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My ebooks The Passion Killers, A Dark Wind of Vengeance, Blood Beyond the Abyss and The Second Layer of Hell (apocalyptic fiction) are now available for download. They are the first four installments in the Path of Survival series. To see additional information, click here .

This page will be used to show photos and to provide information concerning some of the wildlife species that may be encountered on the Pacific Crest Trail between the Mexican and Canadian borders.

These photos and the accompanying text have been made available to us by the folks at eNature.com. Their consideration and generosity in sharing their beautiful photos is greatly appreciated.

Going from the world of locked doors, closed windows and 911 to the outdoor world can be intimidating. Also, some nights are just longer than others. For the most part, though, the animals just want to be left alone. If you properly secure your food and use common sense while on the trail, your chances of confrontation and injury from wild animals are very low. However, if you are hiking the desert portion of the trail in southern California, expect to encounter rattlesnakes. Some will coil, rattle, and stand their ground. The most vicious animals you are likely to encounter will be domestic dogs brought to the trail by other hikers, or the domestic dogs of folks who live close to the trail.

If there is an additional species that you would like included here, or if you have comments or suggestions concerning this page, please contact me at:

rainmaker@trailquest.net

To see the photos and accompanying text, click on the names of the species and the appropriate photo with accompanying text should pop up in a corner of your screen. To see additional information, including range and habitat, click on the photo and a new screen will appear. For some animals, you can even listen to the sounds that they make. To return to this page, close out the new screen.

Please Note - If you are having difficuly getting the photos to open (error messages received saying photos are not available), try this: Right click the name of the species, then click on the "Open" tab. Repeat a few times if necessary, and the photo will usually open.

Mammals

Black Bear
White-tailed Deer
American Beaver
American Pika
Antelope Jackrabbit
Big Brown Bat
Bighorn Sheep
Botta's Pocket Gopher
Bobcat
American Badger
California Chipmunk
California Ground Squirrel
California Leaf-nosed Bat
California Mouse
Common Gray Fox
Red Fox
Pronghorn
Elk
Long-tailed Weasel
Mountain Goat
Mountain Lion
Mule Deer
Coyote
Common Raccoon
Western Gray Squirrel
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Striped Skunk

Birds

Spotted Owl
Golden Eagle
American Crow
American Kestrel
Bald Eagle
California Quail
California Thrasher
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Gambel's Quail
Common Raven
Osprey
Pileated Woodpecker
Western Meadowlark
Peregrine Falcon
Western Bluebird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruffed Grouse
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Northern Mockingbird
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Gray Jay
American Robin
Barred Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Costa's Hummingbird
California Towhee
Barn Owl
Cactus Wren
Common Raven
House Finch
Hooded Oriole
Hutton's Vireo
Harris's Hawk
Long-eared Owl
Loggerhead Shrike
Rock Dove
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Red-shouldered Hawk
Tree Swallow
Say's Phoebe
Sharp-shinned Hawk
White-crowned Sparrow
White-winged Dove
Verdin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Barn Swallow
Brewer's Blackbird
Brewer's Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Gambel's Quail
Northern Flicker
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Screech-Owl

Snakes / Scorpions / Spiders

Mojave Rattlesnake - Venomous
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Venomous
Speckled Rattlesnake - Venomous
Sidewinder - Venomous
Western Coral Snake - Venomous
Vaejovid Scorpions - Venomous
Giant Hairy Scorpion - Venomous
Northern Scorpion - Venomous
Tarantula - Venomous
Western Black Widow - Venomous
Rubber Boa
Racer
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Common Kingsnake
California Mountain Kingsnake
Gopher Snake
Common Garter Snake
Ringneck Snake
Night Snake
Rosy Boa
Striped Whipsnake

Toads / Lizards / Frogs / Turtles

Desert Tortoise
Desert Spiny Lizard
Black-collared Lizard
Long-toed Salamander
Northern Alligator Lizard
Side-blotched Lizard
Pacific Treefrog
Painted Turtle
Western Toad
Western Skink
Western Banded Gecko
Western Whiptail
Zebratail Lizard
California Newt
California Slender Salamander
Desert Horned Lizard
Desert Night Lizard
Western Fence Lizard
Coast Horned Lizard
Southern Alligator Lizard
Short-horned Lizard
Sagebrush Lizard