Desert Plants and Animals

Even though this region is dry and rugged, it is full of amazing life! Many plants and animals have special adaptations that help them survive in the desert heat.

• Cacti — like prickly pear and lechuguilla — store water in their thick stems

• Roadrunners are fast-running birds that live in the desert

• Javelinas (peccaries) are pig-like animals that roam in groups

• Mountain lions prowl the rugged mountain terrain

• Mule deer, black bears, and golden eagles also call this region home