With Saguaro National Park so close to us, it is a favorite spot when we don't have much time. Yesterday, we only had a "continental" breakfast at 6:45 so by 7:30 we were out the door and on our way. Early morning is prime time for wildlife viewing. We took the seldom used "Shantz Trail" where we often see jackrabbits, coyotes, or deer. Yesterday, it was jackrabbits; both the Antelope Jackrabbit and the Black Tail Jackrabbit. I will start with the Black Tail Jackrabbit today. As you can see from the first photo, there is a short black tail. This is the most distinguishing characteristic in identifying the Black Tail from the Antelope Jackrabbit. Both are approximately the same size: two feet in length and up to six pounds. The Antelope is slightly larger, but in the wild not enough to distinguish. Black Tails do not hibernate in the winter. They remain in their home territory of about 1 square mile. They are prime prey for eagles, hawks, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and mountain lions. In the second photo you will see how willing he was to "sit" for me. Once he got comfortable with us standing there watching him, he decided to continue eating. So, in the third photo, there he is eating prickly pear cactus, pulling and tugging on the prickly pear pad between its long, sharp, thorns.
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