Quail families scuttle past, and a small herd of javelinas looks for prickly pear.
A rustle in the bursage turns into a fleeting glimpse of mottled green lizards, while cactus wrens dart overhead among saguaros framed against the rising sun. Twenty feet away, schoolchildren wait for the bus. This close proximity to wildlife is a daily occurrence in many parts of Tucson, but it can only continue if residents and businesses preserve the habitats that offer food, water and shelter for these animals. Unlike many communities where you can t determine exactly where you are by looking at the vegetation, Tucson is unique. We re interested in integrating conservation into metropolitan planning in Tucson.