Arizona’s hottest months can make it seem like wildlife disappears, but that’s not really what’s happening.
I headed out before sunrise for a local rattlesnake survey to see how animals are coping with the extreme heat. During this time of year, many species shift their activity patterns or spend much of their time underground, relying on survival strategies that have helped them endure desert summers for millions of years.
One of those strategies is aestivation, which is similar to hibernation but occurs during hot, dry conditions instead of winter. Many rattlesnakes reduce their activity and spend extended periods sheltered underground, emerging only when conditions are more favorable.
