When I moved to Tucson, more than ten years ago, I was amazed at the amount of wildlife roaming the Sonoran Desert. Perhaps it’s because I grew up in Manhattan and didn’t see my first cow until I was twelve. Even when I lived in Albuquerque, the vast array of Tucson’s wildlife was not to be found.
Take javelina, for example. They visit my property from time to time, although I’m less than thrilled when they knock over my birdbath or scare my dogs.
Speaking of the dogs, one morning we went for a walk, and Charlie began to bark. I turned around and spied four stately animals, which I assumed were the bobcats I’d heard so much about. One turned to stare at us; I wanted to stare back, but instinct told me to keep walking towards the house.
A few days later a large rattlesnake came to visit and coiled in front of my door. I’d never seen one of those either and walked right past her. As I did, she flicked her tongue at me but didn’t rattle. I called 911 anyway, and three firemen soon arrived to relocate her.
After they secured the snake, I told them about the four bobcats from my recent walk. They were incredulous, and one asked if they had tails. I confirmed that yes, they had long tails and cat faces. It was then that I learned I saw four mountain lions on that walk, not bobcats! I was stunned. Mountain lions? What I’d perceived as a bobcat showing appreciation for my dog was instead a predator thinking he’d found lunch?
The next discovery appeared several days later while chatting with a neighbor. Something red shot out of a tree at top speed and startled me. My neighbor admired the cardinal while once again I pondered the vast wildlife all around me, and how long I’d lived without seeing any of it. It was almost as if I’d lived a life of deprivation.
Living among this wildlife may be old hat to long-term residents, but I find it thrilling. Honestly, it would not surprise me if I opened my door to a coyote asking for a sandwich and a beer!
Alexis is an author of romance/mysteries, inspirational, and children’s books. Alexis was a favored columnist for the Arizona Daily Star. As the facilitator of the Writers’ Motivational Workshop at the Oro Valley Library for five years, she has helped over fifty authors publish their work. A resident of many cities including New York, San Francisco, and London, Alexis finds Tucson provides the best climate for her writing career.
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