Tucson Wildlife Blog Wiley
Nov. 23,2013
You know it is Fall in Tucson when the
Ocotillo leaves turn from green to light orange then yellow, and they lose
their reddish-orange flower 'torches' at the tips of their stems. This results in spiny brownish-gray tendrils
that all come up from the center at the bottom, resembling “seaweed”
on our desert floor. When they are in
this state, I am never quite sure if they are still alive – until next spring
when they sprout their new green tiny leaves.
They are fascinating though, and there is one area southwest of Tucson
on the way to Kartchner Caverns that is mostly all ocotillo cacti covering the
hillside. It's quite a cool sight when they are in bloom.
It has been so long since I wrote, but
I have to report about a big coyote who frequented our yard. By “yard” I mean
natural desert and planted cactus next to our driveway. One day I was out laying stone bricks for the
borders of my labyrinth when I heard dogs barking rather alarmingly
nearby. I guessed that meant there was
something threatening them… could be a mountain lion, though unlikely
(hopefully!), javelinas, a bobcat, or coyotes.
Observing that warning I went inside.
About 5-10 minutes later outside my “Window on the World” came a big
coyote walking up the driveway in front of me and turned up and was checking
out my labyrinth, stopping, scratching and smelling the heart-shaped stone I
have in the center. Wow, I wonder what
he would have done if I were still out there!
I wonder what I would have
done!
I named him Wiley after he walked
up the driveway several more times in the next week. And one day my friend Sly and I were out on a
walk in our neighborhood. She is new to
Tucson, moving here last summer. We were
just going around sort-of-a-block when I noticed the big coyote walking alongside
a house maybe 10 yards away from us. She
had never seen one since moving here and was excited. Then in front of us a rabbit was hightailing
it across the street, and in hot pursuit was Wiley. They got to the corner of another house, and
he stopped…the bunny got away. Thank
goodness! Several days after my
sightings of ole Wiley, Ron was on his way to work and saw two ladies out
walking with a big dog… and that big coyote was following them! He turned around and tried to ward off Wiley,
and they just kept walking. I inquired
via email who the ladies were with the dog and followed by the coyote. It turned out that they were not disturbed by
the coyote, and in fact they said it was the latest “love interest of Jack”,
her dog. So now, I guess I have to call
“him” Willette! ?? And now, no sightings
of Willette in the last month. I kind of
miss her!
The other news is that today The Tour
de Tucson is supposed to happen. It is
the biggest bicycle event for Tucson…111 miles, with 9,000 riders here to
ride. They also have an 85-mile ride, a
60-mile, 45-mile, and 5 & 10 -mile rides starting at later times along
parts of the same route that surrounds Tucson.
This is HUGE! Last year I went
out to the street that passes our development and watched part of the
race. One guy stopped for a snack he had
and told me this is his 3rd ride of the Tour, and he travels here
from Colorado for it. He highly
recommends riding, and said “It changed my life!” when he started riding. Well, I do have a bike that Blaire won in a
raffle about 10 years ago. I am
considering getting it tuned up. I will
have to start with going around the “block”, however. The other part of the story is that we have
had rain all day yesterday, all night, and it’s still raining. This is the first time in 31years that it has
rained on The Tour. Rodney’s brother,
Dennis, and wife Roberta came again to accompany him on the ride from Colorado
Springs! They are unfortunately not
participating in it this year, as it is continuing to rain. This means that many washes that cross the
roads get flooded, and it is too dangerous to cross them, even in cars! But… the good news is that we got to load up
on carbs last night with them at Tavolino’s, just in case the rain
stopped! Homemade fennel-sausage, mmmm! But I digress. Maybe next year.
Next post soon.
