Marana Unwrapped

Springtime in Marana and Tucson brings warmer weather, earlier sunrises, and swarms of bees.

The other day I saw a swarm crossing the street (they waited for a green light). It was an amazing sight, but I was glad I was in my car with the windows closed.

Bees usually swarm when the colony splits, and they go in search of a new nesting place. Even though we have to be careful of them, bees are essential to agriculture and nature in general.

So keep your eyes open, and watch for bee activity near your home. For more information about bees, check out this website to get started.

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I’m relatively new to Tucson, having lived in Marana for less than 3 years. But the “growth” and “progress” I’ve seen in this short amount of time is amazing!

It makes me wonder how much we’re losing while we’re gaining. Habitat for wildlife is the most obvious loss, but it may not matter much to you if you’re not an animal. If you encounter a pack of javelinas in your backyard, mountain lions next door, or “killer bees” right outside your front door, suddenly the loss of habitat makes a difference in your life too.

Sometimes what’s being lost isn’t nature. At the corner of Silverbell and Ina there’s a historical house that’s scheduled to be demolished to make way for Silverbell Crossroads, a retail property. The house is estimated to have been built in the early 1900’s.

We’re also losing our views of what’s left of the natural world. Condominiums will be built on Silverbell Rd. across from Continental Ranch, possibly blocking mountain vistas for current residents.

At the same time, I’m looking forward to the new library on Silverbell Rd. and Cortaro. I use a lot of gas, which affects the environment (and my pocketbook) driving out to the Nanini branch.

What do you think? When is growth good, a necessary evil, or just plain bad?

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Photo credit: Petite Paws Exotics

Here’s a pop quiz. What is Arizona’s state mammal?

I know I had no idea, and never would have even looked it up if I hadn’t seen one tonight. The ringtail, a mammal in the same family (procyonid) as the coati and the more familiar raccoon, is the state mammal. As the picture shows, it has obvious rings on its long, bushy tail, and looks like a fox or a cat.

Tonight I happened to be looking into the sky, and noticed what I thought was a cat sitting on an outside windowsill of my friend’s apartment. I wondered how a cat could get up to the 2nd floor, and I was a little concerned for the poor creature. It moved and started to climb the wall. Cats don’t climb walls that well without falling, which this animal didn’t. Instead, it climbed up to a vent protruding out of the wall, stuck its head and front feet in, and pulled out something with its mouth.

My daughter and I watched in awe as it started to crunch on its prey. Feathers fell, and I realized it was eating a bird.

Anyway, it was a very interesting find, right here in our own backyard (near Cortaro and Silverbell).

From what I’ve read, it’s rare to actually see one. Ringtails are nocturnal and use their big eyes and fox-like ears to hunt at night.

According to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s site,

“Ringtails are strictly nocturnal animals, using their large eyes and keen sense of smell to locate prey. They are excellent climbers and leapers, using their long tails for balance as they negotiate steep canyon walls or trees with equal ease. The ringtails have semi-retractable claws and can rotate their hind feet 180 degrees, allowing them to descend cliffs face first.

They den in niches in rock walls, boulder piles, or hollow trees. Ringtails are solitary, only pairing up for a few days of mating in April. The 2 to 4 kits are born in June. By fall the young can hunt for themselves and soon disperse.

Though fierce little fighters, ringtails fall prey to great horned owls, bobcats, and coyotes. When frightened, they emit a musky odor from anal scent glands.”

As soon as I get a chance, I’ll post the pictures of the ringtail that I took tonight.

Have you seen a ringtail or any other wild animals here in Marana?

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