Javelina

First things first: they're not pigs. Javelina, or Collared Peccaries, may look like pigs, but there are several differences, including upward-pointing tusks, a three-chambered stomach, and three rather than four toes that separate the javelina from their domestic or feral cousins. Javelinas migrated northwest from South America and have arrived in Central Arizona relatively recently, making it as far north as the Mogollon rim.

These opportunistic souls have made themselves at home here, gathering around Sedona dumpsters and gardens to take advantage of the easy pickings they offer. While some find these hairy little trotters adorable, and the more urbane javelina are quite nonchalant around people, resist the urge to approach them. If they feel threatened, they can turn from cute to cranky in about a second, and can do real damage with a speedy charge and steel-trap jaws—especially when they're with their young or feel cornered.



Here Kitty!

While you're not likely to spot them, both mountain lions and bobcats are at home throughout Coconino National Forest, in the Black Hills, and even around Sedona from time to time. Mountain lions (also known as cougars or pumas) are North America's largest cat, the males reaching up to 150 pounds. Despite their size, mountain lions are stealthy hunters, stalking their oblivious prey until making a final fatal pounce. Bobcats, a type of lynx, are only 20 pounds at most, with a distinctive short tail and tufted ears.

Snakes and Lizards

Arizona is home to dozens of snake species, but none captivate the imagination or for some, generate cold primal fear, like the rattlesnake. The largest of the rattlesnakes, the Western Diamondback, likes the rocky terrain and denser vegetation of Sedona's high desert and can be seen in spring and summer, most often at dawn or dusk. Other types of rattlesnake that live in the area are the Arizona Black, Mojave and Blacktail.

When you're new to the area and spot a snake, your first thought is generally, "Rattlesnake or not?" While there are many visual clues that identify rattlers, the most unmistakable sign is the sound of a threatened snake vibrating the horny sections at the end of its tale. While these venomous snakes are definitely dangerous, they generally play fair, giving loud and ample warning before they strike. If you encounter one of these fascinating desert residents on the trail, just admire him from a distance and give him room to go about his business.