Animals In The Desert That Eat Cactus

Some of the animals that can eat cactus are camels ground squirrel jackrabbits gophers prairie dogs galapagos land iguana horses packrats woodpecker eastern cottontail collared peccary some cows and horses alpaca etc.

Animals in the desert that eat cactus. The Cactus Wren is found in arid deserts of the Southwestern United States and Mexico. The collared peccary a type of hog eats the prickly pear cactus. Ranchers burn off the spines so that cattle can graze on them.

Cacti are home to desert animals including many types of birds. Camels are often called the ships of the desertDomesticated more than 3000 years ago the animals can tote 200 pounds dozens of miles. There are pictures of mule deer land iguana desert squirrel cactus mouse desert tortoise African blue tit birds desert cottontail rabbits as well.

Jackrabbits the ones with the large ears eat prickly pear particularly at the base of the plant where there are few or no spines. These insectivores then fall prey to the most dangerous carnivores in the desert the snakes. Reptiles eat cacti and their flowers.

During drought animals will often go for the most common type of cactus prickly pear. Insects such as bees and butterflies drink the nectar of the cactus flower. Many small animals such as bats and mice eat cactus in the dessert.

What animals eat cacti in the desert and how do they eat it. North Scottsdale resident Jim Bamberg recently came across the critter outside his home. The herbivorous White-winged Doves abundant across much of the desert brushlands eat the seeds of the ephemeral plans and the fruits of prickly pear cacti.

Pack rats eat Prickly Pear as well and also avoid large spines eating around them. Camels can feed on the entire cactus plant including its fruits and thorns. Jackrabbits eat Prickly Pear cactus and do so near the base where there are no large spines.