By Kay Bona
The inspiration for my trivia puzzle today came from one of our sons. He just got back from some training in the desert of California and was telling us about the Kangaroo Mouse, a little rodent that I never knew existed. Here are some more interesting critters!
1. Which of the following critters can survive without access to water for over a year? Desert cottontail rabbit; Desert tortoise; Black-tailed jack rabbit; North American porcupine.
2. Which of the following musk-scented critters is often referred to as a wild pig although it is actually in a family all of its own? North American porcupine; Collared peccary; Skunk; Coatimundi
3. Which of the following birds is fast enough to kill and eat rattlesnakes and is the official state bird of New Mexico? Sonoran ostrich; Gambel’s quail; roadrunner; Golden Eagle.
4. Which of these poisonous critters has venom glands on its lower jaw and therefore does not “inject” its nerve toxin, but just lets it seep into the wound as it chews? Western diamondback rattlesnake; Gila monster; Sidewinder; Tarantula
5. Which of the following subspecies of whitetail deer is considerably smaller than most whitetail and can be found in the southernmost areas of California, Arizona, and New Mexico? Huachuca whitetail deer; there are no deer in the desert; Coues whitetail deer; None of the above.
6. These rodents are usually called Pack Rats because they obsessively collect materials to use in the construction of their nests. What is the official name of this species? Bushy-tailed woodrat; Desert kangaroo rat; Brown rat; Black rat.
7. Arizona’s San Pedro River is one of the most famous riparian areas in the world. Among the 400 species that call it home is the second smallest species of owl in the world. What is this owl’s name? Pygmy owl; elf owl; miniature barn owl; great horned owl.
ANSWERS
1. A desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) gets what little moisture it needs through its food (cacti, grasses, flowers, etc.). It is illegal to harm or capture a wild desert tortoise.
2. The collared peccary (Peccary angulatus) is also known as a javelina and is the only wild, pig-like critter native to the US. They have terrible vision and a musky smell.
3. A roadrunner (Geococ-cyx californianus) can run at speeds up to 17 mph! On rare occasions when one does take flight it can only stay airborne for a few seconds.
4. The gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) preys on eggs, birds and small mammals. It stores fat in its tail for use during winter months. Gila monster bites are rarely fatal in humans.
5. Coues whitetail deer. The Coues are so much smaller in stature than other whitetail deer from the Midwest and Eastern US that they were once separated into their own species.
6. Bushy-tailed woodrat (Neotoma cinerea). Pack rats build complex nests called “middens.” Their nests are often built in small caves, but can also be found in the attics and walls of houses.
7. Elf Owl. Native to Mexico and the American Southwest, elf owls are 5 to 12 inches tall and have a wingspan of 15 to 16 inches.