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Casa Grande Ruins National MonumentAfternoon view of the Casa Grande from the south.
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Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Mammals of the Sonoran Desert
A Kit fox resting in a wall of the Casa Grande.

NPS Photo

A Kit fox resting in a wall of the Casa Grande.

The Sonoran Desert is home to a wide variety of animals, birds and other creatures. Mammals include large animals like the javelina, coyote, Mexican Wolf, bighorn sheep, and bobcat. Smaller animals like the fox, skunk, cottontail, and jackrabbit also live here.

Another mammal that lives in the desert is the bat. These animals pollinate many plants and eat lots of bugs. There are two bats unique to the Sonoran desert: the long-tongued bat and the long-nosed bat .

 
A round-tailed ground squirrel at Casa Grande Ruins.

Jim Creager

A Round-tailed ground squirrel at Casa Grande Ruins.

Even rodents like the packrat, round-tailed ground squirrel, and mice make the Sonoran Desert their home. Many of these animals are nocturnal. By hunting and foraging for food at night, they keep cooler and are less likely to become dehydrated.
 
Painting the protective roof in 2003.  

Did You Know?
The metal roof structure above the Casa Grande was constructed in 1932 at a cost of almost $28,000. Maintenance of the roof structure includes painting it every 15-20 years. It was last painted in 2003 at a cost of over $100,000.

Last Updated: August 22, 2006 at 16:31 EST