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A "sort of" Field Guide Below are a few examples of wildlife and plants that you may see along area creeks. Remember that you're on their turf; do not attempt to capture them or you may injure yourself or the critters. The plants and trees have an ecological job to do and we can enjoy them as they do it. Please stay on established trails when possible or be careful to not damage the plants when there is no trail.

This bobcat was found resting in the shade of trees that Prescott Creeks planted with the help of over 150 volunteers during the winter of 2002. Luckily, Prescott Creeks Board member Matt Turner had his new digital camera to capture this amazing sight.

This tranquil pool at Watson Woods Riparian Preserve often dries up several times each year. Fluctuations in the ground water levels in the Upper Granite Creek Watershed (a.k.a. Prescott Basin) cause nearly all of Prescott's eight creeks to have an intermittent flow. Do you know when there is likely to be water in the creeks? Or when they are usually dry? Some areas (like Granite Creek on the Yavapai-Prescott Reservation, or Miller Creek along Sonora St.) stay wet all year long due to shallow bedrock underlying the creek or due to human influences such as dams.

This Hinckley's cottonwood (Populus xhinckleyana), and many other trees shade Prescott's creeks and create habitat for all kinds of wildlife. There are actually three species of native cottonwoods in the Prescott area and they can be identified by the shape of their leaves. Next time you are along one of the creeks, see if you can notice the different species. Fremont cottonwood (P. fremontii) has a sort of heart-shaped leaf, while the narrowleaf cottonwood's (P. angustifolia) leaves are longer-more like a willow. Hinckley's can be very different from one tree to another, but their shape is usually in between that of the other two species.

Although this lizard is called an Eastern Fence Lizard, he's found right here, in our own backyard in the sunny southwest. Small claws on his toes allow him to scurry up logs and trees easily. Like many other lizards, the fence lizard's tail may detach to distract predators. Later, of course, when the chase is over, the fence lizard will grow a new tail.

The lowland leopard frog (Rana yavapaiensis) is a species who's numbers are declining all over the western United States due to modification of their habitat. Most of these modifications are caused by humans and include water table draw-down, introduction of non-native, predatory species such as bullfrogs, many "sport" fish, and crayfish; all of which eat the leopard frog's eggs and tadpoles. To our knowledge this frog has not been found in any of Prescott's creeks. It is likely the creeks have been altered too much to support this frog, but we will continue watching for it!

Real, or more comprehensive field guides are available on a variety of subjects from plants to birds to bugs to fish. You'll find many of these guides at your local book store.