Cabeza Prieta NWR, Ajo, Arizona: In the desert, the word is "patience." If you’re just passing through, you are not likely to see any wildlife. But if you stop and sit in the shade of a boulder, a large cactus, or even your car, and wait, you will be rewarded. Cabeza Prieta Refuge, located in the lower Sonoran Desert, is home to a dazzling array of species, though none are abundant. Horned toads, kangaroo rats, and ground squirrels are found here, as are collared peccaries (also known as javelinas), ring-tailed cats, coatimundis, and desert bighorn sheep. Birds include phainopeplas, tiny Costa’s hummingbirds, cactus wrens, Gambel’s quails, prairie falcons, elf owls, and Gila woodpeckers. In spring, the desert bursts into color with the blossoms of cacti such as barrel, hedgehog, saguaro, and organpipe; paloverdes; desert sunflowers; penstemons; and catchfly gentians. To visit this refuge, a 4-wheel-drive vehicle is a must. You must also stop at the headquarters and get a permit because the refuge is used as a military gunnery range and staff will have to check the practice schedule. It is one of the few refuges that allows overnight camping.
Hide.
