9 January 2026

Trip Report: Arizona June 2025

Report of a two week trip primarily through Arizona plus a bit of Nevada and New Mexico. We saw a total of 52 mammal species with highlights including Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat, both Southern and Chihuahuan Grasshopper Mice, and Mexican Woodrat.

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Arizona Trip Report

Post author

EllenLinton
Hi I’m a 20-year-old mammalwatcher currently living in Nevada but originally from South Africa. I love all mammals but I’m particularly keen on bats, cats, and cetaceans. My biggest goal is to see at least 1000 mammals. I also hope to save more birders from themselves by showing them the light: mammalwatching! If you have any questions for me, feel free to email me at ellenlinton1212@gmail.com
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2 Comments

  • 9 January 2026
    vnsankar

    Nice report, and glad to see the Chiricahuas and Animas Valley are as mammal rich as I remember. Just amazing places. As much as I love CA, I have to admit that this area during the monsoons has the US’s best mammal watching.

    For future reference, I find spotlighting from a car the easiest method for Ringtail; they give really bright eyeshine that’s hard to miss. If you see particularly promising looking canyon walls, bluffs, or rocky outcrops next to the road, it’s often worth stopping and giving them a careful scan on foot. American Hog-nosed Skunks are weird, at certain times they are downright common and then they vanish at others. Rainfall/soil moisture may have something to do with it, in Cave Creek my impression is that they are seen more frequently Aug-Oct.

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    • 10 January 2026
      EllenLinton

      Glad you enjoyed the report. I appreciate your advice and I’ll try out your strategy on my next Arizona trip. Ringtail was a big blow to miss so it’ll be a huge focus. Interesting about the Hog-nosed Skunks and explains why sightings of them seem to be inconsistent. Thanks again for your advice!

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