Featured Articles
Black Widow - Rattlesnakes - Scorpions - Myths
The speaker, a well-seasoned and well-intentioned ranger, was describing black widows (Latrodectus hesperus) and the female's legendary proclivity for a post-mating snack. Before I could stop myself, I blurted out, "You're wrong!" More...
Old Plank Road - Imperial Sand Dunes
Picture yourself back in 1918 trying to cross the burning desert of Imperial County. You reach the treacherous Imperial Sand Dunes and face the challenge of a seamless ocean of sand. With relief and anxiety you begin to ascend the first dune on the Plank Road. More...
Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit
Like other cactus, most prickly pears and chollas have large spines -- actually modified leaves -- growing from tubercles -- small, wart-like projections -- on their stems. But members of the Opuntia genus are unique because of their clusters of fine, tiny, barbed spines called glochids. More...
Mojave Trails National Monument
At 1.6 million acres, the Mojave Trails National Monument dwarfs the other two national monuments created by decree of President Obama on February 12, 2016. This vast area links Joshua Tree National Park with the Mojave National Preserve, creating a land bridge of safety for migrating wildlife such as the desert bighorn sheep. More...
Explore the Desert
Desert Animals
What animals live in the desert? How do animals survive in the desert? Learn about mammals, reptiles, birds, fish and amphibians that have adapted to the harsh desert ecosystems. Here is a list of animals that live in the desert with links to additional information on each animal. Learn how they survive in the desert biome. More...
Desert Plants
How do plants survive the desert? Desert flora have adapted to the extremes of heat and aridity by using both physical and behavioral mechanisms, much like desert animals. Here are links to the flora found in the deserts, with photos and information about each plant. More...
Desert Life - Animals, Plants, People and the Environment
Deserts cover more than one fifth of the Earth's land, and they are found on every continent. Deserts can be classified as "hot" or "cold". Deserts receive less than 10 inches of precipitation a year. Lack of water creates a survival problem for all desert organisms, animals, plants and people. More...
Desert Activities -
Explore the Desert
The desert is a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors and to spend time in recreational activities. People go to the desert to camp, to hike, to bike, to fish, to explore and to experience the unique environment found only in the American Southwest and its deserts. More...
Trending Top Stories
Valley of the Gods, Utah
It's just a simple non-descript green highway sign on U.S. 163 in southeastern Utah near Mexican Hat: "Valley of the Gods." Pointing to the edge of the road, it appears to plop vehicles off the side of the road into Lime Creek. More...
Mecca Hills Wilderness - Ladder Canyon Trail
Colorful mineral deposits, narrow slot canyons and views of the Salton Sea make this hike a very special one. Ladders are placed along the slot canyon to enable hikers to climb up dry waterfalls along the trail, earning it the name "Ladder Canyon." More...
Final Frontier - Trona Pinnacles, CA
In the movie, The Final Frontier, the Enterprise is in orbit about a strange planet, they took a shuttle craft to the surface. Upon arrival, they were greeted by some of the most unique geological features ever seen. They truly were on a strange planet ... Or were they?...
The Great Puebloan Abandonments
To the north and east of Paquime, the Mogollon Puebloan people walked away from ancestral homelands, gave up old traditions, moved to new locations, reverted to the old hunting and gathering lifestyles, or simply disappeared from the archaeological record. More...
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The Desert Environment
The North American Deserts
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Take a look at our Animals index page to find information about all kinds of birds, snakes, mammals, spiders and more!
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