I think from the responses to this thread, you can safely assume that crossing 59th Ave is more dangerous than Observing in the desert. I too have yet to see a scorpion or rattlesnake. The only thing that kind of caught me by surprise was at Cherry Rd back in August, when we ran into some beef on the hoof, the horned variety. A few Bulls gave us some glares from the other side of the wash, but then left to find less crowded pastures. Like most everyone else who'se responded, I enjoy the sound of the local wildlife. It reminds me that we don't own the earth, but share it. Rick Tejera Editor SACnews Saguaro Astronomy Club Phoenix, Arizona SaguaroAstro@xxxxxxx www.saguaroastro.org -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.