What can hurt you, what you can eat, and how to tell them apart, from the Phoenix desert up the I-17 and SR-87 corridors to Payson and Flagstaff. 33 dangerous species, 16 edible animals, and 24 edible plants, with photos and first aid.
Water before food. In Arizona heat you can die of dehydration in a day; you can go weeks without food. Digesting protein uses water. Don't forage when water is short (water skills).
If in doubt, don't eat it. Identify with certainty: at least two features plus the look-alike check. One mistake with death camas, water hemlock, or a mushroom can kill.
The "universal edibility test" is not reliable for the plants that matter most here. Deadly plants such as death camas, water hemlock, poison hemlock, and amatoxin mushrooms may taste fine and cause no symptoms until hours or days later (US Army FM 21-76 itself warns it isn't for every plant). Use positive ID instead.
No wild mushrooms. Low calories, deadly risk.
Respect the law. Hunting and fishing need AZGFD licenses, seasons, and limits. Tribal lands are off-limits without tribal permits. Never take protected species (Gila monster, desert tortoise, native fish, eagles and most birds). Many native plants are protected (A.R.S. 3-908). National parks and monuments prohibit collecting.
Normal times vs. emergencies: foraging is not a plan to feed a family. Pack food and water (bug-out bag) and use food banks and shelters first. The law does not stop applying in an emergency.
Leave dangerous animals alone. Most bites happen when people try to catch, kill, or move snakes and lizards. Walk around them.
Save the numbers: 911 · Poison Control 1-800-222-1222 (Banner Poison & Drug Information Center, Phoenix, 24/7: 602-253-3334) · AZGFD to report wildlife issues.
Emergency first: for any bite, sting, or plant/mushroom ingestion call 911 if the person is very sick, otherwise Poison Control 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). For rattlesnake bites go straight to a hospital: no cutting, suction, tourniquet, or ice (AZ Poison Center, Banner).
Species change with elevation. Each card shows where it lives: Desert (Phoenix metro, Sonoran Desert), Corridor (I-17 and SR-87 through the Tonto NF, chaparral, and pinyon-juniper), High country (Payson, the Mogollon Rim, and Flagstaff's ponderosa pine).
Kid-friendly forageWhat the badge means. We give it only to plants that meet all of these:
Easy to recognize with no dangerous look-alike in these regions (or one an adult can rule out by checking the tree or plant itself).
The edible part needs no risky preparation (no leaching, no toxins to cook out, no knives beyond an adult's).
Common, legal to gather in small amounts with permission, and not protected as "highly safeguarded".
Hazards (spines, glochids, mold) are things an adult handles.
Adult supervision always. An adult confirms the plant, does the cutting, peeling, and mold checks, and decides what is eaten. Only four plants earned it: prickly pear fruit, mesquite pods (from the tree, before monsoon), pinyon nuts, and dandelion.
Dangerous animals
Snakes & lizards
Western diamondback rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox · Snakes & lizards
DangerousDesertCorridor
Whole animal Photo: Daderot, CC0Coiled diamondback Photo: Peter Paplanus, CC BY 2.0Look-alike: harmless gopher snake Photo: The original uploader was Dawson at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5
Identify
Arizona's largest rattlesnake (to about 5.5 ft). Gray-tan with dark-edged diamond blotches peppered with dark specks; black and white tail bands of equal width ("coon tail"); light eye stripe runs down to the lip.
Where & when
Desert to about 5,300 ft below the Mogollon Rim: desert flats, washes, hillsides, and neighborhoods at the desert edge. Active spring through fall; at night in summer heat.
Danger
Responsible for many of Arizona's venomous snakebites. Pain, swelling, bleeding problems; can be life-threatening.
First aid
Call 911 and get to a hospital with antivenom; car keys and phone are the best snakebite kit. Keep still and calm, remove rings, watches, and tight clothing, and keep the limb near heart level. No cutting, suction or "extractors", tourniquets or tight bands, ice, electric shock, or alcohol. Don't try to catch or kill the snake; treatment is the same for every Arizona rattlesnake. Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222.
Look-alikes
Harmless gopher snake (no rattle, round pupils, narrow head) mimics rattlesnakes by hissing and shaking its tail. Mojave rattlesnake has narrower black tail bands.
Legal status
Nongame reptile. Some rattlesnakes can be taken only with a valid AZ hunting license under Commission Order 43, and several Arizona species are closed. Killing snakes is unnecessary: walk around them.
Whole animal Photo: Lvthn13 at English Wikipedia
(Original text: Self-Created), Public domainHead and eye stripe Photo: Claudio Cantú Muñiz, CC BY 4.0
Identify
Greenish-gray to tan with diamonds; white tail bands wider than the black ones; eye stripe passes above the corner of the mouth. Often confused with the diamondback.
Where & when
Open desert flats and grassland, mostly below 5,000 ft; along I-17 north of Phoenix and open desert around the metro.
Danger
Venom can be strongly neurotoxic in some populations (trouble breathing, weakness) as well as causing tissue damage. Treat every bite as serious, even if it looks mild at first.
First aid
Call 911 and get to a hospital with antivenom; car keys and phone are the best snakebite kit. Keep still and calm, remove rings, watches, and tight clothing, and keep the limb near heart level. No cutting, suction or "extractors", tourniquets or tight bands, ice, electric shock, or alcohol. Don't try to catch or kill the snake; treatment is the same for every Arizona rattlesnake. Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222.
Look-alikes
Western diamondback (equal tail bands, more speckled blotches).
