McDowell Sonoran Conservancy: Trailside Naturalist – A Desert Time Machine

Learn about the Pack Rats and their desert time machines. Ever wondered who lives in those piles of debris with cholla balls on top? The white-throated wood rat, aka the pack rat. This industrious little rodent has been collecting stuff and taking it home to nests for thousands of years. Join us and see an actual 11,000-year-old piece of amberrat (nest material) from a packrat nest. This golden colored nugget tells us what our Sonoran Desert used to look like. We will explain how it was formed by the small but mighty pack rat. *Trailside Naturalist is a family-friendly educational offering on many Saturday mornings. The presentations feature hands-on materials and specimens and cover a variety of topics about the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The informal setting allows visitors to ask questions and learn interesting information about the amazing biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Sign up is not necessary, stop by anytime.