Animals In The Desert That Eat Cactus

That’s because due to drought and general lack of water, these animals are forced to eat cacti to survive.

Animals in the desert that eat cactus. For many animals such as the bighorn sheep and the antelope ground squirrel, cactus are an important source of food and water. Desert biomes are characterized by the presence of animals and plants which need minimal moisture for their survival. All desert animals have learned ways and have adapted themselves either voluntarily or involuntarily to avoid the heat of the desert by simply staying out of it as much as possible.

Cacti are home to desert animals, including many types of birds. And we are looking at some of the inhabitants of the driest and hottest places on earth! Smaller animals, like mice and rodents, disregard the spines and eat the fruit regardless.

The animals of the desert are called “xerocoles”. Residential neighborhoods in the american southwest can be magnets for local desert animals. During drought, animals will often go for the most common type of cactus, prickly pear.

Saguaro cactus with holes and red fruit blooms. Pack rats eat prickly pear as well, and also avoid large spines, eating around them. Which animals can eat cactus?

Below, are six of my favorite desert mammals. They have adapted themselves to eating food like cactus, succulent plants, seeds, or the blood and body tissues of their prey to get the water and nourishment. Some animals eat cacti near the base, where there are less or no spines, like this jackrabbit.

Insects, such as bees and butterflies, drink the nectar of the cactus flower. The cactus wren and california thrasher often build their nests in the buckhorn cholla. Many small animals, such as bats and mice, eat cactus in the dessert.