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Coyote standing in a field with mountains and buildings in the background

Coyote

The Coyote (Canis latrans) is one of the most adaptable and iconic mammals of the Coachella Valley and surrounding desert mountain ranges. It plays...

 An ostrich standing in dry grass at The Living Desert.

Ostriche

Meet the world’s largest bird—up to 9 feet tall and 300+ pounds. They can’t fly but make up for it by sprinting up to 45 mph across African savanna...

 Aerial view of Gelson’s Market in Rancho Mirage, with its storefront, palm-lined parking area and mountains beyond; photographed by Mark Miller on October 13, 2026

Gelson’s Market, Rancho Mirage

Gelson’s Market is a grocery stop on Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage, combining everyday shopping with prepared food, a bakery and a wine bar. For ...

 Close-up of green mountain plants beside a trail near the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

Artemisia dracunculus (Wild Tarragon)

Common Names: Tarragon, Wild Tarragon, Dragon SagewortFamily: Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Overview:Artemisia dracunculus, commonly known as tarr...

 Tan rounded desert shrub photographed in La Quinta Cove, tentatively identified as cheesebush or burrobrush

Cheesebush / Burrobrush

Field note · La Quinta Cove, September 28, 2026. The rounded, straw-colored shrub in these photographs is presented as a provisional identification...

 A spotted big cat resting in a shaded, leafy enclosure at The Living Desert.

Jaguar

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is one of the most striking and ecologically significant big cats, and while it is not native to the Coachella Valley, i...

 Rüppell's griffon vultures in a shaded habitat at The Living Desert.

Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture

Status in the Coachella Valley: Not native; present only as an ambassador species at The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens. The Rüppell’s Griffon Vul...

 Red crown-of-thorns flowers and pointed stems in The Living Desert gardens.

The Crown of Thorns

The Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) is a hardy, eye-catching succulent native to Madagascar that has found a home in arid and semi-arid gardens w...

 A depiction of Sonny Bono addressing supporters amid mayoral campaign signs.

Sonny Bono

Salvatore Phillip “Sonny” Bono (1935–1998) was an entertainer, songwriter, restaurateur, mayor, and United States congressman whose second act beca...

 Rocky foreground and sweeping Coachella Valley views from the Bump and Grind Trail

Bump and Grind Trail - Palm Desert, CA

Bump and Grind brings the desert hillside close to town: a climb above Palm Desert’s shopping streets opens onto long views across the Coachella Va...

 A desert cottontail rabbit sitting beneath shrubs at The Living Desert.

Desert Cottontail

A Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii), one of the most common rabbits in the Coachella Valley and surrounding desert and mountain foothill hab...

 A mule deer standing among trees beside a mountain trail.

Mule Deer

The Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is one of the most iconic and ecologically significant large mammals found in the Coachella Valley’s surroundin...