Legal status
Nongame reptile. Some rattlesnakes can be taken only with a valid AZ hunting license under Commission Order 43, and several Arizona species are closed. Killing snakes is unnecessary: walk around them.
Whole animal Photo: derivative work: Victorrocha (talk · contribs)
Crotalus_cera, CC BY-SA 3.0Sidewinder Photo: Diana, CC BY 4.0
Identify
Small (under 2.5 ft), pale sandy color, raised hornlike scale above each eye; moves sideways, leaving J-shaped tracks.
Where & when
Sandy flats and dunes of the low desert, mainly west and southwest of Phoenix (e.g., toward Buckeye and Gila Bend). Mostly nocturnal.
Danger
Painful, swelling bite; less venom than larger species but still a medical emergency.
First aid
Call 911 and get to a hospital with antivenom; car keys and phone are the best snakebite kit. Keep still and calm, remove rings, watches, and tight clothing, and keep the limb near heart level. No cutting, suction or "extractors", tourniquets or tight bands, ice, electric shock, or alcohol. Don't try to catch or kill the snake; treatment is the same for every Arizona rattlesnake. Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222.
Legal status
Nongame reptile. Some rattlesnakes can be taken only with a valid AZ hunting license under Commission Order 43, and several Arizona species are closed. Killing snakes is unnecessary: walk around them.
Black-tailed rattlesnake Photo: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0Solid black tail Photo: LA Dawson, CC BY 2.5
Identify
Yellow-olive to greenish with dark crossbands; solid black tail and usually a dark snout.
Where & when
Rocky slopes, canyons, and woodland from desert mountains up through chaparral and pine-oak; common along SR-87 and in the Tonto NF.
Danger
Venomous; bites are medical emergencies.
First aid
Call 911 and get to a hospital with antivenom; car keys and phone are the best snakebite kit. Keep still and calm, remove rings, watches, and tight clothing, and keep the limb near heart level. No cutting, suction or "extractors", tourniquets or tight bands, ice, electric shock, or alcohol. Don't try to catch or kill the snake; treatment is the same for every Arizona rattlesnake. Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222.
Look-alikes
Arizona black rattlesnake (darker overall, higher elevations).
Legal status
Nongame reptile. Some rattlesnakes can be taken only with a valid AZ hunting license under Commission Order 43, and several Arizona species are closed. Killing snakes is unnecessary: walk around them.
Whole animal Photo: Ltshears, CC BY-SA 3.0Tiger rattlesnake, Paradise Valley Photo: Richard N Horne, CC BY 4.0
Identify
Small head for its body, gray to pinkish with narrow dark crossbands (tiger stripes) rather than diamonds.
Where & when
Rocky Sonoran Desert foothills and canyons around the Phoenix area mountains (South Mountain, McDowells, Superstitions).
Danger
Small venom yield but very potent venom. Medical emergency.
First aid
Call 911 and get to a hospital with antivenom; car keys and phone are the best snakebite kit. Keep still and calm, remove rings, watches, and tight clothing, and keep the limb near heart level. No cutting, suction or "extractors", tourniquets or tight bands, ice, electric shock, or alcohol. Don't try to catch or kill the snake; treatment is the same for every Arizona rattlesnake. Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222.
Legal status
Nongame reptile. Some rattlesnakes can be taken only with a valid AZ hunting license under Commission Order 43, and several Arizona species are closed. Killing snakes is unnecessary: walk around them.
Crotalus pyrrhus (formerly C. mitchellii) · Snakes & lizards
DangerousDesert
Whole animal Photo: Athene cunicularia (talk) 16:54, 28 March 2008 (UTC).
Origi, CC BY-SA 3.0Speckled pattern Photo: Joshua Tree National Park, CC BY 2.0
Identify
Color matches local rock (pinkish, tan, gray) with speckled, salt-and-pepper bands; rough-looking scales.
Where & when
Rocky desert mountains, especially west of Phoenix (e.g., White Tank and Sierra Estrella areas) and western Arizona.
Danger
Venomous; medical emergency.
First aid
Call 911 and get to a hospital with antivenom; car keys and phone are the best snakebite kit. Keep still and calm, remove rings, watches, and tight clothing, and keep the limb near heart level. No cutting, suction or "extractors", tourniquets or tight bands, ice, electric shock, or alcohol. Don't try to catch or kill the snake; treatment is the same for every Arizona rattlesnake. Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222.
Legal status
Nongame reptile. Some rattlesnakes can be taken only with a valid AZ hunting license under Commission Order 43, and several Arizona species are closed. Killing snakes is unnecessary: walk around them.
Dark adult Photo: TheLoneStarState, CC BY-SA 4.0Arizona black rattlesnake Photo: RatioTile, CC BY-SA 4.0
Identify
Adults very dark: black to dark brown or gray, often with lighter crossbars; young are lighter and blotched. Can darken and lighten.
Where & when
Mountains of central Arizona along the Mogollon Rim, Tonto NF, Payson area, Mazatzal and Sierra Ancha; chaparral, pine-oak, and ponderosa forest.
Danger
Venomous; medical emergency. Often found near trails and rock outcrops in the high country.
First aid
Call 911 and get to a hospital with antivenom; car keys and phone are the best snakebite kit. Keep still and calm, remove rings, watches, and tight clothing, and keep the limb near heart level. No cutting, suction or "extractors", tourniquets or tight bands, ice, electric shock, or alcohol. Don't try to catch or kill the snake; treatment is the same for every Arizona rattlesnake. Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222.
Look-alikes
Grand Canyon rattlesnake (pinkish, Grand Canyon only, not on the route).
