Coyote

Coyotes are all over the place around here.  If you don't see or hear them you certainly see their scat (animal poop).   Most are small and almost look like grey foxes.  Life is tough in the desert so the larger predators tend to be smaller than the ones you find in the northern states. 

We are having a quiet Christmas -- making a turkey and some pecan pie from the fresh pecans I got this spring when we were in New Mexico.  This friday is a full moon and myself and another volunteer are going to guide a full moon hike.  We have 20 people coming out to the refuge to do the moonlight walk.  It's our most popular hike -- always full with a waiting list.  I'm hoping all goes well.  We just walk up a dry wash and talk about the moon and the animals that are out in the desert at night.  We spend a little time looking in a cave (just in the entrance) for evidence of bats and birds and scorpions.  Luckily at this time of year the scorpions and snakes, for that matter, aren't out -- it's too cold.