Sedona, Arizona: So much of Sedona's magic can be attributed to the surprisingly diverse and plentiful wildlife
that populates the forests, deserts, rivers and scrub brush around us.
In a relatively small area the elevation changes from high desert at about 3,000 feet to cool pine forests at 8,000 feet, providing several different kinds of habitat. Add to this the life-rich riparian zones of Oak Creek Canyon, the Verde River and other smaller creeks, and you have a paradise for those who appreciate nature's beauty and complexity.
Elk and Mule Deer forage in the oak and pine forests. Skunks, ringtails and raccoons go about their nocturnal business in nearly every part of the Verde Valley. At dusk, bats swoop in an impromptu ballet overhead.
The land hums with life of all kinds, with practically every inch containing some living thing, but the following are a few of the creatures that embody the spirit of the desert and the life it nourishes:
Coyote
Present in nearly every corner of North America, the coyote's presence in Southwest life and lore is particularly strong. Southwestern and Plains tribes have many names for this wild, wily dog—Trickster, First Scolder, Disrespector, God's Dog—and countless myths and stories to illustrate his powers. He offers signs, tinkers with the natural order, and takes part in man's very creation.
Supernatural powers aside, the coyotes' position in the middle of the food chain has caused them to evolve into wary, intelligent, alert animals capable of rapid learning and opportunism. You'll know a coyote from his large triangular ears, long lean body (about 30 pounds for an average male), reddish-grey color and long bushy tail.
Coyotes are omnivores, eating nearly anything they can catch or forage, including berries, small mammals and garbage. The sound of a pack of coyotes singing at night transports you to an other-worldly realm where the barrier between "wild" and "civilized" dissolves into the shadows.