Legal status
Nongame reptile. Some rattlesnakes can be taken only with a valid AZ hunting license under Commission Order 43, and several Arizona species are closed. Killing snakes is unnecessary: walk around them.
Whole animal Photo: Unknown (see source page), CC BY-SA 2.5Hopi rattlesnake form Photo: Gary M. Stolz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Identify
Greenish-tan to brown with dark blotches that become bands near the tail; light stripes on the face.
Where & when
Grasslands and open pinyon-juniper of northern Arizona, including the Flagstaff area's open country and prairie-dog towns.
Danger
Venomous; medical emergency.
First aid
Call 911 and get to a hospital with antivenom; car keys and phone are the best snakebite kit. Keep still and calm, remove rings, watches, and tight clothing, and keep the limb near heart level. No cutting, suction or "extractors", tourniquets or tight bands, ice, electric shock, or alcohol. Don't try to catch or kill the snake; treatment is the same for every Arizona rattlesnake. Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222.
Look-alikes
Gopher snake (round pupils, no rattle).
Legal status
Nongame reptile. Some rattlesnakes can be taken only with a valid AZ hunting license under Commission Order 43, and several Arizona species are closed. Killing snakes is unnecessary: walk around them.
Whole animal Photo: Theo Kruse / Burgers' Zoo, CC BY-SA 4.0Beaded skin Photo: MonsterDoc, CC BY-SA 4.0
Identify
Heavy lizard (to about 22 in) with beadlike skin in black and pink, orange, or yellow patterns; fat tail; slow-moving.
Where & when
Desert foothills, washes, and rocky slopes; mostly underground, active on spring mornings and after summer rains.
Danger
Venomous bite that holds on; extremely painful, with swelling, nausea, and sometimes breathing trouble. There is no antivenom.
First aid
Remove the lizard quickly (pry the jaws open with a strong stick while it keeps its feet on the ground). Irrigate the wound with water, keep the limb at heart level, call 1-800-222-1222, and go to a medical facility (broken teeth may be in the wound; check tetanus).
Legal status
Legally protected in Arizona. Never capture, harass, kill, or eat a Gila monster. Watch from a distance; it will walk away.
Whole animal Photo: Matt Berger, CC BY 4.0Scorpions glow under UV light (European species shown) Photo: Erinacaeus, CC0Look-alike: giant desert hairy scorpion (thick pincers) Photo: BertaDasNashorn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Identify
Small (to about 1.5 in), straw-yellow to tan, with slender pincers and a thin tail. Climbs walls and ceilings; glows under UV light.
Where & when
Throughout the Phoenix metro in homes and yards, under bark, rocks, and debris; lower desert canyons. Active on warm nights.
Danger
The only scorpion in Arizona regarded as life-threatening. Intense pain, numbness, and tingling; small children are at highest risk of severe reactions (jerky movements, wild eye movements).
First aid
Wash with soap and water, apply a cool compress, keep the limb comfortable, and use over-the-counter pain relief. Call 1-800-222-1222 to decide if a hospital visit is needed; go immediately for young children or severe symptoms.
Look-alikes
Giant desert hairy scorpion (large, thick pincers) and stripe-tailed scorpion: painful but not considered dangerous.
Female glossy black, round abdomen with a red or orange hourglass underneath. Messy, strong, irregular web low to the ground. Males are small and brown.
Where & when
Woodpiles, sheds, rock walls, outdoor furniture, and utility boxes everywhere along the route.
Danger
Painful bite followed by cramping and stiffness in the back, chest, or belly; nausea, headache, high blood pressure. Worse for small children.
First aid
Wash with soap and water, cool compress, keep the limb near heart level, OTC pain relief. Call 1-800-222-1222; children under 5 and adults with severe symptoms may need hospital care.
Look-alikes
Brown widow (non-native, brown with orange hourglass) also occurs in Phoenix.
Violin mark on a recluse spider (brown recluse shown; Arizona has related species) Photo: Robert Webster, CC BY-SA 4.0Related desert recluse Photo: DesertTrip, CC BY-SA 4.0
Identify
Light tan to brown, about nickel-to-quarter size with legs; violin-shaped mark on the front body; six eyes in pairs. Shy.
Where & when
Dry, undisturbed places: packrat nests, woodpiles, closets, under rocks. The true brown recluse lives in the Midwest, not Arizona.
Danger
Bites may become a slow-healing "bull's-eye" sore with dead skin, sometimes with flu-like symptoms.
First aid
Keep the bite clean with soap and water and get medical treatment; call 1-800-222-1222.
Look-alikes
Many harmless brown spiders look similar; most "spider bites" are actually other skin infections.
Bee Photo: Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Public domainSwarm: keep away Photo: Хомелка, CC BY-SA 3.0
Identify
Look the same as ordinary honey bees; only behavior tells: they defend a wide area around the hive and chase people for a long distance.
Where & when
Common throughout southern and central Arizona. Hives in walls, meter boxes, rock crevices, old tires, and tree hollows.
Danger
Mass stinging attacks can be fatal; one sting can kill a person with a bee allergy.
First aid
Run to a car or building, covering your face; don't swat or stop, and don't jump into water (bees wait). Remove stingers within seconds by any means. Call 911 for many stings or any allergy signs (welts, trouble breathing); otherwise 1-800-222-1222.
Triatoma rubida and relatives · Spiders, scorpions & insects
DangerousDesertCorridor
Kissing bug feeding (South American species shown) Photo: Photo Credit:
Content Providers(s): CDC/World Health Organiz, Public domainKissing bugs: cone-shaped heads, orange edge marks Photo: Curtis-Robles et al., CC BY 4.0
Identify
About 1/2–1 in, dark with orange-red marks along the edge of a flat body; long cone-shaped head.
