Wildlife — Ramsey Canyon Inn

A crossroads of habitats

The same water and elevation that draw the hummingbirds make Ramsey Canyon one of the most biodiverse corners of Arizona. Black bear, white-nosed coati, ringtail, Coues white-tailed deer, and Gould's turkey all move through the canyon, most often at dawn and dusk. From the inn's porch and the trails just beyond it, patient guests see far more than they expect.

Watch responsibly. Give wildlife room, never feed it, and store food securely — we're in black-bear country. Dawn and dusk from a quiet porch are your best odds.

Canyon residents.

White-nosed Coati Nasua narica Travels in noisy bands, tail held straight up — a tropical visitor at the northern edge of its range.

Ringtail Bassariscus astutus Arizona's state mammal: a shy, big-eyed cousin of the raccoon, mostly seen after dark.

Black Bear Ursus americanus Forages through the canyon, especially in late summer — the reason we ask guests to store food securely.

Mountain Lion Puma concolor The canyon's apex predator — wide-ranging, secretive, and rarely seen, but very much here.

Arizona Gray Squirrel Sciurus arizonensis A riparian specialist found only in the canyons of southeastern Arizona and adjacent Mexico — watch for it in the sycamores and oaks.

Coues White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus couesi A small, gray desert race of the white-tail; often seen at dawn and dusk, sometimes with turkeys.

Wild Turkey (Gould's) Meleagris gallopavo mexicana The largest of the wild turkeys, reintroduced to these Sky Islands and now a canyon regular.

Chiricahua Leopard Frog Lithobates chiricahuensis A threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, endemic to the highlands of Arizona, New Mexico, Sonora, and Chihuahua at roughly 3,500–8,500 feet. The spring-fed stream and ponds around the inn, and the ponds in the Preserve, are all home to this rare frog.

More than birds move through the canyon.

A crossroads of habitats

Canyon residents.