Tucson Trail Cam Videos: Discover Wildlife of the Sonoran Desert
Explore the Wild Side of the Tucson Mountains
The Tucson Mountains are home to an incredible variety of wildlife, much of which is rarely seen during daylight hours. Trail cameras reveal the secret movements and behaviors of animals that roam the desert canyons, washes, ridges, and abandoned mine areas. Visitors can explore video collections featuring predators, reptiles, birds, and other native species living in one of North America’s most unique desert ecosystems.
Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, nature photographer, hiker, or simply curious about desert animals, these Tucson trail cam videos offer an up-close look at creatures that often remain hidden from view. Watch bobcats stalk prey, coyotes patrol their territory, mule deer wander through the foothills, and ringtails emerge after dark to explore the landscape.
Watch Tucson's Wildest Desert Residents
BOBCATS & COUGARS
BOBCATS
Bobcats are common in Arizona but not seen as often as other predators, such as coyotes, because they are mainly nocturnal predators. They weigh an average of 15-22 pounds and can reach a top speed of 30 miles per hour.
Bobcats are stealthy hunters feeding on small prey such as rodents, rabbits, snakes, lizards, insects, and birds.
They have 2 to 4 young born between April and May.
COUGARS
(MOUNTAIN LIONS)
Cougars are ambush hunters that can run as fast as 35 – 40 MPH and can leap 18 feet from a sitting position. Males average 150 lbs and females average 120.
Cougars primarily prey on deer along with other mammals and birds.
Cougars have 2 to 4 young in July.
COYOTES & FOXES
THE MANY FACES OF
A WILY COYOTE
in the Tucson Mountains.
COYOTES
Coyotes are one of the most intelligent and adaptable animals in the southwest. While their average weight is only 16 to 40 pounds, they can reach a top speed of 40 MPH and jump over a 6-foot fence.
Coyotes eat small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, plus fruits and berries on occasion.
Coyotes have 4 to 8 young between March to May.
GRAY FOX
The Gray Fox is the only member of the
dog family that climb trees. They can
retract their claws like a cat. Their
average weight is 12 pounds.
Grey Foxes eats small mammals, birds, insects, and berries.
Grey Foxes have two young between February to March.
Tucson Trail Cam.
DEER & JAVELINA
JAVELINA
(Collared Peccary)
Javelinas are not pigs! They resemble pigs but are members of the peccary family. A group of Javelinas is called a squadron. They average 50 to 60 pounds.
Javelinas eat prickly pear, mesquite beans, and other succulents. They also love to raid trash cans.
Javelinas usually have two young between July and August.
TROPHY BUCKS —
MULE DEER
The average weight of a Mule Deer buck is 200 pounds, but a trophy buck can weigh close to 500 pounds.
The antlers of a mature buck have two main branches that split and form into two additional branches. Each branch has two or more tines.
Tucson Trail Cam.
MULE DEER
Mule deer are sturdy,powerfully built animals, and about a third larger than whitetail deer. Males average 200 pounds and females are smaller averaging 150.
Mule Deer eat herbaceous plants, grasses and small twigs
Mule Deer 1-2 young born in April – June.
Tucson Trail Cam.
RINGTAILS & SKUNKS
RINGTAIL CAT
Ringtail Cats are not cats! They are related to Raccoons and Coatimundis. Early miners and settlers used tamed Ringtails to keep mice out of their cabins. A Ringtail’s average weight is between 2 and 2.5 pounds.
Ringtails are omnivorous and will eat small mammals, birds, reptiles, plus fruits and berries.
Ringtails have 3 – 4 young between February and May.
Tucson Trail Cam.
WESTERN SPOTTED SKUNK
The Western Spotted Skunk is a small carnivorous predator with pronounced white and black spotting unique to each animal. They can accurately shoot their “musk” up to 10 feet. Their average weight is between 1 and 2 pounds.
Spotted Skunks eat small mammals, birds, insects, lizards, and fruit.
They have 5 to 9 young between April and June.
SNAKES & REPTILES
ROADRUNNER
VS
RATTLESNAKE
DESERT KINGSNAKE
Desert Kingsnakes are commonly found in riparian corridors. They average 3 to 4 feet long but can grow to nearly 7 feet. They are relatively docile around humans and may play dead.
Desert Kingsnakes are constrictors that prey on rodents, lizards, smaller snakes, including rattlesnakes.
They have 5 to 12 eggs that hatch between July and September.
DESERT TORTOISES
The Desert tortoise burrows underground to avoid the heat. The spend only 5% of their time on the surface. Adults average 12 inches long and they can live 50 – 80 years.
Desert Tortoises eat grasses, cacti fruit, flowers and green vegetation.
They lay 4 – 8 eggs up to 3 times a year.
Tucson Trail Cam.
SONORAN WHIPSNAKE
The Sonoran Whipsnake is a long slender snake that can grow up to 5.5 feet long. It usually stays on the ground but is known to climb trees to avoid predators or hunt birds.
The Sonoran Whipsnake eats small mammals, birds, lizards, and other small snakes.
They lay 6 – 13 eggs between June and July.
WESTERN DIAMONDBACK
RATTLESNAKE
The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake is the “king” of the desert rattlers. It can reach a length of up to 7 feet long, although it is rare to grow over 5 feet. They usually weigh between 3 and 6 pounds.
The Western Diamondback eats small mammals, birds, and lizards.
They have up to 20 young between July and August.
The use of these trail cameras, or images from these trail cameras are not used for the purpose of taking or aiding in the take of wildlife,
or locating wildlife for the purpose of taking or aiding in the take of wildlife. Per Arizona Game and Fish Department regulations.
Recommended Books for Sonoran Desert Wildlife Observation