Where & when
Packrat nests; drawn to lights on summer nights and bite sleeping people and pets.
Danger
Bites are painless at first, then itchy swelling; repeat bites can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. They can carry the parasite that causes Chagas disease, but human infection from Arizona bugs is rare.
First aid
Wash with soap and water. Seek care for allergic signs; people with severe reactions may be prescribed an epinephrine kit. Call 1-800-222-1222.
Look-alikes
Harmless leaf-footed and assassin bugs look similar.
Whole animal Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0Large poison glands behind the eyes Photo: 2009-02-26Bufo_alvarius184.jpg: Wildfeuer
derivative work: H, CC BY-SA 3.0
Identify
Very large toad (to 7 in), smooth olive skin, big kidney-shaped glands behind the eyes and white warts at the corners of the mouth.
Where & when
Near water, irrigated yards, and canals during and after the summer monsoon; active at night.
Danger
Its skin and gland toxins are poisonous. Dogs that mouth one can collapse, seize, or die. Never lick it or try to use its secretions: they can cause seizures and heart problems, and they contain a controlled substance (5-MeO-DMT).
First aid
Dog exposure: rinse the mouth sideways with a hose (nose pointed down so it doesn't swallow), wipe the gums, and go to a vet immediately. Human exposure: wash skin, rinse eyes, call 1-800-222-1222.
Look-alikes
Smaller Great Plains and red-spotted toads; still wash hands after touching any toad.
Whole animal Photo: Saguaro National Park, CC BY 2.0Track (no claw marks) Photo: Gionorossi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Identify
Large tawny cat, long thick tail with a dark tip; tracks show four toes and no claw marks.
Where & when
Statewide where deer live: desert mountains edging Phoenix, the Tonto NF, the Rim, and Flagstaff forests. Most active dawn and dusk.
Danger
Attacks on people are very rare but serious; small children and running people are most at risk.
First aid
Don't run. Pick up small children, face the lion, look big, back away slowly, and shout. If attacked, fight back hard (rocks, sticks, fists). Report to AZGFD; call 911 for injuries.
Legal status
Big-game species: hunting only by AZGFD license and season.
Black, brown, or cinnamon (color doesn't tell the species); no shoulder hump; tall ears. Grizzlies do not live in Arizona.
Where & when
Chaparral, Mogollon Rim, Payson area, and ponderosa and mixed-conifer forest. Drawn to trash, coolers, and pet food, especially in drought years.
Danger
Rare but real attacks in Arizona; food-conditioned bears are the biggest risk.
First aid
Never feed bears; store food and trash in your car or bear boxes. If you meet one, give it space, stand tall, make noise, back away; don't run. Fight back if a black bear attacks. Report to AZGFD.
Legal status
Big-game species: AZGFD license and season only. Bear meat often carries Trichinella; it must be cooked to at least 160°F (CDC).
Preparation
Legal hunters must cook bear meat thoroughly (160°F) because of trichinellosis; freezing does not reliably kill the parasite in wild game.
Herd Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER, CC0Pale collar Photo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0
Identify
Pig-like, grizzled gray-black with a pale "collar"; travels in herds; strong musky smell. Not a pig (a separate family).
Where & when
Desert, chaparral, and edges of Phoenix-area neighborhoods, Payson's lower edges. Often in yards where people feed them.
Danger
Usually avoid people but will defend themselves and attack dogs; sharp tusks.
First aid
Give them an escape route; keep dogs leashed. Never feed them (feeding wildlife other than birds and tree squirrels is illegal in Maricopa County, A.R.S. 13-2927). Clean bites well and seek care (infection, rabies risk).
Look-alikes
Feral hogs (rare in this area) are larger, with a straight tail.
Legal status
Big-game species: hunting only with an AZGFD javelina tag in season (draw).
Preparation
Field dress promptly. Remove the scent gland on the lower back carefully without cutting into it, and keep hair off the meat. Cook to 160°F; slow braising suits the lean meat.
Whole animal Photo: Henry from Arizona, United States, CC BY 2.0
Identify
Gray-tan dog-like animal, bushy tail held low, large pointed ears.
Where & when
Everywhere, including city parks and neighborhoods.
Danger
Rarely bite people; may take small pets. Bold or sick animals can carry rabies.
First aid
Haze them: make noise, wave arms, throw objects near (not at) them. Keep pets inside at night. Any bite: wash 15 minutes with soap and water and get medical care for rabies shots.
Legal status
Nongame predator under AZGFD regulations; not recommended as food.
Flower spike Photo: Jason Hollinger, CC BY 2.0Plant Photo: Scott, CC BY 2.0
Identify
Grass-like leaves from an onion-like bulb; spike of small cream-white six-petaled flowers with a greenish spot at the base of each petal. No onion smell.
Where & when
Meadows and open pine forest in the high country, spring to early summer.
Danger
All parts are highly toxic; a few bulbs can kill. Easily mistaken for wild onion when not in flower.
First aid
Call 1-800-222-1222 or 911 immediately after any suspected ingestion.
Look-alikes
Wild onion (always smells of onion). If it doesn't smell like onion, don't eat it; and onion smell on your hands can fool you after handling real onions.
Sprawling plant with large gray-green leaves, big white trumpet flowers that open at dusk, and spiny round seed pods. Foul smell.
Where & when
Roadsides, washes, and disturbed ground from the desert to Flagstaff.
Danger
All parts poisonous (anticholinergic): hallucinations, very high heart rate, fever, seizures, death. People are poisoned trying to use it as a drug or mistaking it for edible plants.
