Chuckwallas in Grand Canyon by Sharon Hester. Featured Image by Sam Rodar “We saw a gila monster!” This statement is occasionally heard on river trips in Grand Canyon, but what was seen is most certainly a common chuckwalla, which is in the iguana family of lizards. Although, gila monsters have been sighted in the Diamond…
Grand Canyon Birding Tips by our in-house birder, Sharon Hester We have quite a few guests each year travel with us who are interested in birding while on their rafting adventure. The most common wildlife you’ll see in the canyon are birds. We thought it would be helpful to share just a few Grand Canyon birding…
When you see Grand Canyon bighorn sheep on a raft adventure, you’ll likely never forget it. They are amazing creatures to observe. The rams have iconic, impressive horns and the animals’ ability to run the steep cliff walls is fascinating. There are many additional impressive facts about Bighorn Sheep. Unfortunately, this symbol of the American…
Exploring the Grand Canyon by floating down the Colorado River with Arizona Raft Adventures provides the opportunity to see signs of ancient life including Grand Canyon rock art. The Ancient Puebloan people inhabited the American Southwest 800-1200 years ago. They lived, hunted and farmed in the Grand Canyon. Much of their existence remains a mystery, but…
Are you ready to identify three easy Grand Canyon spring blooms? The spring lends way to some of the most colorful displays of blooming flowers in the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is quite diverse, despite its “desert” reputation. The environment consists of several different plant communities from riparian to desert scrub. We couldn’t even begin to…
Grand Canyon ants hustle and bustle as they salvage crumbs in the sand on the beaches in and around camp. The ants in the Grand Canyon are not Fire Ants, but rather a Red Harvester Ant. They are a little pesky but you can co-exist. First, learn to recognize nest locations and ways to avoid…
Life of the Harvester Ant by Sharon Hester When you are on a Grand Canyon raft adventure with Arizona Raft Adventures, you will meet the Red Harvester Ant within hours of your departure. The Red Harvester Ant, Pogonomyrmex Californicus, is one of the most numerous and common insects you spot at your stops and at…
Grand Canyon Bats Science Adventure Arizona Raft Adventures teamed up with Bat Conservation International (BCI) for an 8-day motor adventure in August of 2013 to provide a truly unique Grand Canyon raft experience featuring Grand Canyon bats. Let’s face it, bats have a bad rap and few people like them. It could be the vampire…
Grand Canyon Archaeology – Research from the Bottom of the Canyon My name is Kimberly Spurr. I am an archaeologist. Over the past 25 years I have worked in some amazing places. But, studying Grand Canyon archaeology has a splendor all its own. It’s partly due to the sheer size of the landscape, which can…
What to Do If you See a Grand Canyon Scorpion on Your River Trip Many Grand Canyon rafting guests ask about scorpions. While we can’t deny their existence or their powerful and painful sting, stings rarely cause serious health problems. Scorpions can sometimes be found hiding in shoes, life jackets and clothing, sometimes under tarps…
