Love ’em or hate ’em, reptiles are a major player in the ecosystem of the Sonoran Desert.
We may smile at the antics of lizards doing push-ups, just a form of male posturing, but these guys help keep insect populations in check and in turn are sustenance for other critters up the food chain. Desert tortoises are gentle giants, lumbering across the desert floor, vegans who appreciate a ripe prickly pear fruit now and then. But it’s likely snakes that push your buttons; yet without them, rodent populations would be out of control. Learn to identify them and you can learn to love them, they are our friends.