Plant and flowers Photo: Unknown (see source page), Public domainSpotted water hemlock (close relative, same danger) Photo: Williammehlhorn at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Identify
Tall plant in wet ground with umbrella-shaped white flower clusters; leaflets with veins ending in the notches; chambered, hollow base that may ooze yellow oily liquid.
Where & when
Stream banks, wet meadows, and ditches in the Rim country and around Flagstaff.
Danger
Considered the most toxic plant in North America; a small piece of root can cause violent seizures and death within hours.
First aid
Call 911 immediately.
Look-alikes
Wild carrot, wild parsnip, water parsley, and cow parsnip. Don't eat any wild plant in the carrot family (white umbrella flowers).
Plant Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0Purple-blotched stem Photo: Mathieu Menand, CC BY-SA 2.0 frLook-alike: wild carrot flower Photo: Petro Stelte, CC BY-SA 4.0
Identify
Tall (to 8 ft) with fern-like leaves, white umbrella flowers, and smooth stems with purple blotches; musty "mousy" smell.
Where & when
Moist, disturbed ground, roadsides, and stream banks; naturalized in Arizona.
Danger
All parts deadly (paralysis, respiratory failure).
First aid
Call 911 immediately.
Look-alikes
Wild carrot / Queen Anne's lace (hairy stem, no purple blotches), fennel. Avoid the whole carrot family.
Tree tobacco: lanky shrub with smooth blue-green oval leaves and tubular yellow flowers. Desert tobacco: low, sticky plant with small white tubular flowers.
Where & when
Washes, roadsides, and disturbed ground below about 3,000–5,000 ft.
Danger
Tree tobacco contains anabasine; people have died after cooking its leaves as greens.
First aid
Call 911 or 1-800-222-1222.
Look-alikes
Some people mistake young tree tobacco leaves for edible greens.
Amanita phalloides group, A. muscaria, and many others · Toxic plants
DangerousCorridorHigh country
Fly agaric Photo: Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA, CC BY 2.0Death cap type Photo: George Chernilevsky, Public domain
Identify
Many deadly mushrooms look ordinary: white gills, a ring on the stem, a cup at the base. Fly agaric (red with white spots) grows under Flagstaff pines.
Where & when
Ponderosa pine and oak forest after summer monsoon rains.
Danger
Amatoxin mushrooms cause liver failure days after eating; symptoms start late, after damage is done.
First aid
Call 1-800-222-1222 immediately after eating any wild mushroom, even if you feel fine. Keep a sample.
Look-alikes
Every edible mushroom has a toxic look-alike.
Legal status
Don't forage mushrooms at all for this guide's purposes. They are low in calories and the risk is deadly.
Bats, skunks, foxes (also bobcats, coyotes). A bat found in a room with a sleeping person counts as an exposure.
Never handle wild animals or bats. Wash any bite or scratch 15 minutes with soap and water and get medical care the same day; rabies shots work if given in time.
Fleas from prairie dogs, rock squirrels, and other rodents; endemic in northern Arizona including the Flagstaff area (Coconino County reported a prairie-dog die-off and a pneumonic plague death in July 2025).
Avoid rodent burrows and sick or dead animals; use repellent and tuck pants into socks; treat pets for fleas and keep them leashed. Fever and swollen glands after exposure: see a doctor immediately (antibiotics work). Report die-offs: Coconino County 928-679-8756.
Rabbits, hares, rodents; ticks and deer flies; untreated water.
Wear gloves to skin rabbits and rodents; never handle animals found dead; cook game thoroughly (freezing doesn't kill the bacteria). Many hunters discard any rabbit with white or yellow spots on the liver, but a clean liver is not a guarantee.
A fungus in desert soil (Coccidioides). Maricopa County has some of the highest rates in the U.S. Spread by breathing dust after digging or dust storms.
Wet soil before digging; wear an N95 in dust; see a doctor for cough, fever, and fatigue lasting more than a week and ask about Valley fever.
Every animal here requires an AZGFD license, season, and limits. They're listed so you can identify them, handle them safely, and know the rules, not as permission.
Small gray-brown rabbit with a white fluffy tail and medium ears; freezes, then zigzags.
Where & when
Desert scrub, washes, golf-course edges, and brushy areas statewide; most active dawn and dusk.
Legal status
Small game. Requires a valid AZGFD hunting license (and tags or permits where required), legal season, legal methods, and bag limits. Seasons change every year: check the current AZGFD regulations.
Preparation
Tularemia precautions: never take a rabbit that acts sick or is found dead. Wear gloves, keep hands away from your face, and wash hands, knives, and boards afterward. Skin it, remove the guts, and inspect the liver: many hunters discard any rabbit with white or yellow spots. Rinse, chill quickly, and cook to 160°F (USDA). Good stewed or braised.
Whole animal Photo: Chuck Homler d/b/a Focus On Wildlife, CC BY-SA 4.0Long black-tipped ears Photo: Jessie Eastland, CC BY-SA 4.0
Identify
Large hare with very long black-tipped ears and a black stripe on top of the tail; long powerful legs.
Where & when
Open desert, grassland, and farm edges statewide.
Legal status
Jackrabbits are regulated by AZGFD; a valid hunting license and current season and limits apply.
Preparation
Same tularemia precautions as cottontail (gloves; discard sick animals; inspect the liver). Meat is darker and tougher: braise or stew, cook to 160°F. Summer jackrabbits may carry botfly larvae (warbles) under the skin; trim the area.
