The Coachwhip snake is found all over southern Arizona in one color phase or another. I do remember finding a black phase Coachwhip years ago at our home northwest of Tucson. Out in the grassland near our home in Cochise County I only find the red phase. Regardless of the color phase, these snakes are super fast and can also be super aggressive. These non-venomous snakes are amazing hunters and eat a variety small mammals, reptiles and birds. We’re so lucky to have these rascals out in the desert. Take a picture of this wonderful snake if you can find one holding still for any length of time, but don’t try to pick it up. Believe me.
The original version of the “El Niño Song” aired on KXCI, Tucson’s Community Radio, November 28th 1997. That version can also be found on...
I like the title Wild Lettuce for this show. It seems incongruous, as in wild and lettuce don’t seem to go together. But where...
The scientific name for our gopher snake (or gophersnake. I’ve seen it written both ways) is Pituophis catenifer. The genus name looks like a...
