How 3 Different Arizona Species Survive Arizona’s Blistering Heat

When it comes to surviving extreme desert temperatures, the animals and plants in Arizona have adapted excellent survival skills.

As the mercury soars into the triple digits, laughing as it blows past 100°F, desert wildlife doesn’t just survive, it uses clever skills to thrive in the arid heat.

Here are three animal species that have adapted to Arizona's blazing temperatures. Their heat survival strategies are a lesson for all of us.

How Arizona's Desert Mammals Beat the Heat

Desert-adapted mammals have to be really savvy to outsmart the relentless desert sun. Sure, if you're the type of mammal with thumbs and air-conditioning, you've got it made.

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Other mammals are not so lucky. Desert cottontails, those twitchy-eared icons of the Southwest, are crepuscular, which means they're the most active at dawn and dusk.

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It's unlikely you'll spot one of these little cuties in the heat of the day. When the sun (and the temperature) climb, they typically hunker down in the shade of shrubs or rocky crevices to stay cool.

Cottontails rarely drink water directly; instead, they get moisture from the plants they nibble, like mesquite leaves and cactus pads. They even pant to regulate their body temperature.

Desert Cottontail strategy: Stay still, stay shaded, and snack smart. 

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How Arizona's Desert Birds Beat the Heat

Let's fly over to our feathered friends. The Gambel’s quail, with their jaunty little topknots, are desert survivalists.

These ground-dwelling birds forage during the cool mornings, snacking on seeds and insects. When the day starts to get hot, much like cottontails, they take respite under dense shrubs and mesquite trees. They rely on dew, succulent plants, and shallow water sources to stay hydrated.

Gambel Quail strategy: Stay low, stay covered, and don’t waste energy.

How Arizona's Desert Reptiles Beat the Heat

Then there’s the glossy snake, a non-venomous desert specimen with a knack for staying cool.

Glossy snakes are strong burrowers, and they spend the hottest part of the day underground in sandy soil. The nocturnal critters emerge at night to hunt lizards, but they continue to keep things chill by using stealth and patience instead of speed. Their low-energy nightlife is a masterclass in desert efficiency.

Glossy Snake strategy: Conserve energy, avoid the sun, and strike when the time is right.

 

Sources: Merriam-Webster Dictionary | HereBunny.com | AZGFD | Wildlife Informer