Male Photo: Polinova, CC BY-SA 4.0Female Photo: SearchNet Media from Tucson, Arizona, USA, CC BY 2.0
Identify
Plump gray bird with a forward-curling black head plume; males have a rusty cap and black face. Travels in coveys.
Where & when
Desert scrub and washes, including Phoenix neighborhoods; lower edges of the corridors.
Legal status
Upland game bird. Requires a valid AZGFD hunting license (and tags or permits where required), legal season, legal methods, and bag limits. Seasons change every year: check the current AZGFD regulations.
Preparation
Pluck or skin, remove the crop and guts, rinse. Cook to 165°F (all poultry and game birds). Roast whole or split and grill.
Mourning dove Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0White-winged dove Photo: SearchNet Media, CC BY 2.0
Identify
Mourning: slim, tan, pointed tail, black wing spots. White-winged: stockier with a white stripe along the wing edge, blue eye-ring; arrives in summer to feed on saguaro fruit.
Where & when
Desert, farms, and neighborhoods; white-wings mainly April–September.
Legal status
Migratory game birds: AZGFD license plus the federal migratory bird (HIP) requirement; specific dove seasons only.
Preparation
Breast out the bird, rinse, cook to 165°F; grill wrapped or pan-fry.
Mule deer: big ears, black-tipped rope-like tail, bounding gait. Coues whitetail: small, with a broad tail that flashes white; brushy mountains.
Where & when
Mule deer statewide (desert to forest); Coues whitetail in chaparral and oak woodland along the Rim and Tonto NF.
Legal status
Big game: hunting only with an AZGFD tag in the hunt unit and season you drew.
Preparation
Field dress quickly (open the belly without puncturing guts, remove organs, prop open to cool), keep the meat below 40°F, and keep it clean. Cook venison and ground venison to 160°F (USDA). In Arizona, check AZGFD guidance on chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing if hunting near state borders.
Sciurus aberti, Otospermophilus variegatus · Small game
EdibleCorridorHigh country
Abert's squirrel Photo: Alejandro Gómez Nísino, CC BY-SA 4.0Rock squirrel Photo: Toffel, Public domain
Identify
Abert's: gray with tall ear tufts, lives in ponderosa pines. Rock squirrel: large mottled gray-brown ground squirrel among rocks.
Where & when
Abert's in ponderosa forest (Flagstaff, Payson). Rock squirrels on rocky slopes from desert to forest.
Legal status
Tree squirrels are small game with a set season; rock squirrels are regulated separately. Check current AZGFD regulations.
Preparation
Plague and tularemia carriers: rock squirrels and other ground squirrels carry plague fleas in northern Arizona, so avoid handling them; in an emergency, gloves on, kill fleas (bag the carcass briefly), skin, and cook to 160°F. Never take a squirrel found dead or acting sick.
Ictalurus punctatus, Pylodictis olivaris · Fish & crayfish
EdibleDesertCorridor
Channel catfish Photo: Fishes of Texas team, CC BY-SA 4.0Flathead catfish Photo: Engbretson, Eric / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Identify
Scaleless with whiskers (barbels). Channel: forked tail, spots when young. Flathead: flat head, jutting lower jaw, square tail.
Where & when
Salt and Verde rivers, Saguaro, Canyon, Apache, Roosevelt, and Bartlett lakes, and Phoenix-area community fishing waters.
Legal status
Requires a valid AZGFD fishing license; follow statewide and water-specific limits. Fish may not be transported alive from the water where caught.
Preparation
Careful of the sharp spines on the back and side fins. Kill, cut around the head, skin with pliers, gut, rinse. Cook fish to 145°F or until flesh is opaque and flakes. Check ADEQ fish consumption advisories for the lake you're fishing: Roosevelt and Apache lakes are among the waters with current mercury advisories (ADEQ, revised June 2026).
Rainbow trout Photo: USFWS, Public domainProtected: Gila trout (release) Photo: Melanie Dabovich, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Identify
Silvery with small black spots and a pink stripe along the side.
Where & when
Rim lakes and streams (e.g., East Verde, Tonto Creek, Woods Canyon and Willow Springs lakes), Oak Creek, and winter community waters in Phoenix.
Legal status
Requires a valid AZGFD fishing license; follow statewide and water-specific limits. Fish may not be transported alive from the water where caught. Native Gila trout and Apache trout are protected or under special rules; learn to tell them apart and release them unless regulations allow take.
Preparation
Gut and rinse; cook whole over coals or in a pan to 145°F.
Faxonius virilis, Procambarus clarkii · Fish & crayfish
EdibleDesertCorridorHigh country
Northern (virile) crayfish Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson, CC BY-SA 3.0Red swamp crayfish Photo: No machine-readable author provided. MikeMurphy assumed (bas, Public domain
Identify
Small lobster-like crustaceans, 3–5 in, in streams, lakes, and canals. Not native to Arizona; they damage native fish and frogs, and removing them is encouraged.
Where & when
Salt and Verde rivers, Rim streams and lakes, Oak Creek, canals.
Legal status
A valid AZGFD fishing license is required. You may keep them, but it's illegal to transport live crayfish away from the water where caught (kill them on site) or move them to other waters.
Preparation
Kill on site, keep cool, rinse well. Boil 5–10 minutes until shells turn red and meat is opaque; eat the tail meat. Discard any that smell bad.
Bullfrog Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0Protected: Chiricahua leopard frog Photo: Jim Rorabaugh/USFWS, CC BY 2.0
Identify
Large green-brown frog with a big round eardrum and no ridges down the back; deep "jug-o-rum" call.
Where & when
Ponds, stock tanks, and slow rivers; invasive and harmful to native leopard frogs and garter snakes.
