Hazardous lunching
How do deer and other animals survive in the desert? They feed off cactus. A risky business, as this photo depicts. The fruits of chollas like this one and other cacti are nourishing, but fiercely guarded by thorns, spikes and needles. It is a common sight to see a little cactus branch or needles in the noses of the deer. This photo explains how that happens. Enlarge the picture to get a better idea of the array of needles the deer is trying to avoid.
Hazardous lunching
How do deer and other animals survive in the desert? They feed off cactus. A risky business, as this photo depicts. The fruits of chollas like this one and other cacti are nourishing, but fiercely guarded by thorns, spikes and needles. It is a common sight to see a little cactus branch or needles in the noses of the deer. This photo explains how that happens. Enlarge the picture to get a better idea of the array of needles the deer is trying to avoid.