Know Your Neighbors (Part 1)

Part of the fun of moving into a new house is getting to know your neighbors.  Even if you aren't one to swap recipes with the guy or gal next door, it is still a wise idea to know who (or in this case, what) you might encounter as you wander outside in your bunny slippers and robe.  Specifically, what are some common desert visitors that you are likely to see in your daily activities?

The answer to this question truly depends on where you choose to live.  Are you in a busy neighborhood?  Did you move onto acreage? Does your planned community have wildlife corridors throughout?  While location may increase or decrease the likelihood to encounter certain desert creatures, it's always best to be prepared for any of our native friends that may decide to pay you a visit.  Also be aware that certain times of year, certain animals and insects may be more active and visible.  Rain cycles and weather patterns also affect the numbers of creatures you see out and about as they search for food and potential mates.

This year has been a veritable congregation of critters at our home-- both usual residents and some unexpected visitors.  All the following photos were actually taken inside our fenced yard this year.  Fences and walls aren't always going to keep your neighbors away.

The palo verde beetle is large (3 inches or more) and a bit intimidating to behold.  Most commonly seen during the summer months (due to the monsoons), they can and do fly.  They do not sting, but can bite (but only if you get them annoyed).  They're largely harmless, but can be startling if they fly into you unexpectedly!

Also in the large and somewhat creepy category is the tailless whipscorpion.  It looks like a spider, but isn't one.  It does not have venom, either.  The tailless whipscorpion is nocturnal and eats insects, so it is a good neighbor to have around.

Cicadas are the neighbor that everyone hears, but does not always see.  They are responsible for that buzzing noise you hear in the trees in the summer.  Oftentimes, you will just find their little golden "shells" (basically, their shedding) attached to trees or walls, evidence that they were in the area.

Harvester ants have been out in full force this summer.  Although they may be annoying if too close to your house, they perform an important job by cleaning up debris.  They actually "harvest" fallen parts of other plants for their use (like this palo verde bean pod) that might otherwise build up and cause a mess.

Some neighbors just want to blend in.  This huge walkingstick was actually wandering around our porch.  The only reason we saw it was due to it being off of a plant and on our glider. The camouflage on these guys is amazing!

Also cooling off on our porch this summer (daily) is this desert spiny lizard.  We actually have named this cutie "Godzilla" and leave a tiny water dish out for it.  We have another that lives in our carport. They eat insects, so we encourage them to hang out with us. 

Also on both our front and back porches since the monsoons have started, have been our resident tarantulas.  Tarantulas are neighbors that we like to have, as they help keep the insect population down.  When left alone, tarantulas are nonaggressive and harmless.  If harassed, like anything with a fangs and venom used to essentially dissolve their prey, they may bite (most compare it to a bee sting).  The tarantula's potentially more irritating line of defense is to use its legs to brush off tiny urticating hairs found on its abdomen (the oval, fuzzy looking part of the spider).  If those hairs get into the eyes or nose of whatever/whoever is bothering the tarantula, they can cause quite a bit of irritation.  Bottom line: just let them do their tarantula thing and you do your human thing. It's that easy.

As a reminder: open bodies of water can be hazardous if neighbors wander into your yard.  This pretty little youngster was thankfully rescued in time when she decided to take a drink out of our wading pool and fell in.

These two young king snakes (two distinct varieties) are especially welcome neighbors to have.  We'd totally bake them cookies if they were into that kind of thing.  What makes them so awesome? Well, first off, they keep the rodent population down.  Packrats are common neighbors here, too, and they like to chew things like car wiring (they're THOSE neighbors).  So, snakes in general are helpful in that regard.  Since we have pets and children, though, we're not necessarily fond of our rattlesnake neighbors. King snakes like these are beneficial in keeping rattlesnakes away.  Specifically, they eat rattlesnakes.  While we wouldn't normally condone that sort of thing among neighbors, we're not going to look a gift horse in the mouth!  Side note: our desert is home to A LOT of species of snakes.  Please be absolutely certain you are correctly identifying them before interacting with them in any way (including getting close enough for photos).  These are neighbors to safely enjoy from a distance.

Gila monsters fall in the category of super cool neighbors to have and enjoy from a distance.  The two most important facts to know about these beauties: 1) They are venomous, and 2) They are a protected species in the state of Arizona.  They're like the "bad boy" neighbor that everyone warns you not to get involved with, because if something goes wrong, the law is going after you.  Seriously.  Gila monsters eat eggs (the top one was found on top of our chicken coop), small birds, reptiles, and mammals.  When left to do their own thing, they pose no harm to people.  Their bright coloration is actually a warning to stay away.  If bothered (this includes trying to move them), they can become quite aggressive and can move much more quickly than it appears.  Other than their warning coloration, Gila monsters' main form of defense is their venom, which they deliver basically by biting/chewing.  The venom mixes with their saliva and enters the wounds caused by their sharp teeth as they clamp down.  This venom is extremely toxic and painful, though usually not fatal.  Smile and wave at these neighbors, but don't invite them for tea.

Another common visitor in the monsoon season is the Colorado River Toad.  These toads secrete poison and should be avoided.  Take special care to keep your pets and children away.  They are extremely toxic and have been known to cause severe sickness and even death in dogs.  This nosy neighbor actually surprised us by hopping into our house when we opened the door to go outside-- typically, they are just out and about in search of insects and/or water.  We used a bucket to relocate him without even having to touch him (which isn't good for amphibians, anyway) and made sure to wash our hands well afterwards to be on the safe side.  Not a bad neighbor for bug control, but one to quickly recognize and take precautions against if you have kids/pets.

One thing is common is every neighborhood: some neighbors are (slightly) more welcome than others.  Some neighbors are always welcome and we work hard to keep them around. Other neighbors can be cranky and should honestly be left alone.  Still others can actually be dangerous and should also be given a wide berth or possibly even (given their location and intrusiveness) be professionally removed or relocated.  Use good judgement, do your research, and rely on the help of experts, when needed. After all, being a good neighbor ourselves also means learning to appreciate the differences among us.