Legal status
Take with a valid fishing license per AZGFD Commission Order 41. Native leopard frogs (e.g., Chiricahua leopard frog) are protected; learn the difference.
Preparation
Kill humanely, skin the hind legs, rinse, cook to 145°F or until opaque. Wash hands; amphibians can carry Salmonella.
Grasshopper Photo: Bill Bouton from San Luis Obispo, CA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Identify
Grasshoppers are the most practical: catch them in cool mornings when they're slow. Skip brightly colored or bad-smelling insects, hairy caterpillars, and anything that stings or bites.
Where & when
Grassy areas and roadsides in summer and fall.
Legal status
No license needed, but avoid insects from sprayed lawns, golf courses, roadsides, and farm fields (pesticides).
Preparation
Remove legs and wings (spiny legs can scratch the throat). Always cook (roast or boil) to kill parasites; never eat raw.
Killing a snake is when many bites happen, and a severed head can still bite by reflex for hours. The meat is small for the risk.
Legal status
Rattlesnakes are regulated reptiles (license, open species, and limits only). Several species are closed.
Preparation
Eating rattlesnake is possible, but killing snakes is dangerous and unnecessary; prefer walking away. If a legally taken snake is used, bury the head deep without touching it, skin and gut with gloves, and cook thoroughly (Salmonella and parasites).
Flat, paddle-shaped pads with spines and tiny hair-like glochids; fruit (tunas) ripen deep red-purple.
Season
Young pads (nopalitos) in spring; fruit in late summer to fall (Aug–Oct).
Where & when
Desert and grassland, and many yards (landscape plants are the easiest legal source with permission).
Look-alikes
No toxic look-alikes among Arizona prickly pears, but cholla and other spiny cacti have worse spines.
Legal status
Cacti are protected native plants; fruit and seeds of non-highly-safeguarded plants may be collected under A.R.S. 3-908, but taking living pads from state or public land needs a permit. On public land, follow the land manager's rules (national parks and monuments generally ban collecting). On private land, get permission.
Preparation
Use tongs and thick gloves. Glochids are the hazard: burn them off over a flame or scrub under running water, then peel. Fruit: halve and scoop, or simmer and strain through cloth to make juice (strain twice to remove seeds and stray glochids). Pads: pick young ones, cut off the edge and spine bumps, slice, boil or grill (they're slimy like okra).
Kids
Adult supervision always. Adults remove the glochids and peel the fruit; kids help spot ripe fruit and strain juice.
Branching, jointed cylinder cacti. Buckhorn and staghorn cholla flower buds are the traditional food (Tohono O'odham ciolim).
Season
Flower buds, about April–May, before they open.
Where & when
Sonoran Desert flats and slopes.
Look-alikes
Teddy-bear cholla is not used (dense spines). Avoid jumping-cholla injuries: use a comb to flick joints off skin.
Legal status
Protected native plant group; get permission (private land) or follow land-manager rules. On public land, follow the land manager's rules (national parks and monuments generally ban collecting). On private land, get permission.
Preparation
Use tongs. Roll buds in gravel or screen to knock off spines, then boil or steam about 15 minutes and rinse; can be dried for storage.
Tree Photo: Adbar, CC BY-SA 3.0Ripe pods Photo: Sue in az, Public domainLook-alike: Texas mountain laurel pods (toxic) Photo: Cecilemckee, CC BY 4.0
Identify
Thorny tree with feathery, twice-divided leaves; long bean pods that turn tan, yellow, or red-striped and snap when ripe.
Season
Late May–early July, before the summer monsoon rains.
Where & when
Washes, desert flats, and Phoenix streets and parks.
Look-alikes
Texas mountain laurel and other landscape trees also have pods (toxic seeds). Know the tree first.
Legal status
Mesquite is a protected (salvage-assessed / harvest-restricted) native tree, but pods are fruit; pick with permission or per land-manager rules.
Preparation
Pick dry, brittle pods from the tree, never from the ground, before rains; don't wash or wet them. Taste one: it should be sweet; skip bitter or chalky trees. Discard moldy, damp, or insect-damaged pods (aflatoxin risk: even invisible mold can be harmful). Dry further (low oven) and grind into flour, or simmer pods for a sweet syrup.
Kids
Adult supervision always. Kids pick dry pods off a known mesquite tree with an adult; adults check every pod for mold and decide what's kept.
The giant columnar cactus; green fruit ripen to split open and show red pulp with black seeds.
Season
June–July.
Where & when
Sonoran Desert, including Phoenix-area mountain parks.
Legal status
Highly safeguarded plant. Fruit and seeds can't be collected from state or public land without a permit (A.R.S. 3-908); state trust and state park land generally prohibit it. Saguaro National Park allows small amounts for immediate eating only. On private land, get written permission. Tohono O'odham harvest traditions take precedence on tribal land.
Preparation
Traditionally knocked down with a long saguaro-rib pole. Scoop the pulp; eat fresh or simmer and strain into syrup.
Agave rosette Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0Golden-flowered agave Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0
Identify
Rosette of thick, spine-tipped leaves; flowers once on a tall stalk, then dies.
Season
Traditionally harvested just before the stalk shoots up.
Where & when
Rocky slopes from the desert into the chaparral.
Look-alikes
Century plants in landscaping are also agaves (same irritant sap).
Legal status
Agaves are protected native plants and some species are highly safeguarded; removal needs a permit and landowner permission (A.R.S. 3-908). Don't harvest wild agave.
Preparation
The heart must be roasted for one to several days in a pit to become edible and sweet. Raw agave sap irritates skin and mouth (calcium oxalate and saponins). Not a realistic emergency food.
