Maricopa County Master Naturalists

10/07/2026

10/02/2026

🕷️ Home sweet burrow! 🏡🌵

For female desert blonde tarantulas, there really is no place like home. Heck, they can spend more than 25 years in the same burrow!

And while they may look fuzzy and harmless, they have a pretty clever defense when threatened. Check out this month’s Eco-Blitz Fun Fact to learn more.

Have you ever spotted one of these fuzzy desert residents in a Maricopa County park? 👀

Let us know! 👇

Link: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/about-us/eco-blitz/

09/24/2026

Make sure to stop by our table at Bats and Buzzards on the Bridge tomorrow. We’d love to see you there! 🦇

09/22/2026

09/03/2026

For the chuckwalla, the best defense is becoming a rock-solid problem.

Chuckwalla lizards are found across the Southwestern U.S. While pretty shy, you may catch them basking in the sun on elevated surfaces. If threatened, they'll usually wedge themselves into a tight rock crevice and puff out their bodies, making it difficult for a predator to pry them out.

Credit: USFWS

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

09/01/2026

🦅 Eco-Blitz Spotlight: Turkey Vulture!

Meet nature’s cleanup crew! Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) soar on warm air currents called thermals and use their remarkable sense of smell to find carrion (decaying animals).

By cleaning up what’s left behind, these scavengers help recycle nutrients and keep our desert ecosystems healthy. 🌵

To learn more, visit: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/about-us/eco-blitz/