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Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

Some Like it Hot

Spanish Translation

By Terry McCarthy/Tucson

A bobcat regularly leaps onto the flat roof of Paul and Carolyn Zeiger's house in Pima County, Arizona. Sometimes, a rattlesnake slithers onto the porch. As long as their pet terrier, Stella, is inside, the Zeigers don't worry much. They enjoy living in the desert.

The Zeigers are not alone. Between 1990 and 2003, Arizona's population increased 53%, making it the second-fastest-growing state in the nation. Only Nevada, another desert state, had a bigger increase. Its population grew by 87%.

Builders in these hot spots can't put up houses fast enough. People are drawn to the desert's clean air, warm weather and open spaces. But are they harming the very environment they love?

Deserts may look barren, but they are home to a wide variety of species. Each species has adapted to life in a desert ecosystem. These creatures can take the heat, but they are surprisingly sensitive to disturbances. Humans and their pets can cause desert species great harm.

In 1997, a survey found just 12 pygmy owls left in Arizona. One of the main reasons for the bird's alarming decline was hunting by house cats.

The overuse of groundwater means slow death for desert plants. When plants die, animals run out of food and shelter. "Deserts have fragile ecosystems," says William Presch, the director of the desert-studies program at California State University at Fullerton.

Treating the Desert Gently
Once a desert landscape has been harmed, it recovers slowly, if at all. With so little rain, "it takes centuries," says Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckleberry.

Folks in Pima County are working together to save the desert. Last year, voters approved a $174 million plan to conserve open land. The county has also adopted rules governing the amount of water that can be used for gardening.

Carolyn Zeiger grows only native plants. "I start them with a little water, but soon they will survive on their own," she says. With a little respect from humans, the desert can survive on its own too.

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Hot Enough for You?

The extreme conditions in the desert aren't for everyone. These animals have adapted to living in a dry, hot place.

Cactus ferruginous pygmy owl
This 2.5-ounce bird nests in saguaro cacti. It is a mighty hunter, sometimes eating much bigger birds. Its habitat is being destroyed by development.

Couch's spadefoot toad
This amphibian avoids the heat by spending most of its life underground. When it rains, the toad comes up to lay its eggs in puddles.

Sidewinder rattlesnake
This reptile moves across dunes in an S-shaped motion that minimizes its contact with the hot sand.

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