Desert hackberry: thorny, zigzag branches, small leaves, orange berries. Netleaf hackberry: small tree with rough netted leaves and orange-brown berries along streams.
Season
Fall.
Where & when
Desert washes (desert hackberry) and canyon bottoms up into the corridors (netleaf).
Legal status
On public land, follow the land manager's rules (national parks and monuments generally ban collecting). On private land, get permission.
Preparation
Eat ripe berries fresh (thin sweet pulp over a big seed) or crush whole and dry into cakes.
Emory oak leaves Photo: User:pompilid, CC BY-SA 3.0Gambel oak leaves Photo: Unknown (see source page), CC BY-SA 3.0
Identify
Oak trees: Emory oak (evergreen, pointed shiny leaves, sweet acorns) in the Rim country; Gambel oak (deeply lobed leaves) in pine forest.
Season
Late summer to fall.
Where & when
Chaparral, oak woodland, and ponderosa forest; Payson and Flagstaff.
Look-alikes
Buckeyes (not common here) are toxic; acorns have a cap.
Legal status
On public land, follow the land manager's rules (national parks and monuments generally ban collecting). On private land, get permission.
Preparation
Shell, then leach the tannins: grind and soak in many changes of cold water (or boil in changes of water) until no longer bitter. Emory acorns are sweet and need little leaching. Dry and use as flour or roast.
Tree Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0Cone and nuts Photo: Copyright by Curtis Clark, licensed as noted, CC BY-SA 2.5
Identify
Short, bushy pine with needles in pairs and small round cones that open to show wingless brown seeds.
Season
September–October (crops vary a lot by year).
Where & when
Pinyon-juniper woodland along I-17 and around Flagstaff.
Look-alikes
Ponderosa pine seeds are small and winged; juniper is not a pine. No dangerous look-alike nuts.
Legal status
Small personal-use gathering on national forests is generally allowed; commercial collecting needs a permit. Check the Coconino or Tonto ranger district.
Preparation
Collect fallen nuts or open cones (pitchy, wear gloves). Roast in the shell, then crack. Discard empty or moldy nuts.
Kids
Adult supervision always. Kids collect fallen nuts with an adult; adults roast and crack them. Pine pitch is sticky; bring gloves.
Nodding onion flowers Photo: Fritzflohrreynolds, CC BY-SA 3.0Bulb Photo: NPS Photo, Public domainLook-alike: death camas (deadly) Photo: Patrick Alexander https://www.inaturalist.org/people/aspidos, CC0
Identify
Grass-like leaves from a small bulb, umbrella of pink or white flowers, and a strong onion or garlic smell when crushed.
Season
Spring to early summer.
Where & when
Meadows and pine forest in the high country.
Look-alikes
Death camas is deadly and grows in the same places. It has no onion smell. Crush each plant and smell it; if your hands already smell of onion, you can be fooled. When in doubt, don't.
Legal status
On public land, follow the land manager's rules (national parks and monuments generally ban collecting). On private land, get permission.
Preparation
Eat bulbs and leaves raw or cooked, like scallions.
Plant Photo: Yercaud-elango, CC BY-SA 4.0Seeds (magnified) Photo: Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database, Public domain
Identify
Upright weed with oval leaves and dense bristly flower spikes; tiny shiny black seeds.
Season
Greens in summer; seeds in fall.
Where & when
Fields, vacant lots, and roadsides, especially after monsoon.
Legal status
Avoid farm fields and sprayed lots.
Preparation
Boil young leaves (discard water; they can hold nitrates and oxalates, especially in fertilized fields). Thresh and winnow seeds; toast or cook as porridge.
Plant with seed heads Photo: Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, CC BY-SA 4.0Southern cattail Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0
Identify
Tall marsh plant with long flat leaves and a brown sausage-shaped seed head.
Season
Shoots in spring; pollen early summer; roots all year.
Where & when
Canals, ponds, and stream edges.
Look-alikes
Young iris leaves (toxic) look similar before flowering; iris leaves are flat and fan-shaped without cattail's spongy core. Without the brown seed head nearby, skip it.
Legal status
On public land, follow the land manager's rules (national parks and monuments generally ban collecting). On private land, get permission.
Preparation
Peel young shoots and eat the tender core cooked. Pollen can be mixed into flour. Rhizomes: crush in water to release starch. Collect only from clean water (cattails take up pollutants); cook everything.
.jpg)
_(21271440183).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
_captured_on_remote_wildlife_camera_during_monitoring_at_Chiricahua_National_Monument_in_2022._(8dd75894-585d-4c32-a6b1-1a2d3caaad8e).JPG)
_Yoho.jpg)
_(3-23-14)_patagonia-sonoita_creek_preserve,_scc,_az_(13366148453).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
_001.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
_captured_on_remote_wildlife_camera_during_monitoring_at_Saguaro_National_Park_in_2023._(ce9691c3-d234-40d4-8a1f-29d634fc30ce).JPG)
_in_the_Hualapai_Mountains.jpg)
_juvenile_Banff.jpg)
_strutting.jpg)
.jpg)
_June_2023.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
_glochids_%26_spine_base.jpg)
.jpg)
,_Conservatorio_bot%C3%A1nico,_Fort_Wayne,_Indiana,_Estados_Unidos,_2012-11-12,_DD_01.jpg)
_(5519cf21-155d-451f-6784-8bbbf6d8a26c).jpg)
._(d.j.b.).jpg)
.jpg)
_%E2%80%93_flower_head_and_seed_head.jpg)
.jpg)
