable of consuming 35 percent of their body weight in a single feeding.
Dear Deer In My Front Yard
We have many deer follow what seems to be a wildlife trail along the front of our home in Pima Canyon Estates.
If you haven't been to Colossal Cave Mountain Park in a while, a good reason to go is to hopefully see coatis running around the property.