Plants & Animals

Many people when envisioning the desert think of barren tundra with little to host life. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. The Sonoran desert, an arid desert that offers more precipitation than most, hosts a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects that have evolved their bodies and their habits to cope and thrive in the desert climate.

One of the key strategies for mammals in the area is to become primarily nocturnal, so if you are determined to see the wide range of mammals in the area, grab a flashlight, and look closely and quietly between dusk and dawn.

With wide open, unspoiled spaces, exploring the Copper Corridor provides the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the mammals that inhabit the area. While camping or hiking in the area, look for White-tailed deer, mountain lions, skunks, white-nosed coati, ring-tails, and the black-tailed prairie dog, species that are common to this area.

Seeking out and identifying birds and butterflies that are indigenous to the area is another fun way to discover Copper Corridor. Butterflies that are common to the area include the Pipevine Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Checkered White, Orange Sulfur, Sleepy Orange, Tailed Copper, Reakirt’s Blue, Silvery blue, Fatal Metalmark, Arachne Checkerspot, Question Mark, Mourning Cloak, Painted Lady, Common Buckeye, Red-Spotted Purple, California Sister, Queen, and the Pahaska Skipper.

Avid bird watchers love the Copper Corridor area because of the variety of birds to watch and enjoy in the area. Examples include the roadrunner, hawks, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, eagles, finches, swallows, cardinals, jays and wild turkeys.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum
A man-made miracle amidst a stunning natural environment, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum offers a special place for the casual stroll or a more intense investigation of Southwest plants, birds and butterflies. Created by Colonel Boyce Thompson in the 1920’s, the gardens, lake, and indoor exhibitions is a “living museum” of diverse and rich examples of Southwestern plants in a 100-acre area below the peak of PicketPost Mountain. The Arboretum possesses many fine examples of desert plants but offers other surprises. Within the grounds is Queen Creek which pools to host water-loving trees and animals, look closely during the day and you can see the scat left by the nocturnal activities of javelin, deer, coyote, bobcat, raccoons and ringtails. The symbiotic relationship between plants, animals, birds and insects can be closely observed in a safe and educational environment. What does the Sperm Whale have to do with Jojoba beans, featured in the Taylor Family Desert Legume Garden? The bean-like seeds produce a waxy-substance that makes plastics, lubricates machinery, and cosmetics as a substitution for the oil of the endangered sperm whale.

As you walk the 1.5 mile desert trail you will see the 3,200 different desert plants and 300 birds, mammals, and amphibians at the arboretum. You may also see species watering at the Ayer Lake while you enjoy the special Hummingbird-Butterfly Garden along with the several other collections including Desert Legume Garden, Cactus Garden, Curandero Trail, Wing Memorial Herb Garden, Eucalyptus Forest and Demonstration Garden.

Celebrating and exploring the Sonoran desert is only part of its mission. The Boyce Thompson Arboretum houses African, South American, Asian and Mediterranean collections, as well. Visit the Boyce Thompson Arboretum website for additional information.