Cabeza PrietaMammals |
Mammals at Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Arizona. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Mammals
Cabeza Prieta
National Wildlife Refuge
Mammals
The Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife
Refuge was established in 1939, to
reserve and set apart lands for the
conservation and development of natural
wildlife resources. Now, more than 50
years later, many species of Sonoran
wildlife have benefited from the
protection of the Refuge. Wilderness
status was given to most of the Refuge in
1990, which means that these species,
including the endangered Sonoran
pronghorn and Lesser long-nosed bat,
will have a better chance to survive and
reach a natural balance within this part
of their range.
In order to survive in the harsh Sonoran
desert environment, mammals have had
to adapt through a variety of means.
These include nocturnal life styles,
extreme efficiency in obtaining and
conserving water (some live on water
extracted from plant life only), and
protective coloration.
Water sources on the Refuge are natural
rock basins, called “tinajas,” a few manmade storage areas, flowing washes
after rains, and one intermittent seep.
Natural adaptation has enabled these
species to live for thousands of years
with the available resources.
While the majestic bighorn and rare
pronghorn receive a lot of attention,
there are more than 40 other species of
mammals whose presence is necessary
to maintain the ecological balance of the
Refuge.
You will notice that bats, squirrels, mice,
rats, and gophers make up the majority
of mammal residents on the Refuge.
These small creatures play a major part
in sustaining the chain of life, that
includes the larger and better-known
residents.
So, when a glimpse is seen of any of
these wary and shy desert dwellers, you
have had a unique opportunity to
experience firsthand a part of this
complex and fragile Sonoran desert
ecosystem.
Sonoran Pronghorn
FWS Photograph
The following list includes mammals
whose presence within Cabeza Prieta
boundaries has been verified.
Big brown bat
(Eptesicus fuscus pallidus)
Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus)
Bats
California leaf-nosed bat (Macrotus
californicus) [Category 2 candidate
species]
Lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris
curasoae verbabuenae). This bat has
endangered status; formerly called
Sanborn’s long-nosed bat.
Pocketed Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops
femorosacca)
Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris
noctivagans)
Rabbits and Hares
Antelope jackrabbit (Lepus alleni alleni)
California Myotis
(Myotis californicus stephensi)
Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus
californicus eremicus)
Pallid bat
(Antrozous pallidus pallidus)
Desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii
arizonae)
Western Pipistrelle
(Pipistrellus hesperus hesperus)
Squirrels
Harris antelope squirrel
(Ammospermophilus harrisii)
Townsend’s big-eared bat
(Plecotus townsendii) (Category 2
candidate species)
Rock squirrel (Spermophilus variegatus
grammurus)
Big free-tailed bat
(Tadarida macrotis) (Category 2 species)
Round-tailed ground squirrel
(Spermophilus tereticaudus neglectus)
Pocket Gophers
Botta’s pocket gopher, three subspecies
(Thomomys bottae growlerensis,
phasma, pusillus)
Pocket Mice
Arizona pocket mouse (Perognathus
amplus taylori)
Bailey pocket mouse (Perognathus
baileyi baileyi)
Desert pocket mouse (Perognathus
penicillatus pricei)
Rock pocket mouse (Perognathus
intermedius phasma)
Kangaroo Rats
Merriam’s kangaroo rat (Dipodomys
merriami merriami)
Desert kangaroo rat (Dipodomys deserti
arizonae)
Desert Pocket Mouse
Mice and Rats
Cactus mouse (Peromyscus eremicus
eremicus)
Peccaries
Collared peccary, “javelina” (Tayassu
tajacu)
Suggested Reading List
William H. Burt & Richard P.
Grossenheider,
Pinacate cactus mouse (Peromyscus
eremicus papagensis)
[Category 2 candidate species]
Deer and Relatives
Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus crooki)
(Peterson Field Guide Series),
Houghton Mifflin Co. 1964.
Canyon mouse (Peromyscus crinitus
disparilis)
Pronghorns
Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra
americana sonoriensis). This animal is
listed as endangered.
Southern grasshopper mouse
(Onychomys torridus torridus)
White-throated wood rat (Neotoma
albigula mearnsi)
Desert Woodrat (Neotoma lepida
auripila)
Doglike and Foxlike Animals
Coyote (Canis latrans mearnsi)
Kit fox (Vulpes macrotis macrotis)
Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
Racoons and Relatives
Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus
yumanensis)
Weasles and Relatives
Badger (Taxidea taxus berlandieri)
Western spotted Skunk (Spilogale
gracilis leucoparia)
Cats
Bobcat (Felis rufus baileyi)
Mountain Lion (Felis concolor)
FWS Photograph
Sheep and Relatives
Desert Bighorn (Ovis canadensis
mexicana)
Following are animals which have been
verified near the Refuge and would be
expected to be resident or transient, but
no verified sightings have been made on
the Refuge.
A Field Guide to the Mammals
Mammals of
Donald F. Hoffmeister,
, University of Arizona Press,
1986.
Arizona
Deserts
James A. MacMahon,
(Audubon
Society Nature Guide), Alfred A. Knopf,
Inc., 1988.
Gale Monson & Lowell Summer, editors,
, University of
Arizona Press.
The Desert Bighorn
A Field Guide to
Animal Tracks (Peterson Field Guide
Olaus A. Murie,
Series) Houghton Mifflin Co.
Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida
brasiliensis mexicana)
Underwood’s mastiff bat (Eumops
underwoodi) (Category 2 candidate
species)
Little pocket mouse (Perognathus
longimembris)
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus
virginianus couesi)