Living in Arizona, there’s no way you can escape wildlife, no matter how hard you may try. I guess it’s a good thing I love all things wildlife! The beauty of Arizona is that the elevation rises dramatically as you head up north. My Southern town’s elevation is 500 feet above sea level. A short hour and a half drive north will put you at an elevation above 2,000 feet. The highest elevation in Arizona is 12,633 feet above sea level; an elevation that seems inconceivable in this dry, Western State.
When many think of Arizona, they think of a rocky desert, with no trees, and terrifying animals such as the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake or the Bark Scorpion. While I have seen many Bark Scorpions, and almost stepped on one without shoes on, I have never seen a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake or any rattlesnake for that matter. Southern Arizona has an abundance of wildlife; my favorite being roadrunners, burrowing owls, and coyotes, but the wildlife in Northern Arizona is by far my favorite.
My favorite place to visit in Northern Arizona is one of the world’s natural wonders; The Grand Canyon. The South Rim of The Grand Canyon to be exact.
The South Rim of The Grand Canyon is about a four-hour drive away from my home. I always look forward to my trips to the canyon because I not only get a break from the extreme and often 110-degree heat down in Southern Arizona, but I also get to connect with a whole new, natural environment. An environment filled with wildlife that I don’t get to see daily. Oh, and The Grand Canyon is a plus too! I never get tired of seeing the beauty nature has created.
Here’s a Wildlife Fact About The Grand Canyon!
The Grand Canyon is the birthplace of squirrel speciation.
What Does Speciation Mean?
To simply define; Speciation is the creation of a new plant or animal.
As The Grand Canyon was formed, a geographical barrier was created between species, separating them onto the Southern and Northern sides of the canyon. Due to this barrier, the squirrels on the Southside of the canyon and the squirrels on the Northside of the canyon couldn’t reproduce with one another. Over time, this led to the creation of two different squirrel species on either side of the canyon; The Kaibab Squirrel which inhabits the North Rim, and the Abert Squirrel which inhabits the South Rim. (Thank you college biology for teaching me this)
This leads me to my photo, which is my favorite I’ve ever taken while visiting The Grand Canyon.
I captured this image of a young, Abert Squirrel at the South Rim of the canyon. It kept following me because, sadly, wildlife inhabiting the canyon is so used to being fed by humans; causing them to rely highly on anthropogenic resources, instead of hunting and gathering for their own food.
Secretly, I named this little squirrel. I wasn't sure if the squirrel was male or female, so I chose two names. Albert if the squirrel was male, and Alberta if the squirrel was female. Do you get it? Albert, the Abert Squirrel? Alberta the Abert Squirrel? I know, it's cheesy, but I'm positive that I made you smirk, at least a little bit.
I was able to take out my GoPro and lower it enough to get this shot. Being in a wheelchair at the time helped. As I continued wheeling along the path at The Grand Canyon, the little squirrel continued to follow. Due to this, I was able to capture multiple photos of my new friend. It was almost as if it was posing for the camera. What a little model! #natureisyourrunway
My GoPro was able to capture the beauty of the Abert Squirrel and The Grand Canyon without me needing to rely highly on editing. All I needed to do was increase the brightness and saturation by just a little. The photo is now a permanent decor piece in my room; hanging up by my desk as a morsel of inspiration and a reminder of my love for nature and wildlife.
About the Creator
Elisa Toy
Nature Lover | Activist | Cancer Survivor | She/Her
I am a queer writer from Arizona sharing my journey and thoughts with you! My writing focuses on my mental health, love of nature, and everything in between!
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